In the next couple of weeks, wheat planting will begin across Kentucky.

While commodity prices for corn and soybeans have dropped in recent weeks, they still remain relatively strong. These prices could entice some producers to break their typical crop rotation pattern this fall and plant less wheat, as wheat prices are down from a year ago.

Depending on a producer’s location, planting less wheat may or may not be profitable. Using recent commodity prices, average yields for each crop in each area and estimated costs for inputs, labor and machinery, a University of Kentucky College of Agriculture economist created analyses of different planting options for producers in two locations in the state.

The Hopkinsville area and the area around Daviess and Union counties have different agronomic characteristics, said Greg Halich, UK agricultural economist. Producers in the Hopkinsville area traditionally grow the most wheat in the state.

The Daviess and Union County area has some of the best yields for corn and soybeans in the state and typically grows less wheat than southern Kentucky.

In his analyses, he assumed average yields of 68 bushels per acre of wheat, 35 bushels per acre of double-crop soybeans and 41 bushels per acre of full-season soybeans in the Hopkinsville area.

In the Daviess and Union County area, he used average yields of 65 bushels per acre of wheat, 38 bushels per acre of double-crop soybeans and 50 bushels per acre for full-season soybeans.