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Difference between revisions of "Farm size calculations"

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(Sorry for edit spam, I couldn't create a talk page. I think the current text is misleading, because the 5 plants per harvest refers to the averages in the table above. Yes, it is possible to get a 5 stack with a mid-level farmer sometimes, but to reach the average of 300 plump helmets per year, an average of 5 per stack is needed.)
 
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==The math==
 
==The math==
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Your dwarves can plant 1 [[seed]] per tile on each [[farm plot]], and depending on the [[skill]] of the [[grower]], whether the farm plot was [[fertilizer|fertilized]], and random chance, each planted tile will yield a stack of 1-9 (average: 5) plants each harvest cycle. [[Brewing]] always quintuples stack sizes; for example, a stack of [[cave wheat]] [5] is brewed into a [[barrel]] of [[Dwarven beer]] [25] at a [[still]]. Processing [[quarry bush]] plants into quarry bush leaves at a [[farmer's workshop]] also quintuples stack size, as does processing [[sweet pod]]s into [[Dwarven syrup]]. ([[Mill]]ing does ''not'' increase stack size.) These larger stacks are generally not usable directly as food, but can be [[cook]]ed into prepared meals. [[Pig tail]]s and [[plump helmet]]s grow faster than other crops, and as long as the mature plants are harvested promptly, it is not hard to grow multiple crops of either plant each season from the same plot.
+
Your dwarves can plant 1 [[seed]] per tile on each [[farm plot]], and depending on the [[skill]] of the [[grower]], whether the farm plot was [[fertilizer|fertilized]], and random chance, each planted tile will yield a stack of 1-10 plants each harvest cycle. Legendary+5 planters more frequently produce larger stacks - up to 6 plants each (with an average of 3.17) without fertilizer, or up to 10 plants each (with an average of 5.17) when fertilized.
  
 +
[[Brewing]] always quintuples stack sizes; for example, a stack of [[cave wheat]] [5] is brewed into a [[barrel]] of [[dwarven beer]] [25] at a [[still]]. Processing [[quarry bush]] plants into quarry bush leaves at a [[farmer's workshop]] also quintuples stack size, as does processing [[sweet pod]]s into [[dwarven syrup]]. ([[Mill]]ing does ''not'' increase stack size.) These larger stacks (including booze!) are generally not usable directly as food, but can be [[cook]]ed into prepared meals. [[Cave wheat]], [[sweet pod]]s and [[quarry bush]]es grow 67% slower than other crops, though they generally provide more valuable ingredients. As long as the mature plants are harvested promptly, dwarves can grow multiple plantings in the same plot each season.
  
−
{| class="wikitable"
+
{|class="wikitable"
−
! Plant Name
+
!rowspan=2|Plant Name
−
! Active Seasons
+
!colspan=5|Active Seasons
−
! Days Per Harvest
+
!rowspan=2|Underground
−
! Harvests Per Tile Per Season
+
!rowspan=2|Days Per Harvest
−
! Harvests Per Tile Per Year
+
!rowspan=2|Harvests Per Tile<br>Per Season
−
! Average Plants Harvested Per Tile Per Year
+
!rowspan=2|Harvests Per Tile<br>Per Year
−
! Average Processed Food/Drink Per Tile Per Year
+
!rowspan=2|Average Plants Harvested<br>Per Tile Per Year'''*'''
 +
!rowspan=2|Average Processed Food/Drink<br>Per Tile Per Year'''*'''
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Plump helmet
+
!Sp
 +
!Su
 +
!Au
 +
!Wi
 +
!N
 +
|-
 +
|[[Plump helmet]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
|X
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Pig tail
+
|[[Pig tail]]
 +
| -
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
| -
 
|2
 
|2
 +
|X
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|150
 
|150
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Cave wheat
+
|[[Cave wheat]]
 +
| -
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
| -
 
|2
 
|2
 +
|X
 
|42
 
|42
 
|2
 
|2
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|100
 
|100
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Sweet pod
+
|[[Sweet pod]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
| -
 +
| -
 
|2
 
|2
 +
|X
 
|42
 
|42
 
|2
 
|2
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|100
 
|100
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Quarry bush
+
|[[Quarry bush]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
| -
 
|3
 
|3
 +
|X
 
|42
 
|42
 
|2
 
|2
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|150
 
|150
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Prickle berry
+
|[[Prickle berry]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Wild strawberry
+
|[[Wild strawberry]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Longland grass
+
|[[Longland grass]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Rat weed
+
|[[Rat weed]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Fisher berry
+
|[[Fisher berry]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Rope reed
+
|[[Rope reed]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Sliver barb
+
|[[Sliver barb]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Sun berry
+
|[[Sun berry]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|300
 
|300
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Whip vine
+
|[[Whip vine]]
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 +
|X
 
|4
 
|4
 +
| -
 
|25
 
|25
 
|3
 
|3
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|}
 
|}
  
−
A beginning fortress has 7 dwarves, each of which consumes 7 [[Main:urist|urist]]s of food and drink per dwarf per season, or 196 for the whole fortress for the year. The starting group can theoretically be supported by a single farm tile, but in practice a larger farm will be necessary since a young fortress is unable to use farm tiles to their fullest potential.  
+
:'''*''': ''Average 5 plants per harvest (Legendary farmer with fertilization)''
 +
 
 +
A beginning fortress has 7 dwarves, each of which consumes 7 units of food and drink per dwarf per season, or 196 for the whole fortress for the year. The starting group can theoretically be supported by a single farm tile, but in practice a larger farm will be necessary since a young fortress is unable to use farm tiles to their fullest potential.  
  
