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2004

RATES PAID BY KANSAS FARMERS

FOR CUSTOM WORK

KANSAS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

In Cooperation With

     U.S. Department of Agriculture                                           Kansas Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service                                                                  Division of Statistics

P.O. Box 3534

632 SW Van Buren, Rm. 200

Topeka, Kansas 66601-3534

Phone (785) 233-2230

Compiled by

Sherri Hand, Agricultural Statistician                                                                         Eldon J. Thiessen, Director

Dona Ratliff, Research Analyst                                                                       Eddie Wells, Deputy Director

Glennis Stock and Patty Dwight, Statistical Assistants

Judy Allison, Editorial Assistant

January 2005

KANSAS AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 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

Fence Building

Terracing and Dozing

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 2004. A special thanks to the 1,150 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 2004 are generally similar to those reported in 2003. Of the almost 130 custom work items or machinery rentals in this report, 76 increased in price, 8 were unchanged, and 43 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 $14.48 per acre with, in most cases, an additional average charge of 13.6 cents per bushel for yields greater than 21 bushels per acre. The per acre rate is up 44 cents from last year. 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, 2004, by District

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

Custom Wheat Harvest Historical Rates
Year	Dollars Per Acre	Extra Charge for High Yield
		¢ per Bushel	Above Bushels
1988	12.66	11.6	21
1989	12.71	11.6	21
1990	12.83	11.8	21
1991	12.74	11.8	21
1992	12.90	12.1	21
1993	13.05	12.1	20
1994	13.03	12.2	21
1995	13.02	12.2	20
1996	13.32	12.4	20
1997	13.33	12.6	21
1998	13.32	12.6	21
1999	13.29	12.6	21
2000	13.68	12.8	21
2001	13.77	13.1	20
2002	13.80	13.1	22
2003	14.04	13.6	23
2004	14.48	13.6	21

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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GRAIN SORGHUM: Custom rates charged for harvesting of grain sorghum averaged $15.27 per acre, an increase of 8 cents from last year. Additional charges averaged 13.5 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, 2004, 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.

Custom Grain Sorghum Harvest Historical Rates
Year	Dollars Per Acre	Extra Charge for High Yield
		¢ per Bushel	Above Bushels
1988	13.61	11.9	32
1989	13.58	11.3	34
1990	14.23	11.6	36
1991	13.50	11.8	33
1992	14.15	11.8	36
1993	14.62	12.0	34
1994	14.27	12.0	35
1995	14.27	11.9	36
1996	14.21	12.3	36
1997	14.35	12.5	37
1998	14.42	12.4	37
1999	14.45	12.7	36
2000	14.64	12.6	34
2001	14.58	12.9	35
2002	14.68	13.0	35
2003	15.19	13.7	35
2004	15.27	13.5	36

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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CORN: Custom harvestors charged a flat rate of 24 cents per bushel in 2004, unchanged from the past two years. The per acre charge to have corn custom harvested was $20.09 per acre with some operators adding an average extra charge of 14.3 cents per bushel for yields above 76 bushels per acre. This is an increase of 59 cents per acre from the previous year.

Custom Rates for Corn Harvest, 2004, 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 71 cents per acre to $20.06. Some operators added an extra charge averaging 13.5 cents per bushel for yields above 26 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, 2004, 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 totals.

GRAIN HARVESTING (Continued)

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SUNFLOWERS: Custom harvesting of sunflowers averaged $19.95 per acre in 2004. This compares to the average of $18.90 per acre in 2003.

Custom Rates for Sunflower Harvest, 2004, 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 82 cents per bushel. Rates for cleaning wheat without treatment averaged 47 cents per bushel. The average cost for cleaning soybeans with treatment was 96 cents per bushel, while the cost excluding treatment averaged 49 cents. There were not enough reports for cleaning red clover or alfalfa seed to be published.

Custom Rates for Seed Cleaning, 2004, 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.

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 13.0 cents per bushel with an extra charge of 1.1 cents per bushel per mile over 16 miles. This compares with the 2003 averages of 13.1 cents per bushel plus a 1.1 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, 2004, by District