Quantify bushel and dollar loss when drying grain to market moisture.
Enter initial moisture, target final moisture, initial bushels, and sale price. The calculator applies the standard 1.2 shrink factor (≈1.2% bushel loss per percentage point of moisture removed) to show final bushels, bushels lost, and revenue impact.
A grower delivered 1,000 bu of corn at 25% moisture instead of drying to 15.5%. The elevator's shrink cost him 114 bushels — about $515 at $4.50/bu. Knowing shrink in advance helps decide whether to dry on-farm or sell wet.
✓ Expert Reviewed: This calculator and its content have been reviewed by agricultural experts. Formulas are based on standard extension service recommendations. For site-specific advice, consult your local agronomist.
Enter the required input values in the form fields above. Each field includes default values that you can adjust to match your specific situation. Click the Calculate button (or simply change any input) to see instant results. Use the Metric/Imperial toggle to switch between unit systems. Results are displayed in the results panel and can be used for farm planning and decision-making.
This calculator is designed to help farmers, agronomists, and agricultural students make quick, accurate calculations for farm management. It uses standard agricultural formulas based on extension service recommendations and scientific literature. Whether you are planning inputs, estimating yields, or managing finances, this tool provides reliable estimates to support your decisions.
Standard empirical rule: Shrink % = (Initial moisture % − Final moisture %) × 1.2. Final bushels = initial bushels × (1 − shrink % ÷ 100). Bushels lost = initial − final. Revenue loss = bushels lost × price per bushel. The 1.2 factor approximates water removal plus normal handling loss.
Corn from 25% to 15%: shrink = (25−15) × 1.2 = 12%. From 1,000 bu: final = 880 bu, loss = 120 bu. At $4.50/bu: $540 revenue loss.
Common mistakes: using simple percentage subtraction (this understates loss); forgetting that test weight often rises after drying; applying the wrong factor for soybeans or wheat; ignoring shrink on top of dockage. Compare drying cost vs wet discount to decide.
For every percentage point of moisture removed, bushel weight drops by about 1.2% — the extra 0.2% covers handling, broken kernels and handling losses. It is a widely used rule of thumb for marketing decisions.
Subtracting 10 points from 25%→15% suggests 10% loss. The correct formula is 11.76% (dry-matter basis), and the 1.2 rule gives 12%. The difference is the denominator: final weight is smaller, so the same water loss is a larger percentage.
Compare the on-farm drying cost (fuel + electricity + labor + equipment) with the elevator's moisture discount. If drying costs less than the discount, drying is profitable. Also consider storage time and quality.
Roughly: corn uses 1.2; soybeans often use 1.3–1.4 because of their seed structure; wheat near 1.2. When in doubt, ask your elevator which formula they apply — they will tell you exactly.
Corn: 15% short-term, 14% long-term. Soybeans: 13%. Wheat: 13.5%. Sorghum: 14%. Storing above these raises spoilage, mold and insect risk.