We Need Your Help to Update the Idaho Custom Rates Guide

The University of Idaho is in the process of updating the Idaho Custom Rates Guide, which was last revised in 2006. If you do any type of custom field work or if you hired someone in the last year to do some custom work, we would like to talk with you. A large sample ensures that the numbers obtained reflect the rates charged in Idaho. Anyone providing information used in the survey will receive a free copy of the Custom Rates Guide when it is published this summer. All information received is treated as confidential. Only the aggregated values are published.

If you are interested in participating in the survey, please do one of the following:

1. Send the information directly to Paul Patterson by email or by snail mail

Paul Patterson pattersn@uidaho.edu
University of Idaho
1776 Science Center Drive, Suite 205
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402-1575

Provide as much detail on the type of service provided and your rate schedule. We are interested in all field operations including: tillage, fumigation, cultivation, markout, planting, spraying, harvesting and hauling. If you plow for example, specify whether moldboard or chisel, and whether the rate is higher for alfalfa and sod compared to stubble. If you disk, specify whether offset or tandem. If you bale, specify the size of the bale. If you have a fuel surcharge, a set-up charge, or a minimum charge per job, please provide those details. If your rates are based on a specific fuel price, please indicate what that is and how you adjust your rates when fuel prices increase. If you provide a range of services, such as swathing, raking, baling and hauling that you charge at different rates, but also have a lower package price, please specify the details. The same goes for silage harvesting. Please be sure to provide your name and mailing address if you want to receive a free copy of the custom rates guide, and a telephone number in case we have any follow-up questions.

2. Call the number shown below and ask for Paul Patterson or Pat Norell. Pat generally only works on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which are the best days to call. We can take the information directly over the phone or we can send you a survey that you can return by mail. 208-529-8376

The website link with the existing Custom Rates Guide is

http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edComm/pdf/BUL/BUL0729.pdf

Please seriously consider participating. This is one of the most requested publications that we have and we want to make it the best publication possible. Hoever, we can only do this with your help. Please respond by March 28th. Thank you.

--Paul Patterson
Extension Agricultural Economist