Farming is a complex business and many Ohio farmers utilize outside help for specific farm-related work. This option is appealing for tasks requiring specialized equipment or technical expertise. Often, having someone else with specialized tools perform a task is more cost effective and saves time. Farm work completed by others is called “custom farm work” or more simply, “custom work.” A “custom rate” is the amount agreed upon by both parties to be paid by the custom work customer to the custom work provider.
Ohio Farm Custom Rates
This publication reports custom rates based on a statewide survey of 365 farmers, custom operators, farm managers and landowners conducted in 2016. These rates, except where noted, include the implement and tractor if required, all variable machinery costs such as fuel, oil, lube, twine, etc., and the labor for the operation.
Some custom rates published in this study vary widely, possibly influenced by:
- Type or size of equipment used (e.g., 20-shank chisel plow versus a single shank)
- Size and shape of fields
- Condition of the crop (for harvesting operations)
- Skill level of labor
- Amount of labor needed in relation to the equipment capabilities
- Cost margin differences for full-time custom operators compared to farmers supplementing current income.
Also, some custom rates reflect discounted rates as the parties involved have family relationships or are strengthening a relationship to help secure the custom farmed land in a cash rental or other rental agreement. Some providers charge different amounts because they are simply attempting to spread their fixed costs over more acreage to decrease fixed costs per acre and are willing to forgo complete cost recovery of their variable costs.
The measures shown in the following tables are the summary of the survey respondents. The measures are the average (or mean), range, median, minimum and maximum. Average custom rates reported in this publication are a simple average of all the survey responses. Range identified in the tables consists of two numbers. The first is the average plus the standard deviation, which is the variability of the data from the average measure. The second number of the range is the average minus the standard deviation. The median represents the middle value in the survey responses. The minimum and maximum reported in the table are the minimum and maximum amounts reported from the survey data for a given custom operation.
Charges may be added if the custom provider considers a job abnormal, such as distance from the operator’s base location, difficulty of terrain, amount of product or labor involved with the operation, or other special requirements of the custom work customer.
As a custom provider, the average rates reported in this publication may not cover your total costs for performing the custom service. As a customer, you may not be able to hire a custom service for the average rate published in this fact sheet. Calculate your own costs carefully before determining the rate to charge or pay. It may be helpful to compare the custom rates reported in this fact sheet with machinery costs calculated by economic engineering models available by searching University of Minnesota farm machinery cost estimates. The data from this survey are intended to show a representative farming industry cost for specified machines and operations in Ohio. The following resources are available to help you calculate and consider the total costs of performing a given machinery operation. You may also consider using the data contained in multiple publications as a base for future custom rates. Suggested publications are:
- Farm Machinery Cost Estimates, available by searching University of Minnesota.
- Illinois Farm Management Handbook, available by searching University of Illinois farmdoc, farmdoc.illinois.edu/manage/.
- Estimating Farm Machinery Costs, available by searching Iowa State University agriculture decision maker and machinery management, extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a3-29.html.
2016 Survey Responses
Below are tables summarizing the results of the 2016 Ohio Farm Custom Rate Survey. Remember, fuel prices have an impact on custom rates and rates may fluctuate based on large movements in fuel prices. The approximate price of diesel fuel at the time of this survey was $1.75-$2.50 per gallon for off-road (farm) usage. At the end of this fact sheet is a sample calculation of machinery rental based on custom rates reported in this survey.
Special note: Before entering into an agreement, discuss all of the details of the specific job with the other party.
