Farming Simulator 25 โ Complete Profit Guide
Understanding crop profitability is the foundation of a successful farm in Farming Simulator 25. This guide breaks down every major crop by revenue, cost, net profit per hectare, growing time, and seasonal considerations to help you maximize your bottom line.
Crop Profitability Table
All figures are per hectare (ha) and assume average yield with standard fertilization (no precision farming bonuses). Prices fluctuate based on market demand โ the values below represent typical mid-range prices.
| Crop | Revenue/ha | Seed Cost/ha | Fertilizer Cost/ha | Net Profit/ha | Growth Time | Harvest Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | $2,200 | $150 | $200 | $1,850 | 6 days | JulโAug |
| Barley | $2,100 | $140 | $200 | $1,760 | 6 days | JunโJul |
| Oats | $2,000 | $130 | $200 | $1,670 | 5 days | JunโJul |
| Canola | $3,000 | $240 | $250 | $2,510 | 7 days | JulโAug |
| Sunflower | $2,800 | $220 | $250 | $2,330 | 7 days | AugโSep |
| Soybeans | $3,800 | $300 | $250 | $3,250 | 8 days | AugโSep |
| Corn (Maize) | $4,200 | $350 | $300 | $3,550 | 9 days | SepโOct |
| Potatoes | $6,500 | $800 | $400 | $5,300 | 8 days | AugโSep |
| Sugar Beet | $7,200 | $900 | $400 | $5,900 | 9 days | SepโOct |
| Cotton | $5,500 | $600 | $350 | $4,550 | 10 days | SepโOct |
| Sorghum | $2,400 | $170 | $200 | $2,030 | 6 days | JulโAug |
| Rice (Paddy) | $4,800 | $500 | $350 | $3,950 | 10 days | SepโOct |
| Grapes | $9,000 | $2,000 | $500 | $6,500 | Perennial | AugโSep |
| Olives | $8,000 | $1,800 | $500 | $5,700 | Perennial | SepโOct |
| Poplar | $3,200 | $400 | N/A | $2,800 | 12 months | All year |
Profit per Day Analysis
When planning your crop rotation, profit per day (net profit รท growth time) gives the truest picture of efficiency.
| Crop | Net Profit/ha | Growth Days | Profit/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Beet | $5,900 | 9 | $655 |
| Potatoes | $5,300 | 8 | $663 |
| Corn | $3,550 | 9 | $394 |
| Rice | $3,950 | 10 | $395 |
| Soybeans | $3,250 | 8 | $406 |
| Grapes | $6,500 | Perennial | ~$300/day (over 22 months) |
| Canola | $2,510 | 7 | $359 |
| Cotton | $4,550 | 10 | $455 |
| Sunflower | $2,330 | 7 | $333 |
| Wheat | $1,850 | 6 | $308 |
| Barley | $1,760 | 6 | $293 |
Top 3 by Profit/Day: Potatoes ($663), Sugar Beet ($655), Cotton ($455).
Crop Products & Processing Profit
Processing raw crops into higher-value products dramatically increases profitability. Below are the most lucrative processing chains.
Grains & Flour
| Product | Raw Input | Output Value | Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flour | 100 L Wheat ($55) | $110 | +$55 |
| Bread | 100 L Flour ($110) + 20 L Water | $250 | +$140 |
| Cake | 100 L Flour + 50 L Milk + 30 L Eggs | $380 | +$230 |
| Oat Flakes | 100 L Oats ($50) | $120 | +$70 |
Sunflower & Canola โ Oil
| Product | Raw Input | Output Value | Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canola Oil | 100 L Canola ($75) | $180 | +$105 |
| Sunflower Oil | 100 L Sunflowers ($70) | $170 | +$100 |
Sugar Beet โ Sugar
| Product | Raw Input | Output Value | Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 100 L Sugar Beets ($40) | $140 | +$100 |
| Cake (uses Sugar) | 100 L Sugar + other inputs | $380 | Variable |
Grapes โ Juice โ Wine
| Product | Raw Input | Output Value | Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grape Juice | 100 L Grapes ($200) | $360 | +$160 |
| Wine | 100 L Grape Juice ($360) + aging | $800 | +$440 |
Cotton โ Fabric
| Product | Raw Input | Output Value | Value Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 100 L Cotton ($120) | $280 | +$160 |
| Clothing | 100 L Fabric ($280) | $500 | +$220 |
Seasonal Considerations
Farming Simulator 25 features a dynamic seasonal cycle that affects crop viability.
