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2006

RATES PAID BY KANSAS FARMERS

FOR CUSTOM WORK

USDA/NASS Kansas Field Office

In Cooperation With

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Division of Statistics

P.O. Box 3534

632 SW Van Buren, Rm. 200

Topeka, Kansas 66601-3534

Phone (785) 233-2230

Compiled by

David Ranek, Agricultural Statistician                                                                       Eldon J. Thiessen, Director

Stephen Habets, Agricultural Statistician                                                        Eddie Wells, Deputy Director

Glennis Stock, Statistical Assistant

Judy Allison, Editorial Assistant

January 2007

KANSAS DISTRICTS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Grain Harvesting

Wheat

Grain Sorghum

Corn

Soybeans

Sunflowers

Seed Cleaning

(Wheat, Soybeans, Alfalfa, and Red Clover)

Historical Averages

Grain Hauling

(Wheat, Grain Sorghum, Corn, Soybeans, and Sunflowers)

Silage Operations

Haying

Mowing, Swathing, Conditioning, and Sideraking

Baling

Hauling Small Bales

Hauling Large Bales

Entire Operation

Rotary Mowing

Tree Shearing

Land Tillage

Disking

Harrowing

Chiseling

Plowing and Undercutting

Field Cultivation

Historical Averages

Planting

Regular-Till Planting

Grass and Legume Seeding

Historical Averages

Minimal-Till or No-Till Planting

Historical Averages

Chemical Applications

Row Crop Cultivation

Dry and Liquid Fertilizers

Anhydrous Ammonia

Herbicides

Insecticides

Historical Averages

Feed Preparation

Grinding, Rolling, Mixing

Pelleting, Sacking

Historical Averages

Feed Delivery

Machinery Rental

Terracing and Dozing

Manure Removal and Spreading

INTRODUCTION

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This publication reports the average rates paid by Kansas farmers and ranchers for custom work performed on their operation in 2006. A special thanks to the 1,239 farmers and ranchers, custom operators, co-ops, and elevators for their response to this survey. Our appreciation also goes to the Cooperative Extension Service’s county agricultural agents who reviewed the questionnaire.

The data in this book provide additional information to custom operators, farmers, and ranchers for making decisions about rate charges. The prices reported here should not be regarded as official or established rates. The average figures in this book give equal weight to all reports received.

The prices in this book include charges for machines, power, fuel, and the operator. These prices do not include the costs of chemicals, seeds, and other materials. The one exception is hay baling materials. Exchange work between farmers is not considered custom work.

There are large variations in the rates charged for specific jobs. For many items, the State averages may not be typical of any particular locale. There are many reasons for price differences. Some farmers may charge lower prices to neighbors, relatives, or close friends. Soil conditions and field sizes are also significant factors. Rates are often lower in western Kansas where the larger farms are well suited to extensive operation with heavy equipment.

The average custom rates charged in 2006 are generally similar to those reported in 2005. Of the over 130 custom work items or machinery rentals in this report, 88 increased in price, 8 were unchanged, and 36 decreased in price. The report contains historical tables and graphs which show the results of previous surveys.

In the past year, we have received many comments about the Custom Rates report from the agricultural community. We appreciate this feedback and encourage readers to continue sharing their ideas and suggestions regarding this survey.

GRAIN HARVESTING

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WHEAT: Custom rates for harvesting wheat averaged $15.78 per acre with, in most cases, an additional average charge of 14.9 cents per bushel for yields greater than 21 bushels per acre. The per acre rate is up 54 cents from 2005. Some respondents reported a flat rate per bushel harvesting charge, but there were too few reports to publish the data.

Custom Rates for Wheat Harvest, 2006, by District

1/ Reports are counted in each district where combining was done; thus some reports are included in more than one district.

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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GRAIN SORGHUM: Custom rates charged for harvesting of grain sorghum averaged $16.64 per acre, an increase of $0.13 per acre from last year. Additional charges averaged 14.8 cents per bushel for yields over 36 bushels per acre. Some respondents reported a flat rate per bushel harvesting charge, but there were too few reports to publish the data.

Custom Rates for Grain Sorghum Harvest, 2006, by District

1/ Reports are counted in each district where combining was done; thus some reports are included in more than one district. 2/ Insufficient number of reports; included in State total.

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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CORN: Custom harvesters charged a flat rate of 27 cents per bushel in 2006, up 1 cent from 2005. The per acre charge to have corn custom harvested was $21.75, up $0.07 from last year, with some operators adding an average extra charge of 15.0 cents per bushel for yields above 74 bushels per acre.

Custom Rates for Corn Harvest, 2006, by District

1/ Reports are counted in districts where combining was done; thus some reports are included in more than one district. 2/ Insufficient number of reports; included in State totals.

Custom Corn Harvest

Historical Rates

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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SOYBEANS: The charge to custom harvest soybeans increased by $0.40 per acre from 2005 for an average per acre cost of $21.88 for 2006. Some operators added an extra charge averaging 17.2 cents per bushel for yields over 27 bushels per acre. Some respondents reported a flat rate per bushel harvesting charge, but there were too few reports to publish the data.

Custom Rates for Soybean Harvest, 2006, by District

1/ Reports are counted in each district where combining was done; thus some reports are included in more than one district.

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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SUNFLOWERS: Custom harvesting of sunflowers averaged $19.55 per acre in 2006. This compares to $20.24 per acre in 2005. Some operators charged an extra charge for high yield of 21.3 cents per hundredweight for yields above 12.0 hundredweight per acre.

Custom Rates for Sunflower Harvest, 2006, by District

Custom Sunflower Harvest

Historical Rates

1/ Reports are counted in each district where combining was done; thus, some reports are included in more than one district. 2/ Insufficient number of reports to publish; included in State totals. 3/ Insufficient data to publish.

SEED CLEANING

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Wheat seed cleaning with treatment averaged 114 cents per bushel, up from 98 cents the previous year. Rates for cleaning wheat without treatment averaged 51 cents per bushel, compared to 48 cents in 2005. The average cost for cleaning soybeans with treatment was $1.07 per bushel, a decrease of 6 cents from the year earlier. The average cost of cleaning soybeans without any treatment was 47 cents, down 8 cents from the 2005 average.

Custom Rates for Seed Cleaning, 2006, by District

1/ Insufficient number of reports; included in State totals.

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Historical Custom Rates for Seed Cleaning

1/ Insufficient data to publish. 2/ Data not collected.

GRAIN HAULING

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The average custom rate charged for hauling wheat, grain sorghum, corn, and soybeans from the field to the farm or to the nearest elevator was 14.1 cents per bushel with an extra charge of 0.9 cent per bushel per mile over 15 miles. This compares with the 2005 average of 13.8 cents per bushel plus 1.2 cent per bushel per mile over 15 miles. Only reports which included both a mileage limit and a per mile charge for additional miles were tabulated in the over basic mileage column.

Custom Rates for Hauling Grain from Field to Farm Storage

Or Elevator, 2006, by District