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Soil Preparation | ||||||
| Stalk Chopper Acre | $12.55 | $9.47 | $15.67 | $12.55 | $7.00 | $20.00 |
| Moldboard Plow /Acre | $21.25 | $12.02 | $30.46 | $20.00 | $9.00 | $50.00 |
| Chisel Plow / Acre | $17.80 | $12.59 | $23.03 | $18.00 | $8.00 | $45.00 |
| Disk Chisel / Acre | $17.85 | $12.44 | $23.23 | $18.00 | $9.00 | $45.00 |
| Disk-Tandem / Acre | $14.15 | $8.78 | $19.51 | $13.10 | $4.00 | $25.00 |
| Disk-Offset / Acre | $16.35 | $9.27 | $23.40 | $16.00 | $5.00 | $30.00 |
| Soil Finishing / Acre | $14.30 | $10.76 | $17.84 | $14.85 | $7.50 | $20.00 |
| Field Cultivator / Acre | $13.55 | $9.49 | $17.62 | $13.40 | $6.00 | $26.00 |
| Land Leveling / Acre | $13.50 | $5.64 | $21.40 | $11.50 | $4.00 | $30.00 |
| Land Leveling / Hour | $75.00 | $32.72 | $117.28 | $80.00 | $20.00 | $150.00 |
| Subsoiling / Acre | $19.85 | $14.16 | $25.56 | $20.00 | $7.00 | $45.00 |
| V-Ripping / Acre | $20.45 | $14.25 | $26.68 | $20.00 | $9.00 | $45.00 |
| Strip Tillage / Acre | $17.25 | $12.22 | $22.24 | $17.50 | $10.00 | $30.00 |
| Strip w/ Fertilizer Injection / Acre | $22.75 | $12.09 | $33.41 | $20.00 | $12.00 | $54.00 |
|
Avg = Average, Range = Average -/+ 1 Standard Deviation, Med = Median, Min = Minimum, Max = Maximum.
1Standard deviation is a measure of the variability of the survey responses. One “standard deviation” both above and below the average (mean) includes approximately two-thirds of all survey responses.
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| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Fertilizer Application - Ground | ||||||
| Dry Bulk / Acre | $6.25 | $4.01 | $8.47 | $6.00 | $1.50 | $20.00 |
| Liquid Knife/ Acre | $9.25 | $6.36 | $12.17 | $9.00 | $3.00 | $15.00 |
| Liquid Spray / Acre | $6.95 | $5.72 | $8.17 | $7.00 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| Anhydrous / Acre | $13.55 | $10.49 | $16.56 | $14.00 | $7.00 | $20.00 |
| Lime / Acre | $8.75 | $4.04 | $13.48 | $7.00 | $1.65 | $24.00 |
| Lime / Ton | $7.60 | $3.67 | $11.51 | $7.00 | $2.00 | $22.00 |
| Variable Rate Fertilizer / Acre | $7.90 | $5.06 | $10.74 | $7.00 | $3.00 | $20.00 |
| Number of Products Applied | 1.75 | 1.18 | 2.34 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 3.00 |
| Chemical Control of Weeds or Insects | ||||||
| Spraying - self propelled / Acre | $7.00 | $4.92 | $9.06 | $6.75 | $1.25 | $20.00 |
| Spraying - pull type / Acre | $7.00 | $4.14 | $9.82 | $6.03 | $4.00 | $20.00 |
| Highboy spraying / Acre | $10.00 | $1.53 | $18.49 | $7.50 | $2.00 | $50.00 |
| Mechanical Weed Control | ||||||
| Rotary Hoeing / Acre | $8.65 | $3.57 | $13.70 | $6.00 | $4.00 | $20.00 |
| Conventional Cultivation / Acre | $11.30 | $6.40 | $16.18 | $10.38 | $5.00 | $20.00 |
| Aerial Application | ||||||
| Chemicals / Acre | $12.30 | $8.03 | $16.55 | $12.00 | $5.00 | $25.00 |
| Seed / Acre | $13.60 | $9.57 | $17.67 | $12.50 | $9.00 | $25.00 |
| Fertilizer / Acre | $12.05 | $7.16 | $16.89 | $12.00 | $5.00 | $22.00 |
| Planting Operations | Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | |
| Conventional Till | ||||||
| Plant Corn 30" Rows / Acre | $18.05 | $13.37 | $22.69 | $18.00 | $10.00 | $32.00 |
| Plant Corn w/ Starter Fertilizer 30" Rows / Acre | $19.30 | $14.20 | $24.45 | $18.70 | $10.00 | $40.00 |
| Variable rate planting / Acre | $18.60 | $15.58 | $21.66 | $18.75 | $12.50 | $22.50 |
