Editor’s note
Rates are available in the PDF file, available via the “Download this publication” button.
For historical reference, see the previous issue of this Missouri custom rates guide (PDF).
The rates reported in this guide summarize a statewide survey conducted online and by solicitations of University of Missouri Extension specialists in fall 2025 through winter 2026. We asked farmers, agribusiness firms and land improvement contractors to provide the rates they were charging or paying in 2025 for custom services, excluding the cost of materials being applied. Thank you to those who provided information, even if it was for just one activity. In total, 953 individual responses were provided across all activities. Fewer people respond to this survey each time it is taken, which is every three years. There may be fewer farmers using custom operators or fewer businesses conducting custom activities. However, this remains a very popular MU Extension guide.
The number of responses to many questions was too low to have statistical confidence in the results. The results presented here have been compared to custom rates guides from surrounding states to examine the validity of the responses to this survey. These results have also been compared to previous custom rates surveys to see if the direction and magnitude of changes seems reasonable.
Explanation of the rates in this guide
Rates in this guide reflect each respondent’s judgment of a “normal” job. Larger jobs, defined by acres, tonnage or otherwise, will often cost less per unit than a similar small job. Likewise, jobs requiring less travel and offering better efficiency through larger, more square fields may also have a lower cost per unit.
Custom rates aim to cover the cost of machinery, fuel, labor and, occasionally, a product such as lime or bale wrap. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that machinery values and labor costs have increased by about 5% and 6%, respectively, since our 2023 custom rates survey. Diesel prices have decreased by 4% in the past three years but are experiencing a sharp increase as this update occurs in March 2026. Increases in the cost of inputs suggest that custom rates should have generally increased over the past several years.
Interpreting the responses
The “Number reporting” and “Range of responses” columns are important. They indicate the number of responses for that activity and the variation in those responses. A small number of responses combined with a large range of responses means that there is less confidence in those results. The “Average rate” column indicates the average charge for all of the rates in that row. The “Median rate” had an equal number of responses higher and lower.
Some important activities did not receive sufficient responses to report the results with this level of detail. Table 9 reports the median value, as anecdotal information, about important or widely requested activities meeting this criteria. Less credibility should be given to these rates.
As in past years, this guide reports the average rate, and the low, mid and high rates reported in responses. When few responses are averaged, a single response can move the average a lot. In this situation, the extremes may have unduly influenced the reported average. The range of responses also gives the user an idea of how variable the rates charged for field activities might be. Possible explanations for the variation of these ranges are the type or size of equipment used, the mix of labor and equipment used, or the different business objectives of full‐time custom operators compared to local farmers supplementing their income.