Livestock Custom Rate Survey Available Now

Lincoln - Many farmers and ranchers inquire about prevailing rates for various custom farm services. In addition to the regular biennial custom rates survey, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Agricultural Profitability has launched a new survey designed to provide market rate information for the Nebraska livestock industry. Producers and operators that perform and provide custom services for others, or that utilize custom services and pay others, are invited to participate in the survey. 

Anyone interested in participating in the livestock-related custom rates survey can request a file copy to download, complete, and then return, or register to receive the online survey version. Users can sign up to receive the livestock-related custom rates survey at https://cap.unl.edu/customrates. Nebraska Extension livestock systems educators or county extension office staff may also assist in obtaining a survey or provide the online link.

Services covered in the survey include charges for pasture maintenance, fencing, and trenching services, livestock processing fees and yardage rates, hauling fees, custom feed preparation, haying services, facility and equipment rental rates, manure pumping, hauling and application charges.

Even if only one or a few custom services are utilized or performed by an individual operation, providing the rate information for services that you utilize or that you charge for is important. Individual survey responses are kept anonymous and confidential. Nebraska state ranges and averages will be published.

By completing the survey, you will help ensure that the most accurate information possible is provided to Nebraska livestock producers and those that provide related services. The survey should take only a few minutes to complete. This will be the second Nebraska livestock-related custom rates survey. Plans are to make this a biennial survey, alternating years between the traditional, more crop-related, biennial custom rates services survey and report.

If you have questions about the survey, email or call: Glennis McClure, Department of Agricultural Economics, at [email protected] or 

402-472-0661.