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Illinois custom farming rates 2026

Illinois does not publish a custom rate survey. The rates below are Iowa State University’s 2026 Iowa survey rates.

The University of Illinois does not publish a custom rate survey. farmdoc publishes Machinery Cost Estimates for field, harvest, tractor and forage operations, updated every two years (latest September 1, 2025; next planned late summer 2027). farmdoc notes these are costs without a return to the operator, so an amount should be added when using them to set custom rates. See: farmdoc Machinery Cost Estimates (Management section) · farmdoc daily: Machinery Cost Estimates for 2025.

The Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey is widely used as a reference in neighboring states. Farm management analyst Kent Thiesse calls it “probably the most widely used custom rate information available in the upper Midwest” (Agweek, Nov. 2025). These are Iowa numbers (Iowa respondents, Iowa conditions, diesel assumed at $2.89/gal). Adjust for local conditions: field size and shape, travel distance, crop and yield, timing, and what custom operators near you actually charge.

Every source link on this page goes to the Iowa report. Illinois is not counted as a separate state in any comparison.

Rates shown
2026 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey (Ag Decision Maker File A3-10, FM 1698) · 144 rates
Published by
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Ag Decision Maker, March 2026 (FM 1698, revised March 2026)
Responses
205 responses (4,698 rates) (Iowa)
Fuel
Rates include fuel, repairs, depreciation, interest and operator labor unless otherwise noted. Rates are expected to be charged or paid in 2026.
Ranges
Range excludes the single lowest and single highest response.
Source
Iowa report (PDF) · publisher page · same rates on the Iowa page

Survey averages, not quotes. These are averages of what people reported in extension surveys. Use them as a starting point for a conversation, not as a price. For Illinois, these are Iowa survey averages used as a reference, not Illinois data.

Tillage (22) · Planting & seeding (19) · Spraying (8) · Fertilizer application (8) · Harvesting (21) · Drying & storage (2) · Hay & forage (19) · Custom farming (all operations) (3) · Manure (3) · Labor (2) · Machinery rental (11) · Other services (26)

Tillage

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Chopping cornstalks compare states $14.55/acre$8.00 – $20.00 32Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Moldboard plowing compare states $20.10/acre$14.00 – $24.00 17Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Chisel plowing compare states $20.75/acre$10.00 – $28.00 37Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Disk/chiseling compare states $23.00/acre$10.00 – $34.00 58Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Vertical tillage compare states $22.15/acre$12.00 – $30.00 79Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Strip tillage - without fertilizer application compare states $23.20/acre$15.00 – $30.00 20Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Strip tillage - with dry bulk fertilizer, banded, no materials compare states $29.65/acre$17.00 – $40.00 21Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Strip tillage - with liquid fertilizer, knifed, no materials compare states $28.15/acre$17.00 – $39.00 16Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Strip tillage - with anhydrous fertilizer, no materials compare states $28.35/acre$17.00 – $37.00 18Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Subsoiling (8 to 15 inches deep) compare states $25.20/acre$13.00 – $35.00 36Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
V-ripping (over 15 inches deep) compare states $27.20/acre$15.00 – $40.00 28Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
V-ripping with tandem disk compare states $26.10/acre$12.25 – $40.00 48Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Disking, tandem compare states $19.80/acre$10.00 – $30.00 59Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Disking, heavy or offset compare states $23.75/acre$16.00 – $30.00 22Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Harrowing or dragging $12.80/acre$7.00 – $18.00 23Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Soil finishing compare states $19.80/acre$10.00 – $33.00 52Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Field cultivating compare states $19.20/acre$7.60 – $32.00 82Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Rock picking $18.50/acre$10.00 – $30.00 23Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Cultivating, conventional compare states $17.45/acre$12.00 – $20.00 18Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Cultivating, ridge-till $17.35/acre$15.00 – $18.75 8Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Rotary hoeing compare states $12.85/acre$8.00 – $17.00 28Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Land rolling compare states $9.75/acre$4.00 – $18.00 56Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate

