Every three years, UW Extension and the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service team-up to publish a farm custom rate guide.  The new guide was recently published and summarizes rates paid by farmers for custom work in 2004.  The figures are based on reports from custom operators who perform the work, farmers who hire custom work, and machinery dealers who rent out equipment.  Over the years, this has been one of the most popular publications available from our office.  

      Most custom rates printed in the publication include the cost of hiring the machine with fuel and operator, but exclude the cost of any materials (for example, the cost of seed, fertilizer, etc.).  There is no attempt to distinguish between rates charged by individuals who perform custom operations as a primary income source and those farmers who occasionally do custom work as a sideline.  Typically, rates charged by professional custom operators and implement dealers justifiably trend to the higher end of the rate range.  

      Within the guide, there is both an average rate and numerical range given for different custom farm operations.  Obviously, there are many different factors that impact what rate is charged in a given situation.  These include:  availability of equipment, soil conditions, topography, field size, and the type, age, size, and condition of the equipment used.  In some cases, rates are reported in units of dollars per acre and dollars per hour.  

      Prices charged for machinery, fuel, and labor also reflect 2004 prices and conditions.  As the guide is used over the next few years, prices for these inputs may need to be adjusted accordingly. 

Click here to view/save/print a copy of the 2004 Wisconsin Custom Rate Guide

You can also request hard copies from our office.