| Plant Soybeans 15" Rows / Acre | $18.25 | $13.93 | $22.57 | $18.00 | $5.00 | $35.00 |
| Plant Soybeans 30" Rows / Acre | $17.50 | $13.46 | $21.58 | $16.75 | $10.00 | $28.00 |
| Drill Soybeans / Acre | $16.90 | $12.86 | $20.91 | $16.00 | $10.00 | $30.00 |
| Drill Small Grains / Acre | $16.70 | $12.72 | $20.64 | $16.00 | $10.00 | $28.50 |
| No-Till | ||||||
| Plant Corn 30" Rows / Acre | $18.45 | $14.10 | $22.80 | $18.00 | $10.00 | $30.00 |
| Plant Corn w/ Starter Fertilizer 30" Rows / Acre | $19.75 | $14.72 | $24.79 | $19.00 | $4.00 | $35.00 |
| Variable rate planting / Acre | $19.45 | $16.20 | $22.75 | $20.00 | $14.00 | $25.00 |
| Plant Soybeans 15" Rows / Acre | $18.75 | $14.19 | $23.28 | $18.00 | $8.00 | $35.00 |
| Plant Soybeans 30" Rows / Acre | $17.95 | $13.28 | $22.64 | $18.00 | $8.00 | $30.00 |
| Drill Soybeans / Acre | $17.15 | $12.69 | $21.57 | $16.70 | $4.00 | $30.00 |
| Drill Small Grains / Acre | $16.65 | $12.02 | $21.32 | $16.60 | $4.00 | $30.00 |
| Grass/Legume/Pasture Seeding | ||||||
| Broadcast / Acre | $9.50 | $6.36 | $12.64 | $10.00 | $5.50 | $15.00 |
| Grain drill / Acre | $16.75 | $11.14 | $22.39 | $15.50 | $6.00 | $35.00 |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Grain Harvest | ||||||
| Harvest Corn /(combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) / Acre | $32.70 | $23.82 | $41.58 | $30.00 | $20.00 | $70.00 |
| Harvest Soybeans /(combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) / Acre | $30.50 | $23.11 | $37.90 | $30.00 | $17.50 | $60.00 |
| Harvest Wheat /(combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) / Acre | $30.00 | $22.59 | $37.37 | $30.00 | $20.00 | $60.00 |
| Combine Corn / Corn | $28.35 | $23.14 | $33.58 | $28.00 | $15.00 | $50.00 |
| Combine Soybeans / Acre | $27.35 | $22.25 | $32.43 | $26.00 | $15.00 | $50.00 |
| Combine Small Grains / Acre | $26.80 | $21.53 | $32.09 | $25.00 | $15.00 | $50.00 |
| Pick Ear Corn / Acre | $30.45 | $20.59 | $40.32 | $30.00 | $15.00 | $50.00 |
| Grain Cart / Acre | $5.95 | $3.18 | $8.69 | $5.00 | $2.00 | $10.00 |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Grain Storage - On Farm | ||||||
| Storage / Month / Bushel | $0.039 | $0.022 | $0.056 | $0.040 | $0.010 | $0.100 |
| Storage / Year / Bushel | $0.240 | $0.038 | $0.442 | $0.150 | $0.060 | $0.960 |
| Grain Drying | ||||||
| Per Point of Moisture Removed / Bushel | $0.063 | $0.013 | $0.114 | $0.040 | $0.020 | $0.200 |
| Grain Hauling | ||||||
| Farm to Market / Bushel | $0.184 | $0.100 | $0.267 | $0.170 | $0.030 | $0.500 |
| Average Miles - Farm to Market | 32 | 6 | 57 | 24 | 4 | 150 |
| Field to Farm / Bushel | $0.100 | $0.055 | $0.145 | $0.100 | $0.030 | $0.230 |
| Average Miles - Field to Farm | 9 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 30 |
| Custom Farming (All machinery operations for tillage, planting, spraying, tending & harvesting) | ||||||
| Corn / Acre | $119.40 | $93.77 | $145.03 | $122.50 | $80.00 | $200.00 |
| Soybeans / Acre | $106.40 | $79.40 | $133.37 | $110.00 | $64.00 | $200.00 |
| Small Grains / Acre | $89.20 | $67.31 | $111.13 | $97.50 | $50.00 | $125.00 |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Hay / Straw Harvest | ||||||
| Mowing / Acre | $12.60 | $7.59 | $17.58 | $12.00 | $3.00 | $25.00 |
| Mowing/Conditioning / Acre | $13.45 | $8.28 | $18.59 | $13.50 | $5.00 | $30.00 |
| Raking / Acre | $7.05 | $4.21 | $9.88 | $6.88 | $3.00 | $16.00 |
| Tedding / Acre | $6.85 | $4.39 | $9.35 | $6.90 | $2.00 | $15.00 |
