Custom Baling Rates

What it is

A custom rate is what someone charges to do a field job for you with their own tractor, equipment and labor, like baling your hay or combining your corn.

Where the numbers come from

University extension surveys ask custom operators what they charge. Each state's figures are shown as its survey published them.

How to use them

Find your state or the nearest one, the job, and the unit (per acre, per bale, per hour). The big number is that survey's average; the range shows the low and high answers.

Kentucky · 2024

Kentucky baling rates

Source: Custom Machinery Rates Applicable to Kentucky (2024), University of Kentucky, Department of Agricultural Economics (AEC 2024-01), April 17th, 2024. These custom rates are based on reported surveys in Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Kansas, adjusted to account for changes in fuel price, machinery costs, and wages, based on an expected $3.50 per gallon on-farm diesel fuel price for 2024.

Small Square Bales - Baling

$1.15per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $0.95 · 30% Above Avg. $1.50 · 3 responses

Large Square Bale - Baling - 600-800 lbs

$12.00per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $10.00 · 30% Above Avg. $15.50 · 1 response

Large Square Bale - Baling - Over 1000 lbs

$12.00per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $10.00 · 30% Above Avg. $15.50 · 1 response

Large Round Bale - Baling - 875 lbs

$12.50per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $10.50 · 30% Above Avg. $16.00 · 2 responses

Large Round Bale - Baling - 875 lbs w/net wrap

$12.50per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $10.50 · 30% Above Avg. $16.00 · 1 response

Large Round Bale - Baling - 875 lbs w/plastic wrap

$21.00per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $18.00 · 30% Above Avg. $27.50 · 1 response

Large Round Bale - Baling - 1200 lbs

$14.00per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $12.00 · 30% Above Avg. $18.50 · 1 response

Large Round Bale - Baling - 1200 lbs w/net wrap

$17.00per baleAvg. Final Rate

15% Below Avg. $14.50 · 30% Above Avg. $22.00 · 1 response

Missouri · 2026

Missouri baling rates

Source: Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri (G302), University of Missouri Extension, Revised 3/2026. Custom rates aim to cover the cost of machinery, fuel, labor and, occasionally, a product such as lime or bale wrap.

Small square baling

$1.88per baleAverage rate

Median rate $1.75 · Range of responses $1.00–$3.25 · 6 responses

Round bale with twine

$17.20per baleAverage rate

Median rate $17.00 · Range of responses $10.00–$25.00 · 5 responses

Round bale with net wrap, under 1,000 pound bales

$15.00per baleAverage rate

Median rate $15.00 · Range of responses $11.00–$18.00 · 6 responses

Round bale with net wrap, over 1,000 pound bales

$18.87per baleAverage rate

Median rate $20.00 · Range of responses $10.00–$35.00 · 15 responses

Indiana · 2025

Indiana baling rates

Source: 2025 Indiana Farm Custom Rates, Purdue University (Center for Commercial Agriculture), April 2025. Unless otherwise stated, the rates reported include payments made for fuel, operator labor, and machinery ownership costs.

Small Rectangular Bales (25-60 lbs.)

$1.12per baleAverage

9 responses

Large Rectangular Bales (over 1000 lbs.)

$13.17per baleAverage

6 responses

Medium Round Bales (4 feet wide)

$25.00per baleAverage

2 responses

Large Round Bales (5 feet wide)

$19.58per baleAverage

13 responses

Ohio · 2026

Ohio baling rates

Source: Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2026, Ohio State University Extension, June 2026. These rates, except where noted, include the implement and tractor if required, all variable machinery costs such as fuel, oil, lube, twine, etc., and labor for the operation.