Planting & seeding

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Planting - with fertilizer and insecticide attachments compare states $29.60/acre$16.00 – $50.00 47Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Planting - without attachments compare states $26.50/acre$15.00 – $38.00 69Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Planting - with splitters and attachments $28.50/acre$13.00 – $47.00 49Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Planting - with high-speed planter $31.25/acre$14.00 – $56.00 71Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Planting - no-till planter compare states $29.10/acre$15.00 – $46.00 76Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Planting - no-till planter with splitters $30.00/acre$16.00 – $45.00 58Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Planting - ridge till planter $28.45/acre$24.00 – $34.00 7Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Extra charge for seed shut-offs $3.75/acre$0.50 – $10.00 70Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Extra charge for variable rate seeding $3.90/acre$1.00 – $10.00 52Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Extra charge for GPS use, if used for analytics $3.65/acre$1.00 – $10.00 45Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Seed tender $5.05/acre$2.00 – $10.00 51Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Drilling soybean compare states $22.00/acre$14.00 – $28.00 33Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Drilling soybean, no-till compare states $24.15/acre$15.00 – $32.00 40Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Drilling grass seed $21.80/acre$10.00 – $30.00 36Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Drilling small grain compare states $19.45/acre$10.00 – $27.00 30Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Seeding grass, broadcast with tractor $15.65/acre$8.00 – $25.00 19Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Seeding grass, broadcast with ATV $18.65/acre$10.00 – $30.00 16Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Aerial seeding of cover crop compare states $14.70/acre$10.00 – $18.00 25Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate
Drilling cover crop seed compare states $19.05/acre$9.00 – $25.00 39Iowa PDF p. 2 · calculate

Spraying

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Ground, broadcast, not incorporated, tractor compare states
Materials not included
$8.50/acre$5.00 – $14.00 35Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Ground, incorporated, tractor
Materials not included
$12.30/acre$7.00 – $18.00 10Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Ground, broadcast, not incorporated, self-propelled compare states
Materials not included
$9.35/acre$5.00 – $18.00 121Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Ground, broadcast, self-propelled tall-crop compare states
Materials not included
$11.15/acre$6.00 – $20.00 65Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Ground, banded, tractor
Materials not included
$12.20/acre$8.50 – $16.00 8Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Ground, road ditches
Materials not included
$90.45/hour$25.00 – $145.00 40Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Aerial compare states
Materials not included
$12.00/acre$9.00 – $18.00 54Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Drone compare states
Materials not included
$12.50/acre$8.00 – $16.00 47Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate

Fertilizer application

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Dry bulk - applied compare states
Materials not included
$8.15/acre$4.00 – $13.50 59Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Liquid - spraying compare states
Materials not included
$9.45/acre$5.00 – $15.00 35Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Liquid - side dressing compare states
Materials not included
$14.10/acre$9.00 – $20.00 38Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Liquid - high clearance, drop hose, Y spray nozzle compare states
Materials not included
$13.25/acre$8.00 – $20.00 26Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Anhydrous - injecting, with tool bar compare states
Materials not included
$15.55/acre$7.00 – $28.00 79Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Anhydrous - injecting, without tool bar
Materials not included
$13.45/acre$8.00 – $20.00 42Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Anhydrous - side dressing
Materials not included
$13.55/acre$8.00 – $18.00 15Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Spreading lime compare states
Materials not included
$8.30/ton$5.00 – $14.00 31Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate

Harvesting

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Corn combining compare states $46.05/acre$25.00 – $80.00 119Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Corn combining - with chopper head $50.60/acre$25.00 – $80.00 61Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Corn combining - added charge for corn reel (downed corn) $12.55/acre$5.00 – $30.00 34Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Soybean combining compare states $43.05/acre$24.00 – $70.00 94Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Soybean combining - with air reel $47.00/acre$26.00 – $70.00 21Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Soybean combining - with draper head $48.20/acre$24.00 – $80.00 95Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Small grain combining compare states $47.00/acre$35.00 – $65.00 13Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Complete harvesting (combine, grain cart, haul to farm storage) - Corn compare states
checkoutlier

⚠ Range runs up to $175/acre (excluding the single highest). Wide spread; median ($70–75) is lower than the average.

