The Ohio Farm Custom Rates Survey data collection has launched once again. The online survey for 2024 is available at: www.go.osu.edu/customratesurvey 

A large number of Ohio farmers hire machinery operations and other farm related work to be completed by others. This is often due to lack of proper equipment, lack of time or lack of expertise for a particular operation.  Many farm business owners do not own equipment for every possible job that they may encounter in the course of operating a farm and may, instead of purchasing the equipment needed, seek out someone with the proper tools necessary to complete the job. This farm work completed by others is often referred to as “custom farm work” or more simply “custom work”. A “custom rate” is the amount agreed upon by both parties to be paid by the custom work customer to the custom work provider.

Custom farming providers and customers often negotiate an agreeable custom farming machinery rate by utilizing Extension surveys results as a starting point. Ohio State University Extension collects surveys and publishes survey results from the Ohio Farm Custom Survey every other year. This survey will result in a new Ohio Farm Custom Rate Survey Summary for 2024.

Custom work providers or customers are asked to respond even if they know only a few rates. Information is sought on actual rates, either what was paid to hire custom work or what was charged to perform custom work. Custom Rates should include all ownership costs of implement & tractor (if needed), operator labor, fuel and lube. If fuel is not included in the custom rate charge, there is a place on the survey to indicate this.

The online survey is available at: www.go.osu.edu/customratesurvey Survey hard copies will be sent out in the upcoming edition of the OSU Extension Brown County Agriculture and Natural Resources and Community Development Newsletter. Individuals wishing to receive the newsletter can sign up for the mailing list by contacting the OSU Extension Brown County office at 937-378-6716.

If a document is preferred that can be printed out to complete by hand to return, email Trevor Corboy at corboy.3@osu.edu or by calling OSU Extension Brown County at 937-378-6716.

The deadline to complete the survey is March 31, 2024.

Join us for a webinar series focusing on all things soil health. This series will offer standalone topics, so attendees can attend one, two, or all three sessions. Live webinars will offer CCA continuing education credits, and webinar recordings will be posted to the OSU Agronomy Team YouTube Channel for later viewing.
In this monthly series, farmers, industry, and academic experts will weigh in on practical steps to improve soil health and measure impact on crop yield and farm profitability. Please plan to join us for all three sessions!

Dates: Session 1: January 11th, 2024: Who’s the J.A.M. at OSU? Presented by: Dr. Jim Ippolitio, Dr. Asmita Murumkar, & Dr. Manbir Rakkar, The Ohio State University

Session 2: February 8th, 2024: Cover Crop Info Drop, Presented by: Grower Panel

Session 3: March 7th, 2024: What’s the beef with Soil Health and livestock? Presented by: Dr. Anna Cate, University of Minnesota, Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Dr. Doug Jackson-Smith, The Ohio State University

Time: 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom. Registration is required to receive the connection link. Registration can be completed by clicking here.

*See flyer below for full details.

Save the Date! Ohio State University Extension Small Farm Team presents: ‘Sowing Seeds for Success’ Small Farm Conference. At the Mid – East Career Technical Center Buffalo Campus, Senecaville, Ohio on April 6, 2024.  More details will be posted on the Go Farm Ohio page in the near future, or by clicking here.