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Higher Grain Prices Boost Double-Cropping Profits
No-tillers in Kentucky look to maximize returns with wheat and double-cropped soybeans.
Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:28am
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High grain prices make double-cropping an attractive option for no-till farmers looking to boost their profits.Hopkinsville TodayWith grain prices on the rise, some no-till farmers in Kentucky are considering seeding more wheat this fall and double-cropping soybeans to boost their 2011 profits. University of Kentucky farm management specialist Greg Halich has run the numbers, and his budgets indicate that a wheat and double-cropped soybean scenario could net $230 per acre, compared to just $79 per acre for full-season soybeans.
Why it matters
Double-cropping can be a risky proposition, with potential yield reductions of around 20% for the double-cropped soybeans. However, the current high grain prices make the potential upside worth exploring, especially for no-tillers in areas like Hopkinsville, Kentucky where the practice is already common.
The details
Halich's budgets accounted for additional costs associated with double-cropping, including fuel, machinery repairs and depreciation. He assumed wheat yields of 70 bushels per acre, double-cropped soybean yields of 35 bushels per acre, and full-season soybean yields of 44 bushels per acre around the Hopkinsville area. With corn at $4.40 per bushel, soybeans at $10.40 per bushel, and wheat at $7.70 per bushel, the double-cropping scenario came out on top.
- Halich recently worked out the budgets for southwestern Kentucky growers.
The players
Greg Halich
A farm management specialist at the University of Kentucky who has analyzed the economics of double-cropping wheat and soybeans in the state.
What they’re saying
“This results in a $151 per acre advantage for the wheat and double-cropped soybean scenario compared to full-season soybeans.”
— Greg Halich, Farm Management Specialist
The takeaway
The current high grain prices have made double-cropping a more attractive option for no-till farmers in Kentucky, with the potential for significantly higher profits compared to full-season soybeans. However, the risk of yield reductions means growers will need to carefully consider their local conditions before committing to the practice.