| Season | Best Crops to Plant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (MarโMay) | Wheat, Barley, Oats, Canola, Potatoes | Prepare fields, fertilize before planting |
| Summer (JunโAug) | Corn, Soybeans, Sunflowers, Sorghum | Fast growth, good weather windows |
| Fall (SepโNov) | Harvest most crops, plant winter wheat/barley | Busiest season โ plan equipment carefully |
| Winter (DecโFeb) | Animal care, maintenance, logging | Minimal field work; focus on animals and processing |
Rotation Strategy
A 3-field rotation maximizing profit:
- Field 1: Potatoes (Spring) โ Harvest (Aug) โ Winter Wheat (Sep)
- Field 2: Corn (Spring) โ Harvest (Sep) โ Fallow/Green Manure
- Field 3: Soybeans (Spring) โ Harvest (Aug) โ Canola (Winter)
Cost-Saving Tips
- Fertilize efficiently โ use precision farming to apply variable-rate fertilizer only where needed, saving 20โ30% on input costs.
- Own your equipment โ leasing is great for specialized harvesters, but buying tractors and basic tools pays off after 3 seasons.
- Sell at peak prices โ crop prices fluctuate weekly. Store grain in silos and sell when prices are 15โ20% above average.
- Use cover crops โ planting grass or clover between cash crops reduces fertilizer needs by 50%.
- Lime management โ test soil pH and apply lime only when required. Over-liming wastes money without additional yield benefit.
- Weed control โ mechanical weeding (hoeing) costs less than herbicide and doesn't degrade soil quality.
Animal Profitability
If you diversify into animal husbandry, here are the profit estimates per animal per year:
| Animal | Initial Cost | Annual Profit | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | $150 each | $1,200/yr | Eggs, Meat |
| Sheep | $500 each | $2,500/yr | Wool, Meat |
| Cow (Dairy) | $1,200 each | $4,000/yr | Milk, Meat |
| Pig | $400 each | $3,000/yr | Meat, Manure |
| Horse | $3,000 each | $500/yr | Breeding (harder to profit) |
Best Animal Investment: Dairy cows offer the highest annual return, but require the most investment in barns and feeding equipment. Chickens are the easiest entry point with the lowest startup cost.
๐ Crop vs Animal ROI Comparison
Which earns more โ planting crops or raising animals? Here's the per-hectare equivalent comparison.
| Enterprise | Startup Cost (per unit) | Annual Profit (per unit) | Land Needed | Labor | Risk Level | ROI Year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐พ Wheat (1 ha) | $350 (seed+fert) | $1,850 | 1 ha | Low | Low | 528% |
| ๐ป Sunflowers (1 ha) | $470 | $2,330 | 1 ha | Low | Low | 495% |
| ๐ฝ Corn (1 ha) | $650 | $3,550 | 1 ha | Medium | Medium | 546% |
| ๐ฅ Potatoes (1 ha) | $1,200 | $5,300 | 1 ha | High | Medium | 441% |
| ๐ Grapes (1 ha) | $2,500 | $6,500 | 1 ha | Medium | Low (perennial) | 260% |
| ๐ Chickens (10) | $1,500 (coop+birds) | $1,200/yr | Tiny | Very Low | Low | 80% |
| ๐ Sheep (5) | $5,000 (pasture+sheep) | $2,500/yr | 0.5 ha | Low | Low | 50% |
| ๐ Dairy Cows (5) | $15,000 (barn+cows) | $4,000/yr | 1 ha (feed) | High | Medium | 27% |
| ๐ Pigs (5) | $7,000 (pen+pigs) | $3,000/yr | 0.5 ha | Medium | Medium | 43% |
Key Insight
Crops give faster ROI but require seasonal work. Animals provide steady daily income but need higher upfront investment. Start with crops, add chickens for daily cash flow, then scale to cows as you build feed production.
๐ผ Contract Work Income Table
Contracts are a great early-game money source. Here's what each type pays.
