FACT
FS 683
Financial and economic considerations such as limited capital, untimely cash flow, insufficient labor, small acreage or other reasons require farmers to hire custom service for field operations.
Custom work charges are determined by demand and supply and are negotiated between farmers and custom operators. The purpose of this publication is to provide information on custom work charges in Maryland and to provide data to assist in decision making regarding purchasing equipment.
* Custom operators use custom rates to compare rates with competitors.
* Farmers use custom rates as a guide for machinery, budgeting and financial planning.
* Lenders, educators and government agencies use custom rates for budgeting, advising and analysis.
Rates that are quoted in this publication are expressed in different ways depending on the specific job (per acre, hour, ton, mile, bale, etc.). The rates provided are to help custom operators and farmers make decisions about rate charges. The prices reported are not official or established rates but an average of responses from the survey.

Reported rates include charges for machines, power, fuel, lube and the labor/operator. These rates do not include the costs of chemicals, seeds, and other materials with the exception of hay baling materials and where noted (i.e. spreading lime).
Custom rates in this publication may not suit all custom operators and those hiring custom work. It is important that operators calculate their own custom costs. It is also important that farmers create their own budgets which include their variable costs and fixed costs and do not rely only on custom rates to determine their cost of production.
Custom Work Charges for 2013
A mail survey was conducted in the fall of 2012 to determine custom works charges in Maryland. Data were collected from 70 custom operators and farmers and summarized for the state.
Participants indicated the rates they charge for various field operations. The charges reported in this publication may serve as a guide in determining an acceptable rate for a particular job where little other information is available. The charges can also be compared with costs and returns and may be used as a basis for working out more equitable charges for both the custom operator and customer.
Table 1 summarizes the custom work charges for the various operations for the State of Maryland. It shows the range (low and high), average (mean) as well as the median charge. The median refers to the middle of the range. Half of the responses are below and half are above. The median is less sensitive to extreme responses and is a better measure than the average.
Table 2 summarizes the last three surveys comparing rates reported for practices in 2013, 2011 and 2009.
It also shows the percent change from the 2011 survey to the current 2013 survey.
There are wide ranges with some operation charges. Variations may be due to the lack of knowledge about charges and difference in location, topography, field size and shape, crop yields, soil conditions, weather conditions, work quality, equipment type and size, timeliness or the ratio of available jobs to custom operators.
For more crop budgeting information visit: www.mdgrainmarketing.umd.edu
Author:
Shannon Dill, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland Extension
Acknowledgements:
Revised fact sheet by Dale Johnson, 2002. Appreciation is extended to Allison Roe for assistance in conducting the survey and Jim Lewis, Dale Johnson, and Ben Beale for reviewing the fact sheet.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park, and local governments. Cheng-i Wei, Director of University of Maryland
Extension.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University’s policies, programs, and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans
With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management,
Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742.
P2002/R2008/R2010/R2012
2

TABLE 1.
