Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 43 Percent of Pennsylvania's Custom Rates Increase

Pennsylvania Ag News Headlines

43 Percent of Pennsylvania's Custom Rates Increase
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 03/10/2010

Of the 82 rates reported with year-to-year comparisons, 43 increased, 33 decreased, and 6 are virtually unchanged from last year, reports the Pennsylvania field office of USDA's National Ag Statistics Service. Overall, custom rates were down only a small amount compared to the previous year.

This report can be found on the Internet at www.nass.usda.gov/pa and click on 'Pennsylvania Publications'

The custom rates shown in the publication are averages from voluntary reports by custom operators and farmers throughout Pennsylvania. Most of the rates are stated per acre, cwt., ton, bale, or bushel rather than per hour to reduce the variation due to machinery size. The rates shown include the cost of hiring machine with fuel and operator and exclude the cost of seed, fertilizer, and other materials used unless otherwise specified. Individual rates vary due to differences in working conditions, services performed, or even the operator's eagerness to do custom work. Therefore, the average rates shown should not be considered absolute indications of fair charges.

Average rates are shown separately for two regions of the state, labeled "Mountain" and "Valley". The differences in rates between regions reflect differences in terrain, soils and alternative opportunities for the labor and equipment used. Figures labeled "State" represent the straight average of all reports used regardless of geographic location.

Because of the potential variation in size and overall productivity of equipment, a range of reported rates for each job has been included. The range represents the middle 80 percent of all reported rates for each job, thus the lowest 10 percent and the highest 10 percent of all reported values were excluded.