LINCOLN COLLEGE
~.~-~~.-
DEPARTMENT OF FARTJ NiAlTAGEJviENT . .. AND R.DRAL VJ\LUATION
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FARM CONTRAC'rING ll.ATES
fA NTERB u1lJ~ 64/6-?
(Compiled by Meat & Wool Boards Economic Service)
All farm work or ,services performed by labour not fully employed on a
farm
~as
been classified as farm contracting for the purp0se of this report.
Therefore, within this definition are shearers, shed hands and fencers, all
regarded as employees for tax purposes;
and the asset backed self-employed
contractors operating trucks, tractors, headers and balers.
This large
diversified labour force consists 'If two classes of contractors:
(1)
the full-time cnntractors , and
(2)
those farmers doing part-time contracting or doing full-time
in season contracting with
~ u)p lement a ry
income from a
conveniently vrorl\:ed farm.
The farm contracting industry is expanding and farmers in Canterbury
teday can call on a wide range of contractors skilled in nearly all types of
farm work and prepared for all types of farm servicing.
Competition for
business is keen and rates have changed very little in the past two years.
In the field of cartage and specialised farm maintenance (e.g. operations
requiring heavy or single purpose machinery) contractors are relied on to a
very large extent.
not uncommon.
Here competition i s most bri,sk and tendering for "vork is
Since the lifting of road transport operating distance
restrictions, cartage contractors have made the most of their limitless
territory.
This is enabling more farmers to buy stock from a very wide area
and cart them home at railvlay co st and under, in half the time and with
minimum damage to stock.
Harvesting contractors engaged in vvindro wing, heading and baling make up
the largest group of similar-type contractors.
This is due to the great
number of part-time contractors operating in this type of work.
Here rates
have remained very stable over recent years at a level just below that at
which the average size sheep farmer would move to wards ovming his ovm machine.
With the increase in crlipping on sheep farms today, a reliable contractor can
build up a good contract harvesting business in the sheep farming districts at
the current rates.
In mixed cropping districts the harvest is of major size
and importance and therefore most farmers own their ovm machines.
For a more detailed description of the types of work performed by
contractors in Canterbury, a nd 0f the i r distribution by districts, refer to
N.Z. Meat & Wool Boards' Economic Service Publication No . 3.1203, Farm
Contractors and the Farmer.
Below is listed the rates currently being charged to farmers for all
types of work commonly performed by contractors on Canterbury farms.
Where
2.
a change in the rate charged by a particular type of contractor is shown, whether
up or down on la st year, this indicates the movement of the majority only .
For
most types of contracting work, methods and term s of c(ntract are continucusly
changing.
This makes it difficult to measure precisely a genuine movement in
the rates charged,
E~~_t§~§~ ,2-Q.(t Cllq._1fLEl.~~1~2JtL~j,
-
(a)
Shearing:
..
~,--~~
,
- ,. , ~~
M~_9..11in~~.
Ma}~J:1." she~l'2-2?JL2!~ve~~cl_J,a.:!Dl!_s" £7, o. o. to £8. O. O. per 100 shorn
Range:
(1)
o. o.
Majority:
£7 .
Change :
Up 10/-
to £7 . 10. O.
"
"
II
L~mt:__~p_~§£i~r1h -
( 2)
j\
minority of gangs have different rates
for ewes and lambs, lambs being 10/- per
100 below the ewe shearing rate.
(b)
~lade ,s
( 1)
.Q..<2E_t:t:'.<? c t...L~.~. Ranges from £10 . 10.0 to £15 .0.0 per 100
depending on size of gang, whether a classer
included or not and whe ther all rations in
or various items supplied by the farmer.
( 2)
Full Crutch:
§}~ea:r.ers~2..nJ-..Y.-
Range:
£7 .1 0 . 0 to £8.15 .0 per 100
Change:
Up 5/- per 100
l~acJ:line..§.