⚠ +71% vs. the cross-state median ($47.95) for “Corn harvest package (combine + grain cart)”.

$82.00/acre$40.00 – $175.00 67Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Complete harvesting (combine, grain cart, haul to farm storage) - Soybean compare states
checkoutlier

⚠ Range runs up to $175/acre (excluding the single highest). Wide spread; median ($70–75) is lower than the average.

⚠ +67% vs. the cross-state median ($46.22) for “Soybean harvest package (combine + grain cart)”.

$77.40/acre$32.00 – $175.00 68Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Added charge for GPS mapping $3.95/acre$1.00 – $8.00 46Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Picking ear corn $49.70/acre$30.00 – $100.00 19Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Drying corn (includes fuel, electricity, labor) - continuous flow dryer compare states $0.055/point/bushel$0.025 – $0.09 21Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Drying corn (includes fuel, electricity, labor) - bin dryer compare states $0.05/point/bushel$0.025 – $0.06 10Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Handling grain by auger $0.085/bushel$0.02 – $0.16 37Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - grain cart, corn compare states $9.25/acre$3.00 – $22.00 72Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - grain cart, soybean compare states $8.10/acre$2.00 – $19.00 72Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - to farm storage, wagon compare states $0.095/bushel$0.04 – $0.15 28Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - farm storage to market, wagon $0.125/bushel$0.05 – $0.24 27Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - to market, truck, (5 miles, 1-way trip) compare states $0.135/bushel$0.06 – $0.50 96Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - to market, truck, (25 miles, 1-way trip) compare states $0.20/bushel$0.09 – $0.35 97Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate
Hauling grain - to market, truck, (100 miles, 1-way trip) compare states
outlier

⚠ +108% vs. the cross-state median ($0.20) for “Hauling grain to market”.

$0.405/bushel$0.18 – $0.65 46Iowa PDF p. 3 · calculate

Drying & storage

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Storing grain, bin rental compare states $0.03/bushel/month$0.01 – $0.06 22Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Storing grain, bin rental $0.19/bushel/year$0.10 – $0.45 45Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate

Hay & forage

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Hay - mowing compare states $15.45/acre$9.50 – $21.00 20Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay - mowing/conditioning compare states $17.30/acre$10.00 – $25.00 31Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay - raking compare states $9.90/acre$7.50 – $15.00 24Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay - merging $12.40/acre$8.00 – $13.00 5Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay - tedding compare states $11.85/acre$8.00 – $15.00 12Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Swathing hay or small grain $18.00/acre$15.00 – $22.00 5Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay baling - small square bales compare states
outlier

⚠ -47% vs. the cross-state median ($1.88) for “Baling small square bales”.

$1.00/bale$0.50 – $1.50 16Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay baling - large square bales compare states $14.90/bale$13.00 – $18.00 7Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay baling - large round bales without wrap compare states $13.15/bale$10.00 – $20.00 11Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Hay baling - large round bales with wrap compare states $15.75/bale$12.00 – $20.00 39Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Straw or corn stalk baling - large round or square bales without wrap $14.50/bale$10.00 – $20.00 8Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Straw or corn stalk baling - large round or square bales with wrap $16.85/bale$12.00 – $20.00 31Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Moving large round bales to storage $3.25/bale$1.50 – $5.00 11Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Haul round bales by truck or trailer $0.29/bale/loaded mile$0.18 – $0.38 6Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Haul round bales by truck or trailer $118.00/hour$90.00 – $150.00 5Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Silage - chopping $77.40/hour/head row$50.00 – $98.00 5Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Silage - chopping $9.20/ton$7.00 – $12.00 10Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Filling silage bags $11.30/foot of bag$9.00 – $15.00 8Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Earlage or snaplage - chopping $84.75/acre$65.00 – $100.00 8Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate

Custom farming (all operations)

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Custom farming, all operations - Corn compare states
check

⚠ Very wide range ($65–$375/acre). Survey does not specify yield or field conditions.

