The Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey sampled 185 Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers. For each operation, the average rate from the survey and the range are shown. Thirty-four percent of the respondents perform custom work, 17 percent hire work done and 49 percent indicated doing both.
The values are rates expected to be charged or paid, including fuel and labor. The average price for diesel fuel was assumed to be $2.75 per gallon. The rate schedule is intended only as a guide. Actual custom rates may vary according to availability of machinery in a given area, timeliness, operator skills, field size and shape, crop conditions and the performance characteristics of the machine being used.
The 2008 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey includes average values and ranges reported. It is available on the Web or through the Clarke County Extension Office.
we/bmr
4/21/2008