Equipment ROI
New equipment is a five- or six-figure decision. This tool models payback period, 10-year NPV, and breakeven acres using extension-published machinery economics — then compares ownership against the custom-hire rate so you can see the cheapest path on your acres.
Pick a piece of equipment and your acreage. We calculate annual savings (labor, chemical, fuel, yield), ownership cost, payback period, and 10-year NPV using extension-published machinery economics — then compare against custom-hire as the alternative.
Edit any field below to model your specific machine.
Capacity 200 ac/yr
Wage + FICA + workers' comp + housing.
Used for interest on average investment.
Your cost of capital / required return.
| Where the savings come from | $ / ac / yr | Annual @ 60 ac |
|---|---|---|
Labor displaced 2 hr/ac × $18/hr Source: not cited | +$35 | +$2,124 |
Chemical / crop protection Less herbicide, banded vs broadcast, fewer passes Source: not cited | +$10 | +$600 |
Fuel & lube Negative if the implement burns more diesel Source: not cited | $0 | $0 |
Yield / quality lift Revenue gain from better stand, water, or harvest timing Source: not cited | $0 | $0 |
| Total per-acre savings | +$45 | +$2,724 |
Less: annual ownership cost Depreciation $2,000 + interest $1,275 + ins/housing $375 | -$3,650 | |
| Net annual benefit (own vs status quo) | -$926 |
You'd need ~80 ac to clear ownership cost. Consider hiring out at $30/ac ($1,800 total) or sharing the machine with a neighbor.
BAU's planning engine factors equipment capacity, labor savings, and cost-share opportunities into every rotation recommendation — so capital expense lines up with the crops that actually earn it back.