 
A properly-managed and fully-utilized 3x3 plot growing plump helmets can produce an average of up to 2700 units of alcohol per year, enough to provide food (through booze-[[cooking]] with seeds) and drink for a fortress of 95 dwarves. A similar 5x5 plot can produce up to 7500 units of food and drink per year, enough to support 265 dwarves.
 
A properly-managed and fully-utilized 3x3 plot growing plump helmets can produce an average of up to 2700 units of alcohol per year, enough to provide food (through booze-[[cooking]] with seeds) and drink for a fortress of 95 dwarves. A similar 5x5 plot can produce up to 7500 units of food and drink per year, enough to support 265 dwarves.
  
−
This calculation assumes the farm tiles are fertilized, all your planters have Legendary skill, and that there are enough of them to avoid any labor shortages at planting times. The general limitation, then, is not the size of the farm, but the skill of the growers, the availability of seeds and [[potash]] for fertilizer, and careful management of [[labor]], [[stockpiles]], and the food industry to ensure that crops are harvested (rather than left to [[wear|wither]] in the field), are properly stored away from [[vermin]], the plants are processed, and seeds are recovered so that the cycle can continue next season. However, since adding farm tiles is practically free, most overseers find it easier to create larger farms than to optimize production on a smaller plot.
+
This calculation assumes your planters can consistently produce stacks of 5 plants (with or without fertilization), and that there are enough of them to avoid any labor shortages at planting times. The general limitation, then, is not the size of the farm, but the skill of the growers, the availability of seeds and [[potash]] for fertilizer, and careful management of [[labor]], [[stockpiles]], and the food industry to ensure that crops are harvested (rather than left to [[wear|wither]] in the field), are properly stored away from [[vermin]], the plants are processed, and seeds are recovered so that the cycle can continue next season. However, since adding farm tiles is practically free, most overseers find it easier to create larger farms than to optimize production on a smaller plot.
 +
 
 +
In practice, dwarves require booze variety to avoid bad [[thought]]s and desire food variety to create good thoughts. Additionally, if your dwarves are going to grow textiles (and [[dye]]s) for [[clothing]], they will need more farmland.
 +
 
 +
At the high end, 50 tiles of farmland should provide all the food your fortress will ever need, even if divided between disparate types of less-efficient crops.
  
−
In practice, dwarves require booze variety to avoid bad [[thought]]s and desire food variety to create good thoughts. Additionally, if your dwarves are going to grow textiles (and [[dye]]s) for [[clothing]] they will need more farmland.
 
−
 
 
==Approaches==
 
==Approaches==
−
Some fortresses begin with a single large farm (5x5) with [[plump helmet]]s. However, if you embark with crops and brew them immediately, it is better to start with several smaller farms (3x3 or 1x5 are common) with a wider variety of crops. Given the small number of dwarves, only a few tiles (10 total) are needed for a beginning fortresses, although you can plow a plot and leave it fallow until you have more dwarfpower to spare your farmer to dedicated farming. As the growers [[experience|level up]] and farm yields increase the farm can be expanded and newer, smaller farms with different crops can be added to enable new growers to practice their skills. The more tiles of farm plot you have, the more growers (and harvesters) you will need. A single legendary farmer can seed up to about 100 tiles of farmland if they never harvest themselves and the seed stockpile is only a half-dozen tiles from all farm plot tiles. Consider making the seed stockpile in the middle of a ring of farms to save travel time.   
+
Many fortresses begin with a single large farm (5x5) with [[plump helmet]]s, or several smaller farms (3x3 or 1x5 are common) with a wider variety of crops. Given the small number of dwarves, only 10 or so tiles are needed for a beginning fortress. As the growers [[experience|level up]] and farm yields increase the farm can be expanded and newer, smaller farms with different crops can be added to enable new growers to practice their skills. The more tiles of farm plot you have, the more growers (and harvesters) you will need. A single legendary planter can plant up to 100 tiles of farmland if they never harvest themselves and the seed stockpile is only a half-dozen tiles from all farm plot tiles. Consider making the seed stockpile in the middle of a ring of farms to save travel time.   
  
