Along with every other input cost for production agriculture, the rates for custom farming are also going up for 2009.

The increases, however, are expected to be moderate, mostly with 3 to 6 percent of last year’s rates.

Iowa State University released its latest custom farming cost survey in March. The information was gleaned from 255 Iowa farmers, custom machinery operators and farm managers.

Of those interviewed, 28 percent of the respondents do custom farm work, while 17 percent hire work done and 55 percent do both.

The average values shown on this page includes rates based on labor and fuel costs, which assumes diesel to cost $2.50 per gallon.

ISU said the rates are to be used only as a guide. Actual rates may vary according to machinery availability, operator skills, field size, field shape, crop conditions and the performance level of the machines.

On this page is a sampling of the information. The entire document can be found at:

www.extennsion.iastate.

edu/agdm/crops/pdf/a3-12.pdf