Custom Farm Machinery Rates Report - University of Georgia

A comparison of the previously reported 2008 rates and the new ratescollected in 2011 indicates that the overall change in rates over the 3-year period is20.34%. This growth rate was derived by considering only those rates forjobs/tasks provided by more than 2 respondents in the current survey. Thisoverall growth rate is below the comparative overall growth rate of 46.78%calculated for the 2005 and 2008 surveys. The current growth rate, however, ishigher than the other three-year period comparisons. Specifically, the custom ratesobtained in 2005 were only 7.49% higher than the 2002 rates, which, in turn, wereabout 15% higher than the 2000 rates.In the current survey, the different categories of custom operations posteddifferent growth trends in the overall growth rates in their respective categories.Silage and hay making operations registered the largest collective average increaseof 160.39%, followed by hauling/machinery rental/miscellaneous operations at20.31%, planting operations at 13.19%, and harvesting operations at 2.66%.Chemical and tillage operations, however, registered overall reductions in averagerates at -22.71% and -34.14%, respectively.Caution, however, should be observed in the use of such information, giventhe following considerations:a) The 2011 sample size, from which these rates were calculated, isrelatively smaller than the samples (responses obtained) used in the2002 and 2005 surveys.b) There is also no way to ascertain whether those that responded in the2011 survey are the same people that provided the rates in the 2008survey as identifiers were not used or encouraged to be used in theresponses received.