40/- to 55/- per 100
Range :
Majority : 50/Change:
Up
5/-
Light...£.r~ :
30/- to 45/- per 100
Majority : 35/- to 40/-
Range :
Change:
Up
5/-
Full Lamb Crutch- :
~ ,~~.,,"--..
Range:
35/- to 45/- per 100
Change:
Up
Woolshed
_
=...,-.".. .
5/-
Hands:
_, =
..=2<..'~,
_ .
(1)
(2)
Flee~c i es>
Range:
8/-
Change:
No change to up 2/6 per hour.
to 10/- per hour
flas~r~§.
"Ringers" rate
e . g. P,t 200 sheep per day at £7 .5.0 per 100, Classer
paid £1 4.10.0 per day.
3,
~e ~tJ_ntr Q&to r ~
( 1)
L:Lme _9 O\:~~Qg
Almost all farmers r ely on cartage contractors for carting and sowing of
lime ,
In some di strict s l i me works also mix manures and cart and sow their
ovm product, but in IlloSt cases the lime I;JO r ks rely on independent cartage
contractors to bring in the orders and then compl ete the contra ct by c arting
and sovling.
Of most concern to the f ermer is the cost of the lime sown,
In Mid and
North Canterbury where many farmers have a choice of near-situa ted lime works,
competition is keen and prices vary for lime, carting and sowing.
(a)
Lime:
Crushed, onbrry a t vJOrks
Range :
17/6 t o 21/- per ton
Ma jority:
21/- per ton
To compete for business from distant and coastal farmer s one North
Cant erbury ,yorks charges 15/- per ton on r a il and ano th er 18/- ;
the lime company paying transport to r ail.
(b)
C'l£~ ;
Works to f arm by ro ad
10d to 1/3d per ton per mile depending on
Range :
distanc e, rate falling as di st ance increases .
(c)
.
Sowing:
-~--
(i)
On l ea
Range:
4/- t o 6/- per ton per acr e
lVia jority:
5/6 per ton per acre
(ii)
On cultivate d gro und
Rang8~
4/6 to 7/- per ton per a cr e
Ma jority :
6/6 per to n per acr e
Hi gher rates ar e charged for sowing on undula ting country or at
more than 1 ton per acr e.
1.
Summar"Y
A fair average cost for buyin g, carting by road and sowing one ton of lime
on pas tur e 20 mil es fro m a lime vJOrks is 46/6 per t on per acre or approxima t ely
2/4 per ton mile.
At 15/- per ton of lime on rail and at minimwn r nil rates a farmer 75
miles from the lime works (60 mil es of rail at 19/6 per ton and 15 mil es roa d
transport at 1/2 per ton per mile) can sOvV 1 ton per acre on grass for 57/6
or approximat ely 9* per ton mil e
i.e.
T'
.ulme
15/- per ton
Rail
19/6
Cartage
17/6
Sowing
5/6
57/6 per ton
4.
2.
Super:
Roa d cartage a nd sowing
(n)
Rn
r.nY't.npp:
to
1/- n pY' ton nnY' miln
3,
.Q.Q.l'tq;ge Q.Qptrg&tors.
( 1)
Lime ~0 '0:~Q.g
Almost a ll farmers rely on carta ge contractors for carting and sowing of
lime,
In some districts limo vvork s al:30 mix manures and ca rt and sow their
own product, but in most cases the lime rvork s rely on independent cartage
contractors to bring in the orders and then complete the contract by carting
and sovling.
Of most concern to the farmer is the cost of the lime sown,
In Mid and
North Canterbury where many farmers have a choice of near-situated lime works,
competition is keen and prices vary for lime, carting and sowing.
(a)
Lime :
Crushed, onbrry at works
Range :
17/6 to 21/- per ton
Majority:
21/- per ton
To compete for business from di s tant and coastal farmers one North
Ca ntorbury works charges 15/- per ton on rail and another 18/-;
the lime company paying transport to rail.