 
If you plan to [[farming|fertilize]], farm plots should ideally be one less than a multiple of 4 tiles -- ex. (1x3), (1x7), (3x5), (3x9), (5x7), (7x9)
 
If you plan to [[farming|fertilize]], farm plots should ideally be one less than a multiple of 4 tiles -- ex. (1x3), (1x7), (3x5), (3x9), (5x7), (7x9)
  
−
{{Template:Farming FAQ}}
+
{{Category|Agriculture}}
 +
[[ru:Farm size calculations]]

Latest revision as of 19:01, 24 April 2024

!!UNKNOWN!!  · xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼
v50.14 · v0.47.05
This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

Dwarves require approximately 2 units of food and 5 units of drink each season. Farming can produce enough crops to satisfy part or all of these requirements. However, be aware that the more and larger your farms are, the more time and effort must be accorded to their maintenance.

The math[edit]

Your dwarves can plant 1 seed per tile on each farm plot, and depending on the skill of the grower, whether the farm plot was fertilized, and random chance, each planted tile will yield a stack of 1-10 plants each harvest cycle. Legendary+5 planters more frequently produce larger stacks - up to 6 plants each (with an average of 3.17) without fertilizer, or up to 10 plants each (with an average of 5.17) when fertilized.

Brewing always quintuples stack sizes; for example, a stack of cave wheat [5] is brewed into a barrel of dwarven beer [25] at a still. Processing quarry bush plants into quarry bush leaves at a farmer's workshop also quintuples stack size, as does processing sweet pods into dwarven syrup. (Milling does not increase stack size.) These larger stacks (including booze!) are generally not usable directly as food, but can be cooked into prepared meals. Cave wheat, sweet pods and quarry bushes grow 67% slower than other crops, though they generally provide more valuable ingredients. As long as the mature plants are harvested promptly, dwarves can grow multiple plantings in the same plot each season.

Plant Name Active Seasons Underground Days Per Harvest Harvests Per Tile
Per Season 		Harvests Per Tile
Per Year 		Average Plants Harvested
Per Tile Per Year* 		Average Processed Food/Drink
Per Tile Per Year*
Sp Su Au Wi N
Plump helmet X X X X 4 X 25 3 12 60 300
Pig tail - X X - 2 X 25 3 6 30 150
Cave wheat - X X - 2 X 42 2 4 20 100
Sweet pod X X - - 2 X 42 2 4 20 100
Quarry bush X X X - 3 X 42 2 6 30 150
Prickle berry X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Wild strawberry X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Longland grass X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Rat weed X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Fisher berry X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Rope reed X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Sliver barb X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Sun berry X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
Whip vine X X X X 4 - 25 3 12 60 300
*: Average 5 plants per harvest (Legendary farmer with fertilization)

A beginning fortress has 7 dwarves, each of which consumes 7 units of food and drink per dwarf per season, or 196 for the whole fortress for the year. The starting group can theoretically be supported by a single farm tile, but in practice a larger farm will be necessary since a young fortress is unable to use farm tiles to their fullest potential.

A properly-managed and fully-utilized 3x3 plot growing plump helmets can produce an average of up to 2700 units of alcohol per year, enough to provide food (through booze-cooking with seeds) and drink for a fortress of 95 dwarves. A similar 5x5 plot can produce up to 7500 units of food and drink per year, enough to support 265 dwarves.

This calculation assumes your planters can consistently produce stacks of 5 plants (with or without fertilization), and that there are enough of them to avoid any labor shortages at planting times. The general limitation, then, is not the size of the farm, but the skill of the growers, the availability of seeds and potash for fertilizer, and careful management of labor, stockpiles, and the food industry to ensure that crops are harvested (rather than left to wither in the field), are properly stored away from vermin, the plants are processed, and seeds are recovered so that the cycle can continue next season. However, since adding farm tiles is practically free, most overseers find it easier to create larger farms than to optimize production on a smaller plot.

In practice, dwarves require booze variety to avoid bad thoughts and desire food variety to create good thoughts. Additionally, if your dwarves are going to grow textiles (and dyes) for clothing, they will need more farmland.

At the high end, 50 tiles of farmland should provide all the food your fortress will ever need, even if divided between disparate types of less-efficient crops.

Approaches[edit]

Many fortresses begin with a single large farm (5x5) with plump helmets, or several smaller farms (3x3 or 1x5 are common) with a wider variety of crops. Given the small number of dwarves, only 10 or so tiles are needed for a beginning fortress. As the growers level up and farm yields increase the farm can be expanded and newer, smaller farms with different crops can be added to enable new growers to practice their skills. The more tiles of farm plot you have, the more growers (and harvesters) you will need. A single legendary planter can plant up to 100 tiles of farmland if they never harvest themselves and the seed stockpile is only a half-dozen tiles from all farm plot tiles. Consider making the seed stockpile in the middle of a ring of farms to save travel time.

If you plan to fertilize, farm plots should ideally be one less than a multiple of 4 tiles -- ex. (1x3), (1x7), (3x5), (3x9), (5x7), (7x9)

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