Horsch Avatar direct drilling charges

[JimmerD]

Just recently purchased a Horsch Avatar 6.16 SD. It will be mainly used on our own farm but a number of local farmers have shown interest in using it to drill their OSR and companion crop it with buckwheat, drilling both at the same time. Also, we demo'd it to stitch grass seed into existing ley which worked surprisingly well. Some local dairy farmers have also expressed interest in drilling grass directly into existing leys for them.
The drill was specified with three tanks so can do three different applications in one.
Does anyone use one for contracting purposes and if so, what would you be charging? Would it be flat rate regardless of what was being drilled or incremental price increases for the use of the other tanks and the ability to drill companion crops etc.
I've looked at NAAC charges and £25/acre possibly seems steep for the likes of stitching in grass that would be drilled shallow and wouldn't wear the discs etc.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Goggles]

I would imagine you could also take into consideration the size and location of your contract. Topography too maybe?

 

[SilliamWhale]

25 incl fuel is fair

 

[JimmerD]

25 incl fuel is fair

Even for grass stitching though? considering the low seed rate that is drilled as opposed to wheat?

 

[Will Blackburn]

You need to be targeting at least £150 per hour, for every hour tractor is running. Small fields, high seed rate, fert, 3 products are going to mean £25 is barely enough.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Even for grass stitching though? considering the low seed rate that is drilled as opposed to wheat?

Your drill wasn't cheap. The customer is paying for a good job. It's not outrageous at all. It's fair

 

[JimmerD]

You need to be targeting at least £150 per hour, for every hour tractor is running. Small fields, high seed rate, fert, 3 products are going to mean £25 is barely enough.

Suppose when you put it like that i guess it is. The difficulty is getting people to pay for it. Heard a few people in the area were quoted around £20/acre for direct drilling wheat with a Vaddy and they weren't prepared to pay, when you've got lads running round at £12/acre for tine drilling.

 

[Simon Chiles]

Suppose when you put it like that i guess it is. The difficulty is getting people to pay for it. Heard a few people in the area were quoted around £20/acre for direct drilling wheat with a Vaddy and they weren't prepared to pay, when you've got lads running round at £12/acre for tine drilling.

The NAAC contractor rates are calculated by taking the average charge of all the NAAC members around the country who bothered to return the questionnaire. As such it would contain figures for every type of direct drill operated by their members and, fairly obviously, some direct drill will have much higher operating costs than others. It really is much better for you, and your customers, for you to work out your actual costs and factor in a margin for profit.