| Baling: Small Square Bales | ||||||
| Baled / Dropped in Field /Bale | $0.55 | $0.25 | $0.81 | $0.50 | $0.25 | $1.10 |
| Baled and Loaded on Wagon / B | $0.70 | $0.34 | $1.07 | $0.65 | $0.10 | $2.00 |
| Baled, Loaded, Hauled and Stored / Bale | $1.20 | $0.52 | $1.86 | $0.95 | $0.75 | $2.50 |
| Baling: Large Round Bales ~ 1500# | ||||||
| Baled and Dropped in Field / Bale | $8.50 | $6.22 | $10.75 | $8.00 | $4.00 | $12.50 |
| Baled and Hauled From Field / Bale | $10.85 | $8.43 | $13.23 | $11.00 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
| Baled, Net Wrapped and Left in Field / Bale | $10.20 | $6.66 | $13.74 | $10.00 | $6.00 | $20.00 |
| Baled and Wrapped Wet in Plastic (Plastic Included) / Bale | $17.71 | $7.67 | $27.76 | $14.00 | $12.00 | $40.00 |
| Baling: Large Round Bales ~ 600-1000# | ||||||
| Baled and Dropped in Field / Bale | $8.30 | $5.78 | $10.84 | $8.00 | $5.00 | $15.00 |
| Baled, Net Wrapped and Left in Field / Bale | $9.85 | $5.75 | $13.99 | $8.50 | $6.00 | $24.00 |
| Baled and Wrapped Wet in Plastic (Plastic Included) / Bale | $17.40 | $4.54 | $30.26 | $13.00 | $9.00 | $40.00 |
| Baling: Large Square Bales | ||||||
| Baled and Dropped in Field / Bale | $10.20 | $7.57 | $12.82 | $10.00 | $7.50 | $16.00 |
| Baled and Wrapped Wet in Plastic (Plastic Included) / Bale | $21.00 | $11.53 | $30.47 | $17.50 | $15.00 | $40.00 |
| Complete Hay Harvest - Shares | ||||||
| % of Crop to Custom Provider | 52.1% | 47.2% | 57.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 66.0% |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Hired Labor | ||||||
| Machine Operation / Hour | $13.11 | $10.83 | $15.39 | $12.00 | $8.00 | $20.00 |
| Milking Cows / Hour | $12.35 | $9.08 | $15.62 | $11.50 | $9.00 | $20.00 |
| General Crop Manager / Hour | $17.67 | $13.58 | $21.75 | $17.50 | $13.00 | $25.00 |
| General Farm Labor | $11.54 | $9.25 | $13.83 | $11.00 | $7.50 | $19.50 |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Drainage and Tile Installation | ||||||
| Ditching Machine - without materials | ||||||
| 4" Plastic / Foot | $0.36 | $0.27 | $0.46 | $0.38 | $0.21 | $0.55 |
| Drain Plow - without materials | ||||||
| 4" Plastic / Foot | $0.24 | $0.14 | $0.33 | $0.21 | $0.12 | $0.52 |
| Ditching Machine - with materials | ||||||
| 4" Plastic / Foot | $0.76 | $0.64 | $0.89 | $0.76 | $0.62 | $1.00 |
| Drain Plow - with materials | ||||||
| 4" Plastic / Foot | $0.57 | $0.47 | $0.67 | $0.56 | $0.42 | $0.77 |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Miscellaneous | ||||||
| Bush Hogging / Acre | $17.84 | $6.78 | $28.90 | $15.00 | $5.00 | $50.00 |
| Building Fence/ Woven Wire / Rod | $17.65 | $11.13 | $24.16 | $15.50 | $10.00 | $28.87 |
| Digging Post Holes / Hole | $2.71 | $1.14 | $4.29 | $2.00 | $1.00 | $5.00 |
| Income Tax Preparation / Hour | $149.64 | $86.69 | $212.60 | $137.50 | $75.00 | $250.00 |
| Income Tax Preparation / Return | $405.51 | $170.23 | $640.79 | $350.00 | $75.00 | $975.00 |
| Farm Account Summary / Hour | $147.22 | $93.54 | $200.91 | $150.00 | $75.00 | $200.00 |
| Farm Account Summary / Summary | $437.92 | $148.39 | $727.44 | $400.00 | $65.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Track Hoe / Hour | $106.87 | $66.34 | $147.40 | $100.00 | $60.00 | $300.00 |
| Snow Removal : Loader / Hour | $67.00 | $39.56 | $94.44 | $75.00 | $15.00 | $115.00 |
| Snow Removal : Blade / Hour | $59.38 | $27.24 | $91.51 | $60.00 | $15.00 | $125.00 |
