Source: AgriLife Today
A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service survey to collect rates charged for custom agricultural operations is being distributed to select farmers, ranchers and landowners across Texas.
Dr. Steven Klose, AgriLife Extension economist in College Station, said the survey is voluntary, but urges producers to respond as it provides a baseline of rates statewide and further assists with questions regarding specific custom-hire activities.
Custom rates are assigned for activities done on the farm ranging from harvesting operations to planting. Klose said his office receives a number of inquiries each year for custom rates for a variety of activities and custom farm-machine operations.
The survey will collect data on the following categories: tractor rental, tillage operations, planting operations, chemical and fertilizer application, custom harvesting, hay baling, land preparation, brush control and other miscellaneous operations or services. Only regional and state averages will be published, Klose said.
“The survey should only take 10-15 minutes for most people because we only want them to answer the questions that pertain to their operation,” Klose said. “We need broad participation to produce an accurate and reliable publication of this market information.”
While hard copies of the survey will be mailed to a limited group, anyone with knowledge of custom farm and ranch operations is encouraged to participate online at agecoext.tamu.edu/crs2016.
Survey collection will run through mid-April, and the publication will be available shortly after.  For more information and previous survey publications, visit agecoext.tamu.edu/crs