The Rural Voice, 1981-05, Page 25Custom work- How to arrive
at a fair rate to charge
Nearly every farmer has either had
some of his farm work done or has
himself performed some custom work.
According to recent studies. tractor and
machine costs amount to nearly $50 for
producing an acre of corn, and nearly $90
for producing an acre of hand picked
processing tomatoes. The modern farmer
has a lot of money tied up in tractor and
machinery investment. Many of these
specialized machines are only used a few
days each year. By using, custom
tarmwork services. farmers can obtain
the benefit of these specialized machines
without having to buy them.
In making their decision on whether to
own or custom hire, farmers arc faced
with many considerations. There appears
to be no straight answer for each farm.
Each fanner must consider his own crop .
and farm requirements.
Some advantages of owning machin-
ery: •
•the tractor or machine is available
when it is needed; and
•You. the owner, can make the
decision on when to repair, improve. or
trade the machine.
Some disadvantages of owning mach-
inerv:
•The cost per acre or per hour can be
very high if the tractor or machine is used
on a small acreage each year;
• A full line of machinery required to
operate the modern farm places a heavy
burden on investment on the farmer; and
•Because of continuous improvements.
certain machines becomes obsolete be-
fore they are worn out.
What is a fair custom rate to charge:'
the custom rate charge must be one that
is fair to both parties involved. This rate
should cover all costs and leave a profit
for the operator or he cannot afford to
stay in business. In any farming arca, the
supply and demand for custom farnn%ork
services will often be reflected in the
rates charged. Other factors affecting the
custom rates charged are field sire and
shape, type of soil. %%catbcr and crop
conditions.
To determine the rates being charged
by custom formwork services across
Ontario in 1980. survey forms were sent
out to over S00 custom operators. The
information presented in the report may
be used as a guide by custom operators
and farmers using custom services, but it
should not be interpreted as a recom-
mendation..
It was found that custom rates did vary
%%ithin each survey area and in some
eases this variation was quite wide.
These differences in charges occurred in
areas where custom operators were
operating under conditions of poorly
drained, or uneven and stoney fields, as
compared to level, stone -free, and well -
drained fields. Variations in soil texture,
i.e., heavy clays or sandy soils, and the
incorporation. of stalks, straw. or other
trash caused differences in plowing rates.
Most custom operators still charged on
a per acre basis for such operations as
tillage, planting, and spraying. On the
other hand. those operators who charged
by the hour felt that this method was a
fairer way of charging as it eliminated
arguments over field size, obstructions,
and delays due to crop and field
conditions.
[G.A. Fisher Economics Branch
O.M.A.F. 1
Trees may be a cheap
source of fertilizer
Petro -chemical nitrogen fertilizers
are becoming more and more costly. but a
Laval University scientist believes the
solution may be in the trees.
Well. not exactly up in the trees. but in
root -dwelling micro organisms that could
be harnessed to produce comparatively
cheap fertilizers.
Andre Fortin, a biologist who runs
Laval University's tree biology research
laboratory says, "These micro-organisms
live naturally in roots of legumes and
certain woody plants where they form
nodules that operate as tiny nitrogen
factories." In return for fertilizing the
plant, micro-organisms draw food from it.
a mutually beneficial relationship known
as symbiosis.
Laval researchers already believe their
work with Frankie, a filament -shaped
bacteria that lives in the roots of an alder
tree, will lead to faster growing trees.
Alders. regarded as scrub trees, grow
quickly even in poor soils and could
become an important source of wood fuel,
in addition to adding nitrogen to the soil.
The researchers say, "A hectare of
alders produces 300 to 400 kilograms of
nitrogen fertilizer, much more than the
trees themselves need." Unfortunately
poplar trees, which are being grown in
this province to meet future pulp needs,
deplete the soil of nitrogen.
Mr. Fortin suggests planting alder
trees among the poplars could provide a
natural source of nitrogen fertilizer.
MAILBOX OF THE MONTH
Located in Fullerton township
[Photo by Keith Butson)
THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1981 PG. 23