Crops > Machinery > Machinery Management
Updated February, 2023
File A3-34
Joint Machinery Ownership
Many farmers have reduced their machinery costs by owning equipment jointly. This helps smaller operators utilize machinery more efficiently and still enjoy the convenience of owning a full line. It also helps younger operators get started with less capital tied up in machinery.
The key to successful joint ownership is for the partners to be able to agree on when and how to use each piece of equipment. Depending on weather and crop conditions, decisions may have to be made on a day-to-day basis. The objective is to complete field work for all partners in a timely manner while minimizing the time spent transporting machinery from farm to farm.
All parties should have a written agreement explaining how the joint ownership will be dissolved in case of disagreement or termination of farming by one party. The agreement also should explain how to determine the value of the machinery at the time of dissolution.
Sharing Costs
Costs of jointly owned machinery should be shared equitably. Many owners prefer to own machinery on a 50-50 basis and provide fuel and labor for use on their own acres. If each owner uses the machinery over approximately the same number of acres, this arrangement works well. Repair costs, financing payments, cash boot to trade, and income tax deductions also can be divided equally.
When one owner uses a machine over more acres than the other, however, different arrangements are needed. For example, Al and Chris purchased a combine together that will be used to harvest 1,000 acres for Al and 500 acres for Chris. Both will provide their own fuel and labor. The easiest arrangement is for Al to own two-thirds of the combine and Chris one-third. Al also would pay for two-thirds of the repairs and other maintenance costs.
But what if the partners use the machine in a proportion different from their ownership share? One method is for both owners to contribute to a special machinery account (Example 1). The amount contributed is equal to a typical custom rate multiplied by each person’s acres. If labor and fuel are furnished by each operator, use a rate equal to about 70 to 80 percent of the custom rate. All machinery-related expenses such as maintenance, repairs, and insurance are paid from this account. Depreciation and interest should be paid to each owner in proportion to the original investment. Or, financing payments can be paid directly from the fund. At year end, any excess or deficit in the account is carried over to the following year or refunded in proportion to each owner’s actual use.
Another common procedure is for the partner with the most acres to reimburse the other owner for the extra use. To calculate the amount of compensation, multiply the custom rate by the number of acres by which one owner’s share exceeds half the total. As noted above, the custom rate should be reduced by 20 to 30 percent if labor and fuel are furnished by each owner.
In example 2, Al pays Chris $30 per acre (75%of a $40 custom rate) for each acre on which he uses the combine in excess of half the total. In this example, half of the 1,500 total acres is 750. Al’s acres exceed this by 250, so the total payment from Al to Chris would be $30 x 250 acres, or $7,500.
If the jointly owned implement is not self-propelled and is pulled behind each operator’s own tractor, the rental value of the tractor also should be subtracted from the custom rate (Example 3). Average custom rates and tractor rental charges can be found in Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.
Actual Costs
In cases where some costs are divided differently than others, a complete list of actual costs and who paid them is needed.
Again, assume that Al combines 1,000 acres and Chris 500 acres, and they have equal ownership of the combine, so depreciation, interest and insurance costs are divided equally. They both supply their own fuel and labor, but Chris stores the combine (estimated cost of ½% of the investment) and does all the repairs and maintenance (Example 4). At the end of the year, all costs are totaled and redivided in proportion to the number of acres on which each one used the machine. In the example, the total cost of interest, depreciation, insurance, housing, and repairs amounts to $35,250 for the year, or $23.50 per acre. Of this, Al paid $13,050 and Chris paid $22,200. For the expenses to be divided in proportion to usage, that is $23,500 for Al and $11,750 for Chris, Al must pay Chris ($22,200 - $11,750), or $10,450.
The Decision Tool can be used to perform similar calculations for other situations.
William Edwards, retired economist. Questions?