| Contract Type | Avg Payout | Time Needed | Hourly Rate | Equipment Provided? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐พ Harvest (small field) | $3,000โ$5,000 | 10โ15 min | $12,000โ$20,000/hr | โ Yes (harvester + trailer) | โญโญโญ Best starter |
| ๐พ Harvest (medium field) | $8,000โ$15,000 | 20โ40 min | $12,000โ$22,500/hr | โ Yes | โญโญโญโญ |
| ๐พ Harvest (large field) | $20,000โ$40,000 | 60โ90 min | $15,000โ$26,000/hr | โ Yes | โญโญโญโญโญ |
| ๐ Cultivate | $2,000โ$8,000 | 15โ30 min | $8,000โ$16,000/hr | โ Yes | โญโญโญ |
| ๐งโ๐พ Sowing/Planting | $2,500โ$10,000 | 15โ40 min | $6,000โ$15,000/hr | โ Yes | โญโญ |
| ๐ชต Logging | $5,000โ$20,000 | 30โ60 min | $5,000โ$20,000/hr | โ Yes | โญโญ (requires skill) |
| ๐งน Baling | $3,000โ$12,000 | 20โ45 min | $6,000โ$16,000/hr | โ Yes | โญโญโญ |
| ๐ฅ Potato Harvest | $10,000โ$25,000 | 30โ60 min | $10,000โ$25,000/hr | โ Yes | โญโญโญโญ |
| ๐ Transport Animals | $1,500โ$4,000 | 5โ10 min | $12,000โ$24,000/hr | โ Trailer | โญโญ (one-off) |
| ๐พ Weeding/Spraying | $2,000โ$6,000 | 10โ25 min | $8,000โ$14,400/hr | โ Yes | โญโญโญ |
Contract Strategy
| Phase | Strategy | Expected Income |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฐ Day 1โ5 | Do all harvest contracts โ highest pay, equipment included | $15Kโ$30K/day |
| ๐ข Week 2โ3 | Keep doing harvest + cultivate; buy your own tractor + trailer | $30Kโ$60K/day |
| ๐ก Month 2+ | Be selective โ only take contracts near your fields | $50Kโ$100K/day |
| ๐ด Late game | Skip contracts โ your own farm earns more per hour | N/A |
๐ก Pro tip: Accept a contract, then use the leased equipment for your own fields too! The rental fee is already covered by the contract.
๐ Best Investment Order (Expanded)
| Priority | Investment | Cost | Monthly Return | Payback Period | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ๐ Medium Tractor (150 HP) | $80K | +50% field speed | Immediate | Rent first if low cash |
| 2 | ๐พ Seeder + Planter | $65K | +100% planting speed | 2 seasons | Rent for first season |
| 3 | ๐บ๏ธ Buy 2nd field (small) | $100K | $3Kโ$5K/month | 8โ12 months | Lease field if cheaper |
| 4 | ๐ Larger trailer (26K L) | $55K | Fewer trips = more $ | 3โ4 seasons | Skip if solo farming |
| 5 | ๐ Chicken coop (10 hens) | $1.5K | $100/month | 15 months | Best early passive income |
| 6 | ๐พ Combine harvester | $250K | Save $2K/rental ร ~20 uses | 6โ8 years rent savings | Keep renting until 5+ fields |
| 7 | ๐งโ๐พ Fertilizer spreader + sprayer | $60K | +30% yield on all fields | 2โ3 seasons | Rent first |
| 8 | ๐ Dairy barn + 5 cows | $20K | $1.5K/month | 13 months | Start with chickens first |
| 9 | ๐๏ธ Grain dryer (corn/rice) | $75K | Premium prices for dried grain | 3โ4 seasons | Only needed for certain crops |
| 10 | ๐ญ Oil mill / Flour mill | $150K | Double crop value | 5โ8 seasons | Game-changer when processing |
| 11 | ๐บ๏ธ Buy larger fields | $200K+ | Scales all profit | 3โ6 months | Always a good investment |
| 12 | ๐๏ธ Biogas plant | $500K | $5Kโ$10K/month | 4โ8 years | Only after 50+ cows or 100+ acres |
| 13 | ๐ช Farm shop / Direct sales | $100K | +30% sell price | 4โ6 seasons | Best late-game upgrade |
Early Game Priority (First $500K)
graph LR
A[Start] --> B[Medium Tractor]
B --> C[Seed & Fertilize]
C --> D[Buy 2nd Field]
D --> E[Harvester - Rent]
E --> F[Chickens for passive $]
F --> G[Grain Dryer or Oil Mill]
G --> H[Expand to 5+ Fields]
Mid-Game Priority ($500Kโ$1.5M)
- Own a combine harvester โ stop renting, keep full harvest profit
- Build processing chain โ oil press for canola/sunflower, flour mill for wheat
- Add dairy cows (5โ10 head) โ steady milk income
- Buy precision farming gear โ variable-rate fertilizer saves 20โ30%
- Expand to 10+ fields โ scale is the ultimate profit multiplier
Late Game ($1.5M+)
- Biogas plant โ turns silage into $10K+/month passive income
- Farm shop โ sell processed goods at retail prices
- Greenhouses โ year-round vegetable production, minimal labor
- Buy every field on the map โ total farmland dominance
Data source: Farming Simulator Wiki 1.0
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