Operation
Stalk Cutting
Plowing-Chisel
Plowing-Moldboard
Disking-Heavy
Disking with Cultipacker or Harrow
Cultivating
Cultipacking
Subsoiling
Soil Finishing
Vertical Tillage
Strip Till
Corn Planting- Conventional w/ Fertilizer
Corn Planting- Conventional w/o Fertilizer
Corn Planting- no-till w/ fertilizer
Corn Planting-no-till w/o fertilizer
Soybean Planting- Conventional
Soybean Planting-No-Till
Drilling-Small Grain
Seeding-Grass Drilling/no-till
Seeding- Grass Broadcast
Seeding - small grain broadcast
Seeding-Aerial
Fertilizer Application-Dry
Fertilizer Application-Liquid
Fertilizer Application- Side Dress
Lime (included lime and application)
Manure Loading
Manure Spreading-Liquid
Manure Spreading-Solid
Manure Spreading-Litter
Manure Hauling
Spraying- Pesticide Ground
Spraying- Pesticide Aerial
Mowing Hay
Mowing and Conditioning Hay
Raking Hay
Bailing-Small Squares
Bailing-Large Round Bales
Mow, Rake, Bale Hay-no haul
Field Chop, Haul & Fill Silo
Combining-Corn
Combining-Soybeans
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Ton
Ton
Ton
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Unit
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Bale
Bale
Bale
Ton
Acre
Acre
Ton
Ton
Ton
Acre
Acre
Acre
MIN MAX
$9.00 $26.00
$12.00 $25.00
$14.00 $26.00
$12.00 $35.00
$14.00 $42.00
$11.50 $20.00
$4.00 $18.00
$15.00 $30.00
$9.50 $26.00
$10.00 $25.00
$16.50 $20.00
$14.00 $62.00
$13.00 $55.00
$15.00 $67.00
$14.00 $60.00
$14.50 $50.00
$12.00 $57.00
$11.00 $50.00
$17.50 $40.00
$8.00 $45.00
$6.50 $45.00
$10.50 $32.00
$6.00 $20.00
$7.25 $15.00
$8.50 $14.00
$31.00 $57.00
$3.00 $25.00
$8.25 $8.25
$8.00 $56.60
$3.75 $40.00
$6.50 $21.50
$7.25 $15.00
$9.00 $28.00
$14.00 $35.00
$13.00 $40.00
$8.00 $25.00
$0.75 $1.75
$6.50 $18.00
$2.00 $10.00
$6.98 $30.00
$23.75 $45.00
$23.75 $45.00
$20.00
$10.00
$15.13
$8.50
$17.00
$19.00
$17.13
$11.00
$1.00
$9.00
$2.35
$8.75
$32.00
$32.00
$20.00
$20.00
$20.50
$20.00
$28.00
$20.00
$10.00
$25.00
$8.00
$8.00
$11.00
$40.00
$8.50
$8.25
MEDIAN AVERAGE
$15.00
$20.00
$21.50
$16.88
$19.37
$21.34
$18.00
$20.00
$12.00
$13.13
$20.00
$19.60
$21.13
$14.50
$12.04
$21.67
$16.00
$20.00
$18.25
$20.00
$20.00
$20.50
$18.44
$18.41
$18.25
$21.77
$20.70
$22.56
$21.56
$21.11
$22.07
$20.91
$27.32
$21.71
$14.49
$22.75
$8.78
$9.18
$10.87
$42.31
$11.25
$8.25
$22.57
$13.71
$14.56
$8.99
$17.83
$20.33
$19.35
$13.85
$1.18
$10.00
$4.18
$13.62
$32.45
$32.41
3

Operation
Combining-Small Grains
Custom Farming-Corn
Custom Farming-Soybeans
Custom Farming- Small Grains
Hauling Grain-Local
Hauling Grain-Long Distance
Storing Grain
Drying Grain
Grinding Feed
Mixing Feed
Grinding and Mixing Feed
Soil Testing
Nutrient Management Plan Writing
General Farm Labor
Skilled Farm Labor
Machinery Operation
Bush hogging
Mowing CRP Acres
Mowing
Clearing Land
Posthole Digging
Post Driving
Snow Removal
Bobcat
Trenching
Livestock Hauling w/ Trailer
Bulldozer
Honey Bee Hive Rental
Tree Planting
Vegetative Buffer Planting
Tractor Rental- <80 HP
Tractor Rental- 80-120 HP
Tractor Rental- 120-160 HP
Tractor Rental- >160 HP
Hour
Hour
Hour
Acre
Acre
Hour
Hole
Hole
Hour
Hour
Foot
Loaded Mile
Unit
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Bu.
Bu.
Bu./Mo
Point
Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.
