COLLEGE STATION – A survey collecting rates charged for custom agricultural operations will be distributed in January to select farmers, ranchers and landowners across the state, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist.
“Each year, AgriLife Extension receives many requests for prevailing rates for certain kinds of work and custom farm-machine operations,” said Dr. Steven Klose, AgriLife Extension economist in College Station. “This survey helps us establish a baseline of rates statewide and further assist with questions inquiring about specific custom-hire activities.”
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and will be distributed by U.S. mail only, Klose said.
The survey will collect data on the following categories: tractor rental, tillage operations, planting operations, application of fertilizer and lime, chemicals-cotton harvesting, peanut harvesting, hauling and drying, combining and hauling grains, haying and silage operations, land preparation, brush control, other farm and ranch operations, miscellaneous livestock operations and consulting services.
“The final data will be compiled in a survey publication later this spring,” Klose said. “Only regional and state averages will be published.”
The completed publication will be available online at http://agecoext.tamu.edu. Those who do not receive a survey and would like to participate can phone 877-826-7475 or contact Klose at 979-458-1807 or sklose@tamu.edu.
(NOTE: The original story is at http://agrilife.org/today/2011/01/05/survey-of-custom-agricultural-rates/)
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