Simulating Returns to Alternative Crop Mixes in Northeastern Louisiana

Rising production costs and volatility in commodity prices have forced agricultural producers to diversify their farm acreage as a means of increasing farm profitability. A financial farm-level simulation model is constructed to examine net returns over total variable production costs per rotational acre for a representative corn, cotton, and soybean farming operation located in the Mississippi River delta region of Louisiana. Results indicate that a predominant corn followed by a corn-soybean crop mix generates the highest net returns above variable costs to the producer when harvest month futures prices are considered with respect to simulated input parameters and expected yields.