Sample
Acre
Hour
Hour
Hive
Per Plant
Acre
Hour
Hour
Hour
Hour
MIN MAX
$23.75 $50.00 $30.00
$40.00 $120.00 $110.00
$40.00 $110.00
MEDIAN AVERAGE
$85.00
$32.01
$95.00
$80.00
$40.00 $100.00
$0.10 $0.45
$0.15 $0.73
$90.00
$0.15
$0.30
$76.67
$0.19
$0.33
$0.02
$0.02
$0.35
$0.11
$0.12
$1.65
$0.60
$0.40
$1.05
$0.75
$7.00 $60.00
$3.00 $8.00
$7.00 $30.00
$0.05
$0.07
$0.40
$0.83
$0.58
$15.00
$4.50
$11.75
$0.06
$0.07
$0.80
$0.83
$0.58
$18.80
$4.92
$12.68
$10.00 $40.00
$13.50 $45.00
$20.00 $130.00
$17.00
$23.50
$65.00
$12.00 $90.00
$13.50 $125.00
$25.00
$33.50
$75.00 $130.00 $110.00
$2.00 $15.00
$4.00 $15.00
$6.00
$9.00
$60.00 $180.00 $100.00
$45.00 $130.00
$1.00 $8.00
$1.75 $2.00
$72.50
$2.00
$1.75
$80.00 $135.00 $100.00
$35.00 $35.00 $35.00
$5.00 $16.00
$20.00 $45.00
$20.00 $95.00
$10.50
$35.00
$50.00
$30.00 $125.00
$40.00 $95.00
$77.50
$67.50
$120.00 $130.00 $125.00
$102.92
$35.00
$10.50
$33.33
$56.88
$73.33
$67.50
$125.00
$18.61
$27.25
$70.47
$33.33
$43.53
$105.22
$7.25
$9.25
$112.50
$76.00
$3.15
$1.83
4

TABLE 2.
Operation
Stalk Cutting
Plowing-Chisel
Plowing-Moldboard
Disking-Heavy
Disking with Cultipacker or Harrow
Cultivating
Cultipacking
Subsoiling
Soil Finishing
Vertical Tillage
Strip Till
Corn Planting- Conventional w/
Fertilizer
Corn Planting- Conventional w/o
Fertilizer
Corn Planting- no-till w/ fertilizer
Corn Planting-no-till w/o fertilizer
Soybean Planting- Conventional
Soybean Planting-No-Till
Drilling-Small Grain
Seeding-Grass Drilling/no-till
Seeding- Grass Broadcast
Seeding-Aerial
Fertilizer Application-Dry
Fertilizer Application-Liquid
Fertilizer Application- Side Dress
Lime (included lime and application)
Manure Loading
Manure Spreading-Liquid
Manure Spreading-Solid
Manure Spreading-Litter
Manure Hauling
Spraying- Pesticide Ground
Spraying- Pesticide Aerial
Mowing Hay
Mowing and Conditioning Hay
Raking Hay
Bailing-Small Squares
Bailing-Large Round Bales
Unit
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Ton
Ton
Ton
Ton
Ton
Ton
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Bale
Bale
$11.25
$8.25
$22.57
$13.71
$14.56
$8.99
$17.83
$20.33
$19.35
$13.85
$1.18
$10.00
$22.56
$21.56
$21.11
$22.07
$20.91
$27.32
$21.71
$22.75
$8.78
$9.18
$10.87
$42.31
AVERAGE
2013
$16.88
$19.37
$21.34
$19.60
$21.13
$14.50
$12.04
$21.67
$18.44
$18.41
$18.25
$21.77
AVERAGE
2011
$15.80
$16.39
$21.12
$16.14
$16.72
$14.37
$12.35
$21.65
$17.46
$16.88
$20.68
$15.73
AVERAGE
