The Ohio Farm Custom Rates Survey data collection has launched once again. The online survey for 2026 is available at: www.go.osu.edu/customratesurvey2026
Many Ohio farmers hire others to perform machinery operations and other farm-related work. This is often due to a lack of proper equipment, time, or expertise for a particular operation. Many farm business owners do not own equipment for every job they may encounter in the course of operating a farm and may, instead of purchasing the equipment needed, seek someone with the proper tools 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 for the custom work that the customer pays the custom work provider.
Custom farming providers and customers often negotiate an agreeable custom farming machinery rate by utilizing Extension survey results as a starting point. The 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 2026.
Custom work providers or customers are asked to respond even if they know only a few rates. Information is sought on the actual rates, either the amount paid to hire custom work or the amount charged to perform it. 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
If a document is preferred, that can be printed out to be completed by hand to return, email Eric Richer at richer.5@osu.edu, Barry Ward at ward.8@osu.edu, John Barker at barker.41@osu.edu, or Amanda Bennett at bennett.709@osu.edu
The deadline to complete the survey is March 31, 2026.