(b)
Car~ ;
Works to farm by road
10d to 1/3d per ton per mile depending on
Range :
distance, rate f a lling as dista nce increas e s.
( c)
S owi:t}f: :
(i )
On 1 ea
Range:
4/- to 6/- per ton per a cr e
Ma jority:
5/6 per ton per acr e
(ii)
On cultiva ted ground
Range :
4/6 to 7/- per ton per acr e
Majority :
6/6 per ton per a cre
Higher r a tes are charged for sowing on undulating country or a t
more than 1 ton per a cre .
1•
Summar;L
A fair average cost for buying, carting by road and sovYing one ton of lime
on pastur e 20 miles from a lime norks is 46/6 per ton per acre or approximately
2/4 per ton mile.
At 15/- per ton of lime on rail a nd at minimum rail rates a farmer 75
miles from the lime works (60 miles of rail at 19/6 per ton and 15 miles road
transport at 1/2 per ton per mile) can sow 1 ton per acre on grass for 57/6
or approximately 9* per ton mile
i.e.
Lime
15/- per ton
Rail
19/6
Cartage
17/6
Sowing
5/6
57/6 per t on
5.
Ea rth1I!0_Yi~I)L:
(a )
Tr:q.~c)i~Q:.Y.,il11Llilg.sh.tll£'~
(1)
30 to 40 dro.w-bar FloP. (D2 equival ent)
£2 . 5 . 0 to ,'=3 . 0 . 0 per hour
(2)
50 to 60 draw-b ar flo P, (Dll- equival ent)
oJ-:3 . 0.0 to £4. 0 .0 per hour
(3)
70 to 90 draw-bar H, P" (D6 equival ent)
£4. 0 .0 to £5 . 0 . 0 per hour
(b)
Dra&line mo.chines
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Digging, pit s and ditches
83 . o. 0 to cS5 , o. 0 per hour depending on size
of machine
(c)
Graders
~''''~~=.:3
(1)
Removing gorse hedges and l evelling fence
lines :
(2)
£3 . 0 . 0 per hour
Levellin€; -pQddocks :
£lj-
to £5 per hour
"
dep ending on condition of paddock Qnd
degree of work r equired,
C10-1 t ~.'Ltl.th,012 :
(1)
Track laying machines
(a)
D2 equivalent
£2 . 5 . 0 to £2.10 . 0 per hour
(b)
Dlj- equivalent
£3 . 0 . 0 to £3 . 5 . 0
Average costs:
( 2)
II
It
Ploughing
35/- to 40/- per acre
GiQnt di scing
40/-
II
45/-
It
II
Chisel ploughing
1'00 / - "
45/-
Ii
"
Discing
17/6
II
20/-
\I
1\
Rolling
30/-
II
40/-
II
Drilling
17/6
1\
20/-
II
"
"
v1.Iheel tractors
30 to 40 1-IePo
25/- to 30/- per hour
Di t ch 9J_o,llnin,l'; :
(1)
Snow pl ough typ e machines pulled by a tractor straddling the
ditch :
( 2)
30/- to 35/- per hour
Dragline or hydraulic machine s "vi th side mounted goar :
40/- t o 55/- per hour
Windrowi2::!£ :
20/- per acre vJindroning only
25/- per acr e including conditioning
Headi l},g, :
(1)
Grain ~nd ~ea~ Big variation in r at es between conirQctors of this class.
may be based on a per bushel, per bag or per hour basis .
highest r ate is charged for peas.
Rates
The
6.
Range:
I\~8
jori ty :
Minimur:l
per bushel
(a)
(b)
per bag
1/- to 2/3
2/6 t o 6/-
1/- to 1/6
3/- to
h/-
£3.0 .0 to ,£5,0 . 0 per hour
Rate ~
Pick up h eading is usually at
D.
per hour rate vvhile direct heading is normally
a t per bushel or per bag rates unless the bushel yield is l ow when minimum per
hour r ates will take effect .