2009
$12.89
$16.17
$22.67
$17.48
$15.33
$11.25
$3.75
$19.75
$15.68
-
-
$17.31
PERCENT
CHANGE FROM
2011 - 2013
7%
18%
1%
21%
26%
1%
-2%
0%
6%
9%
-12%
38%
$20.70 $17.61 $16.65 18%
$16.80
$19.31
$17.00
$17.82
$17.12
$27.92
$15.11
$18.10
$8.33
$7.75
$10.21
$40.00
$10.67
$2.50
$12.33
$7.88
$20.50
$8.31
$10.25
$21.47
$21.02
$13.96
$0.85
$8.41
$21.50
$21.75
$16.36
$20.73
$18.08
$21.91
$10.60
-
$8.07
$10.43
$8.77
$38.43
-
-
-
-
-
$7.80
-
-
$15.79
$10.05
$0.98
$7.25
6%
6%
5%
230%
83%
74%
-29%
8%
34%
12%
24%
24%
22%
-2%
44%
26%
5%
18%
74%
-5%
-8%
-1%
38%
19%
5

Operation Unit
Mow, Rake, Bale Hay-no haul
Field Chop, Haul & Fill Silo
Combining-Corn
Combining-Soybeans
Combining-Small Grains
Custom Farming-Corn
Custom Farming-Soybeans
Custom Farming- Small Grains
Hauling Grain-Local
Hauling Grain-Long Distance
Storing Grain
Drying Grain
Grinding Feed
Mixing Feed
Grinding and Mixing Feed
Soil Testing
Nutrient Management Plan Writing
General Farm Labor
Machinery Operation
Bush hogging
Mowing CRP Acres
Mowing
Clearing Land
Posthole Digging
Post Driving
Snow Removal
Bobcat
Trenching
Livestock Hauling w/ Trailer
Bulldozer
Tree Planting
Vegetative Buffer Planting
Tractor Rental- <80 HP
Tractor Rental- 80-120 HP
Tractor Rental- 120-160 HP
Tractor Rental- >160 HP
-
Acre
Acre
Hour
Hole
Hole
Hour
Hour
Foot
Loaded
Mile
Hour
Cwt.
Cwt.
Cwt.
Sample
Acre
Hour
Hour
Hour
Per Plant
Acre
Hour
Hour
Hour
Hour
Bale
Ton
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Acre
Bu.
Bu.
Bu./Mo
Point
AVERAGE
2013
$12.68
$27.25
$70.47
$33.33
$43.53
$105.22
$7.25
$9.25
$0.33
$0.06
$0.07
$0.80
$0.83
$0.58
$18.80
$4.92
$112.50
$76.00
$3.15
$1.83
$4.18
$13.62
$32.45
$32.41
$32.01
$95.00
$80.00
$76.67
$0.19
$102.92
$10.50
$33.33
$56.88
$73.33
$67.50
$125.00
AVERAGE
2011
$4.35
$8.25
$30.33
$29.92
$29.97
$87.50
$97.50
$100.00
$0.15
$12.83
$31.50
$67.13
$24.82
$23.00
$107.50
$4.67
$8.00
$0.25
$0.05
$0.05
$0.33
$0.50
$0.35
$17.56
$4.33
$102.27
$79.00
$11.44
$1.50
AVERAGE
2009
$17.96
$31.25
$74.00
$27.80
$23.25
$93.43
$5.33
$1.50
$0.31
$0.06
$0.10
$0.47
$0.85
-
$3.50
-
$87.91
$70.83
$42.25
$2.38
-
$3.65
$30.58
$30.73
$30.43
-
-
-
$0.18
PERCENT
CHANGE FROM
2011 - 2013
-4%
65%
7%
8%
7%
9%
-18%
-23%
21%
32%
5%
35%
34%
89%
-2%
55%
16%
10%
-4%
-72%
22%
146%
65%
64%
7%
13%
-1%
-13%
5%
$101.50
$4.00
$15.00
$63.13
$58.89
$83.75
$80.75
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1%
163%
122%
-10%
25%
-19%
55%
6