$177.85/acre$74.50 – $375.00 64Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Custom farming, all operations - Soybean compare states
check

⚠ Very wide range ($65–$375/acre). Survey does not specify yield or field conditions.

$161.70/acre$65.00 – $353.00 63Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Custom farming, all operations - Small grain
check

⚠ Very wide range ($65–$375/acre). Survey does not specify yield or field conditions.

$186.15/acre$70.00 – $290.00 13Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate

Manure

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Spreading liquid manure, injected compare states $18.15/1,000 gallons$11.00 – $29.00 16Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Applying liquid manure with drag line compare states $16.85/1,000 gallons$12.50 – $21.00 9Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Loading, spreading solid manure $7.20/ton$5.00 – $9.00 7Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate

Labor

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Farm labor wage for operating machinery - Spraying or harvesting compare states $24.45/hour$15.00 – $40.00 81Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Farm labor wage for operating machinery - Other operations compare states $22.95/hour$15.00 – $40.00 105Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate

Machinery rental

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Tractor compare states
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$0.34/horsepower/hour$0.14 – $0.50 18Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Corn head for combine
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$11.60/acre$5.00 – $20.00 11Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Soybean head for combine
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$13.45/acre$5.00 – $20.00 9Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Grain cart with auger, corn
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$6.70/acre$6.00 – $12.00 7Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Grain cart with auger, soybean
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$5.85/acre$5.00 – $10.00 6Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Grain truck (semi)
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$0.20/bushel/round trip$0.18 – $0.22 5Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Grain auger
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$0.08/bushel$0.05 – $0.12 7Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Grain vacuum
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$0.10/bushel$0.07 – $0.13 8Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Skid loader compare states
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$97.50/hour$80.00 – $120.00 8Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Dry bulk fertilizer applicator
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$7.05/acre$5.00 – $9.00 8Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate
Machinery rental (no operator, tractor or fuel) - Anhydrous fertilizer applicator
Rental rate: operator labor, tractor and fuel NOT included
$9.50/acre$3.00 – $15.00 8Iowa PDF p. 5 · calculate

Other services

Job (survey wording)AverageRangeResponsesSource
Removing snow (loader) $114.05/hour$50.00 – $200.00 34Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Removing snow (blade) $14.25/hour/foot of blade$12.50 – $16.70 7Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Removing snow (blower) $16.95/hour/foot of blower$4.15 – $27.80 13Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Tub grinding hay $273.90/hour$100.00 – $425.00 9Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Power washing $78.85/hour$50.00 – $100.00 13Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Building fence, barbed (no materials) $42.70/hour$35.00 – $50.00 7Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Scouting crops $6.65/acre$4.00 – $9.50 13Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
GPS grid soil testing $7.95/acre$3.00 – $12.50 18Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Managing stored grain $0.08/bushel$0.03 – $0.12 12Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Vacuuming grain $0.12/bushel$0.05 – $0.20 29Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Livestock hauling with semi-truck $4.70/loaded mile$3.50 – $5.75 9Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Bulldozing $17.55/hour/foot of blade$12.00 – $22.50 16Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Trenching $1.60/foot$1.25 – $2.00 5Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Tiling, tiling machine (excluding materials) $1.70/foot$1.05 – $2.30 7Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Tiling, tile plow (excluding materials) $1.15/foot$0.50 – $1.75 12Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Backhoeing compare states $129.35/hour$70.00 – $200.00 23Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Clearing land $161.65/hour$100.00 – $225.00 15Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Building ponds $161.65/hour$125.00 – $210.00 6Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Chain sawing $89.15/hour$50.00 – $120.00 18Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Welding machinery $83.85/hour$40.00 – $110.00 15Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Mowing CRP or pasture compare states $27.05/acre$12.00 – $50.00 47Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Controlled burning of grass, CRP, pasture $33.35/acre$20.00 – $60.00 25Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Mowing fence rows, ditches $103.20/hour$20.00 – $150.00 45Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Mowing lawns $56.65/hour$20.00 – $100.00 30Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Chopping brush $105.55/acre$25.00 – $200.00 18Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
Using truck scale $11.15/load weighed$5.00 – $19.25 8Iowa PDF p. 4 · calculate
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