Crop economics

Sunflower — gross ~25–35k UAH/ha, direct costs 12–18k, high margin at 2.5+ t/ha. Wheat — 20–30k income, 15–20k costs, thinner margin. Corn — 25–35k income, 20–28k costs (expensive seed + drying).

Seed 10–20%, fertilizer 30–45%, crop protection 15–25%, fuel 10–15%, labor/machinery 10–20%. Fertilizer is the biggest line: skimping on N for a high-yield crop eats the margin.

Break-even yield = full costs / sale price. Sunflower: 18k costs / 15k UAH/t = 1.2 t/ha. Wheat: 18k / 6k UAH/t = 3 t/ha. Keep a +20% buffer over average yield.

Sunflower monoculture exhausts soil and cuts yield 15–25% by year 3–4. Optimum: sunflower 1 in 5–6 years, wheat after legumes. Margin is computed per rotation, not per year.

At 50 ha professional agronomy pays off. At 500+ ha — own machinery beats hiring. At 5000+ — agronomist, logistics, elevator. Small farms win in niches (vegetables, berries).

Sale price −30% per season is real. Hedge: forward contracts on 30–50% of yield, crop insurance, crop diversification. Margin −10% → loss when costs exceed income.