Idaho AgBiz
Idaho AgBiz
Idaho AgBiz is your resource for Idaho crop and livestock budgets, regionally specific market information, publications and decision aids. Idaho AgBiz concentrates on Idaho specific agribusiness and farm management information.
Crop budgets
Find resources to estimate costs and returns for crop enterprises.
Crop markets
Discover up-to-date crop market information.
Livestock budgets
Find resources to estimate costs and returns for livestock enterprises.
Livestock markets
Discover up-to-date livestock market information.
Summer fellow program
Save the date — Idaho Ag Outlook Seminar, Dec. 16
- To share: https://go.uidaho.edu/ag-outlook
UI Extension publications
View peer-reviewed, research-based educational materials produced by U of I experts.
Educational resources
Idaho AgBiz Insights
In Idaho AgBiz Insights, members of our team interview both external and internal experts about new programs, decision tools, market developments and strategies to assist producers in managing their business.
Recent episodes
- Exploring a new web resource — FarmersNavigator.com (video)
Guest — Doug McCarty, an Oregon rancher and developer of FarmersNavigator.com, an all-in-one resource for understanding and evaluating government programs that farmers and ranchers can use. The site also offers printouts, guides and scripts to help you navigate the application process. - Understanding livestock risk protection (LRP) and 2025 program changes (video)
Guest — Dustin Winston, a commodity market analyst at StoneX Group, who discussed Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance and its benefits for beef and dairy producers.
Self-study courses
Our team is actively developing self-study courses about farm business management, commodity marketing, record keeping and more.
Management tools
Below are tools and other resources that will assist with calculating budgets, cost of production and machinery costs for livestock and crops.
Machinery cost publications
Custom rates for Idaho agricultural operations, BUL 1078 — This publication reports the rates being charged for custom agricultural operations in Idaho. It also provides information on how to calculate machinery costs for setting custom rates and how to adjust historical custom rates using indices available from the USDA.
Costs of owning and operating farm machinery in the Pacific Northwest, PNW 346 — Detailed tables present the ownership and operating costs associated with specific pieces of farm equipment used to produce crops in the Pacific Northwest.
Software and calculators: machinery cost calculators
- 2024 University of Idaho machinery costs calculator (excel) — Version 1.00
- University of Idaho crop machinery cost calculator (exe, ZIP) — current version 1.40 - desktop application
- Kansas State machinery cost resources — Machinery cost calculators and many more decision making tools.
- Iowa State machinery cost resources — Crop decisions and machinery information and companion tools.
USDA Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) tool
- University of Idaho CREP tool (excel) — Excel workbook for evaluating changes in farm revenue and water savings when enrolling in the CREP program
Software and calculators: enterprise budgets, crop leases, costs of production, financial record keeping
- University of Idaho crop enterprise budget (exe, zip) (CEBW) — current version 1.95 - desktop application
- University of Idaho livestock enterprise budget (exe, zip) (LEBW) — current version 1.95 - desktop application
- Idaho crop lease calculator (excel) — Calculates crop share, cash rent and flexible cash leases
- University of Idaho protein supplement cost calculator (excel) — Calculates the cost of protein supplement for livestock operation
- University of Idaho financial record keeping worksheet (excel) — Calculates net cash farm income
Succession planning
The following resources will aid in the preservation of your agricultural legacy and business.
Protect Your Farm Business videos
- Part 1: Planning a first family meeting
- Part 2: Tips on retirement and how to start stepping away
- Part 3: Learn the transitions needed in succession
- Part 4: Establish a team of professional advisors
Succession and estate planning tools
- Family business questionnaire (pdf) —This worksheet packet is a framework for documenting current business management and future direction to guide succession planning steps
- Owner to potential heir questionnaire (pdf) — Ask your potential heirs questions regarding the transition of the farm/ranch
- Potential heir to owner questionnaire (pdf) — Ask the owner questions regarding the transition of the farm/ranch
- Wittman consulting sample family agenda (word) — A complete layout of a first family meeting when discussing succession and estate planning
- Retirement calculator (excel) — How much money should you be saving or will you need in retirement?
- Social security calculator (excel) — How much money will you collect in social security?
Carbon markets and cows
The following resources address production and marketing risks and implications, as well as financial and legal risks associated with potential participation in emerging and diverse carbon markets.
- Carbon and cows podcasts
- Introduction: overview of carbon markets (pdf)
- Overview of opportunities for dairies in compliance and voluntary carbon markets (pdf)
- Carbon markets: risks and opportunities (pdf), insets (pdf) and offsets for dairies digesters natural gas, electricity, co-digestion — considerations (pdf), market economics and risks (pdf) and contracts
- Net Zero Initiative