| Snow Removal : Blower / Hour | $73.57 | $38.37 | $108.77 | $70.00 | $10.00 | $120.00 |
| Hauling Livestock / Mile | $2.09 | $1.34 | $2.84 | $2.00 | $1.00 | $4.00 |
| Bulldozing per Foot of Blade / Hour | $9.74 | $6.30 | $13.19 | $9.38 | $3.57 | $21.23 |
| Soil testing / Sample | $15.30 | $5.66 | $24.94 | $11.75 | $5.50 | $35.00 |
| Soil testing / Acre | $5.48 | $2.83 | $8.13 | $5.00 | $0.75 | $10.50 |
| Grid Soil Sampling / Acre | $6.95 | $4.30 | $9.61 | $7.00 | $2.15 | $12.00 |
| Rock Picking / Hour | $12.75 | $7.41 | $18.09 | $11.00 | $9.00 | $25.00 |
| Power Washing / Hour | $49.78 | $14.49 | $85.07 | $45.00 | $8.00 | $100.00 |
| Avg | Range | Median | Min | Max | ||
| Machinery Rental | ||||||
| Tractor / $ per Horsepower / Hour | $0.29 | $0.10 | $0.48 | $0.24 | $0.08 | $1.00 |
| Corn Planter / Acre | $16.65 | $7.93 | $25.37 | $15.00 | $5.00 | $32.00 |
| Average Number of Rows | 12.4 | 6.7 | 18.2 | 12.0 | 6.0 | 24.0 |
| Combine / Separator Hour | $165.83 | $121.40 | $210.26 | $157.50 | $125.00 | $250.00 |
| Combine / Acre | $29.90 | $25.37 | $34.42 | $30.00 | $20.00 | $38.00 |
| Average Grain Table Width in Feet | 33.4 | 28.2 | 38.6 | 33.5 | 25.0 | 40.0 |
| Average Number of Corn Header Rows | 8.8 | 6.6 | 10.9 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 12.0 |
| Grain Drill: No-till / Acre | $13.17 | $8.01 | $18.33 | $12.00 | $6.00 | $30.00 |
| Average Width in Feet | 15.8 | 10.6 | 20.9 | 15.0 | 10.0 | 30.0 |
| Bobcat or Skid-Steer Loader / Day | $226.15 | $18.50 | $433.81 | $150.00 | $80.00 | $750.00 |
| Dry Bulk Fertilizer Applicator / Acre | $3.07 | $0.88 | $5.25 | $2.50 | $0.50 | $6.00 |
| Liquid Fertilizer Applicator / Acre | $3.28 | $2.05 | $4.52 | $3.25 | $1.00 | $5.00 |
| Facility Rental | ||||||
| Machinery Storage - Square Foot / Year | $0.76 | $0.16 | $1.36 | $0.57 | $0.20 | $2.00 |
Estimating Machinery Rental Rate from Custom Rates
Below are the calculations for you to estimate machinery rental rate from the custom rate tables in the preceding pages of this fact sheet. The examples shown will be for a field cultivator.
1. Multiply the custom charge (includes labor, fuel, tractor) by the percent* of the custom charge for other associated costs such as interest, insurance, depreciation, and repairs.
custom charge X percent of custom charge = machinery rental rate
* For the percent of custom charge, use 70 percent for tillage or 80 percent for planting and harvesting.
Example: From the 2016 custom rate tables above, the rate for a field cultivator (with tractor) is $13.55/acre. The percent of custom charge for other associated costs is 70 percent for tillage.
2. Calculate the tractor rental value if the tractor is not included in the estimate from a custom operator. Multiply the amount of horse power(HP) by the rental rate per horse-power hour (HP-hour). Divide the product by the acres covered per hour.
(HP X per HP-hour rental rate) / acres/hour = tractor rental rate
Example: A 310 HP tractor with a $0.29 per HP-hour rental rate taken from the above 2016 custom rate tables. The tractor will cover 33 acres per hour.
3. From the machinery rental rate, subtract the tractor rental rate (#1 minus #2):
Written May 10, 2017 by Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management, Ohio State University Extension; and F. John Barker, Assistant Professor, Agriculture/Amos Program, Ohio State University Extension, Knox County.