This report is not any one farm's real cost but is a summary of custom rate values taken from several sources. The report has been compiled and published to be a starting point for farms to use in identifying their own farm's numbers.
For farms looking back to 2012, a copy of the "2012 Farm Machine Work Rate" report is also available.
As farms work to develop their farm business plan for 2013, it may be helpful to utilize information like this for building cost estimations and comparisons of various farm production systems.
When farm crops mix or tillage programs change, the overall cost of operations can also change. Having a set of reference numbers may be helpful in doing a paper evaluation before implementation is undertaken.
Changes can often be expensive. A farm may find it more practical – in the short term or long term – to use the available services that a neighboring farm may be able and willing to provide rather than purchase an expensive piece of equipment. FG
—From Michigan State University Extension news release