There is a variation in rate beb-ieen headers with an 8ft or less cut and the
l arger predominantly auto headers VIi th 10ft cut Q,Dd over.
minimum r ate is £5.0 . 0 per hour .
I'or mo st autos the
The lowe r rates are usually offered by
farmers doing part-tine contracting for neighbours or a limited number of
nearby farmers.
Overall there has been no increas e in heading r ates above l a st season ,
(2)
Sf,)..g,ll see ds.
Tractor drawn combines
£3 . 0 . 0 to £4. 0 . 0 per hour
Self- propelled cO]]1;bines
£~_.10 . 0
to ,S5.0 . 0
II
"
Bali Yl..1; :
Range :
1/- to 1/2 per bal l)
Raking prior to baling :
Some contractors charge no extra above the
baling rQte but the majority charge an Cldditional 1d to 2d pe r bale,
Ch~ :
Contractors charging 1/2 have increc,se d their rate by 1 d
per bale over l ast year ,
HorEloYl~e~~e~d
( 1)
Spl'ayil}.g
b_~y.ta.1..aj}.p)J.c_a.H.()}2
(a) Fixed wing pl anes - pasture and crop spraying
Applic ation rate approximately 20/- per a cre
Materials (for weedkill ers or
in secticides)
12/6 to 22/6 per acre
'rot c l cost
32/6 to 42/6 per acre
Varies depending on area to be covered and amount of wate r in
the mixture .
(b)
Helicopters - gorse and broom spraying
Costs appr oxi mately £10 per load vThich is enough for
approximately one acr e of gorse and broom bushes .
Flying time
£ 5 to £6 per ac r e
Ma t erid cost (245T at 1 gallon
per a cre)
,:S4. 10 . 0 per a cr e
( 2)
GrQ..und
~9 'l.tioI2
Application r ate 10/- to 15/- per acr e
j\'lat eria l s
12/6 to 25/- per acr e
Total cost varies fro m 22/6 to 40/- per acre depending on
contractor, area to be covered, t ype of weecl.ciller or
insecticide and amount of wa t er in the mixtur e .
CANTERBURY
Full Price Paid For
Month
Quota milk only
September, 1964
DAIRY
Fl\ RMERS
LINITED
P RIC E S 1964/65
Surplus Milk
Finest
First
Second
Finest
guota Milk
First
Second
39.0
37.0
29.0
15.0
13.0
9·0
24.0
22.0
18.0
"
"
"
11
"
"
October
!l
"
"
November
11
\I
11
II
II
"
II
Decembor
11
"
II
"
II
"
"
II
Ja...YLUary 1965
!t
11
11
11
"
II
II
II
II
"
"
All milk supplied
February
n
Harch
*
April
*Quota + 20% of quota
jvlay
*
*
*
*
June
July
Aug'1wt
*
= Estima ted
n
il
H
28.0
26.0
22.0
II
II
28.0
26.0
22.0
II
!l
39.0
37.0
29.0
II
II
II
II
II
Ii
"
"
"
"
II
II'
"
"
II
"
+ 20)6
11
Ii
II
Ii
+ 25%
II
II
11
"
II
+ 25%
II
11
"
II
"
+ 20i'0
11
"
II
II
basis of pa ymp-nt;
to be decided when supply
position can bo more closely
estimated.
Less levy of 0.25d
NOTE:
(a)
Finest grade
is milk which passes a 6-hour reductase test and cont a ins not less than 3.5% butterfat .
(b)
First grade
is milk which passes a 4-hour reductase test but f ails to pass the 6 hour test and/or conta ins not less than 3.25%
butterfat but less tha n 3.5%.
(c)
Second grade
is milk wh ich fails to pa ss a 4-hour reductase test or contains less than 3.25% butterfat .
(d)
A specia l penalty of 12d per gallon applies in respect of any deficiency in supply for Febru ary and March below 70% of the quota .