Custom rate survey shows average costs of common farming practices

April 2022

Custom rate survey shows average costs of common farming practices

Many Iowa farmers hire some custom machine work in their farm business or perform custom work for others. Others rent machinery or perform other services.

In order to help producers and custom operators examine the market, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publishes the Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.

This year’s survey, published in March, includes 122 responses and nearly 3,400 custom rates for tasks related to tillage, planting and seeding, spraying, harvesting, farm labor and more.

Most custom rates saw an increase of 3-10%. The cost for labor increased almost 14%, reflecting the challenges of a tight labor market nationwide.

Custom planting ranges from $11 to $40 per acre, depending on the type of planter and setup. Combining corn shows an average of $36.75 per acre and combining soybeans averages $36.05 per acre.

Some costs have already trended higher, due to increases in diesel and fuel prices since the survey was issued. The survey assumed diesel prices would be $3.33 a gallon in 2022, based on forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration. The survey may lag increases in diesel prices and other inputs in some areas. This means that for custom farming practices that involve these inputs, the cost may be even higher.

The information in the survey is meant to be a starting point for farmers and agribusiness to engage in conversations and negotiations. The survey is not meant to set the rate for a particular practice or operator. This is an opinion survey and represents the responses of participants.

This survey is only possible with the participation of Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers. To join the survey list for 2023, email the survey authors.

For more information, Plastina can be reached at 515-294-6160 or plastina@iastate.edu, and Ann Johanns can be reached at 515-337-2766 or aholste@iastate.edu.

Alejandro Plastina, extension economist, 515-294-6160, plastina@iastate.edu
Ann M. Johanns, extension program specialist, 515-337-2766, aholste@iastate.edu

April 2022