Topping and harrowing per acre

[Jamesdlc1763]

Hi, I'm just curious of what I should charge per acre/hour with a 6ft topper and a 16ft chain harrow.
I am using a Massey Ferguson 3060 2wd tractor (profile picture).
Thank you for your help
James.

 

[Kam]

Here would be a good place to start https://www.naac.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NAAC-CONTRACTING-CHARGES-SURVEY-Final-2019.pdf

 

[Jamesdlc1763]

I've seen sites like these and they're all the same however, I live in a very rural area with many plots of land, if I was to start up agri-contracting we would most likely be the only contractors for around 5-ish mile radius and I'm just looking for a specific recommended price which will #1 satisfy the customers needs in a way that they would like to use our services again. But #2 have enough profit for it to be worthwhile and be able to cover fuel and repair costs with relative ease. We are looking to work in 1-20 acre plots of land, to put it into perspective.

 

[DanniAgro]

Looking at it in that way, you will have to work out your costs to provide the service, add in a realistic profit level and see how your potential customers feel about it.
The acid test is how much other contractors in your area charge per acre. Can you try to find out?

 

[Jamesdlc1763]

I can try my best to find out, thanks a ton buddy.

 

[Classichay]

You need to charge per hour not per acre this only works out with volume,

so say your tractor uses a tenners worth of fuel an hour, insurance £300/year so average that over maybe 100 hours ? That’s 3.00/hr so without wear on your machine your 13.00 in, if your doing small horsey jobs 35-40.00/hr if you have a captive market. But there’s always that fool that will do it far less than you, do you need to be paying repairs on a machine for someone else’s benefit?

I charge when I leave the gate on a flat rate unless there’s spraying involved. But don’t be tempted to do the big tractor jobs with your Massey as you will burn that girl up in a a heartbeat treating her hard. She’s worth looking after and delegating to lighter duties - wrapping topping raking etc

hedge cutting would be an option to you in drier times and road work, had a 3065 which was a brilliant machine. But take into account the wear components and risk of windows etc on the small holder jobs.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Work out your costs per hour, then see how many acres you cover "on-average hours" and that's your charge per acre?
Don't leave yourself too tight, as edges of fields are expensive, corners are expensive, it only takes a small breakage to spoil a profitable day.

It beats my why anything that takes 'time' would be charged by area but if that's how you want to do it...