Baled and Dropped on Ground

$1.12per baleAverage

Median $1.00 · Max $2.00 · Min $0.52 · 13 responses

Baled and Loaded on Wagon

$1.55per baleAverage

Median $1.50 · Max $3.00 · Min $0.55 · 11 responses

Baled, Loaded, Hauled, and Stored

$3.06per baleAverage

Median $2.75 · Max $6.00 · Min $1.25 · 12 responses

Baled and accumulated

$1.97per baleAverage

Median $2.00 · Max $3.00 · Min $1.50 · 9 responses

Baled and Left in Field

$11.98per baleAverage

Median $12.00 · Max $15.00 · Min $8.00 · 23 responses

Baled and Hauled from Field

$23.00per baleMax

Min $10.00 · 3 responses

Baled, Net Wrapped and Hauled from Field - Net wrap included

$19.44per baleAverage

Median $20.00 · Max $30.00 · Min $12.00 · 9 responses

Baled and Left in Field

$12.91per baleAverage

Median $13.00 · Max $16.00 · Min $10.00 · 11 responses

Baled and accumulated

$14.20per baleAverage

Median $15.00 · Max $18.00 · Min $10.00 · 5 responses

Baled and Hauled from Field

$18.40per baleAverage

Median $20.00 · Max $20.00 · Min $15.00 · 5 responses

Kansas · 2026

Kansas baling rates

Source: Kansas Custom Rates 2026 (Rates Paid by Kansas Farmers for Custom Work), Kansas Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Kansas State University Land Use Survey Office, 2026. The prices in this report include charges for machinery, power, fuel, and the operator. These prices do not include the costs of chemicals, seeds, and other materials, unless otherwise specified.

Baling small square bales, with wire

$1.85per baleAverage

Range $1.00–$2.75 · 10 responses

Baling small square bales, with twine

$2.56per baleAverage

Range $1.00–$5.00 · 9 responses

Baling large round bales under 1,500 pounds, without net

$17.50per baleAverage

Range $14.00–$20.00 · 4 responses

Baling large round bales under 1,500 pounds, with net

$16.06per baleAverage

Range $12.00–$20.00 · 51 responses

Baling large round bales over 1,500 pounds, without net

$18.50per baleAverage

Range $17.00–$20.00 · 4 responses

Baling large round bales over 1,500 pounds, with net

$18.96per baleAverage

Range $14.00–$25.00 · 54 responses

Iowa · 2026

Iowa baling rates

Source: 2026 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (Ag Decision Maker File A3-10, FM 1698), Revised March 2026. All rates include fuel, repairs, depreciation, interest, operator labor, and all other machinery costs for the tractor and implement, unless otherwise noted.

Hay baling - small square bales

$1.00per baleAverage Charge

Median Charge $1.00 · Range $0.50–$1.50 · 16 responses

Hay baling - large square bales

$14.90per baleAverage Charge

Median Charge $14.25 · Range $13.00–$18.00 · 7 responses

Hay baling - large round bales without wrap

$13.15per baleAverage Charge

Median Charge $12.00 · Range $10.00–$20.00 · 11 responses

Hay baling - large round bales with wrap

$15.75per baleAverage Charge

Median Charge $16.00 · Range $12.00–$20.00 · 39 responses

Straw or corn stalk baling - large round or square bales without wrap

$14.50per baleAverage Charge

Median Charge $14.00 · Range $10.00–$20.00 · 8 responses

Straw or corn stalk baling - large round or square bales with wrap

$16.85per baleAverage Charge

Median Charge $17.00 · Range $12.00–$20.00 · 31 responses

Nebraska · 2026

Nebraska baling rates

Source: 2026 Nebraska Agricultural Custom Rates (EC823), University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Center for Agricultural Profitability, April 24, 2026. Reported rates include charges for equipment, fuel, labor, and supplies such as baling wire or twine. Seed, fertilizer, and chemical costs are not included unless otherwise specified.

BALING SMALL SQUARE BALES WITH TWINE TIE, (AVERAGE LBS/BALE = 60#)

$1.94per baleAverage Rate

Most Common $1.10 · Range $1.10–$3 · 5 responses

BALING SMALL SQUARE BALES WITH WIRE TIE, (AVERAGE LBS/BALE = 66#)

$2.50per baleAverage Rate

Most Common $3 · Range $1.50–$3 · 3 responses

BALING LARGE SQUARE BALES, (AVERAGE LBS/BALE = 900#)

$16.25per baleAverage Rate

Most Common $15 · Range $15–$18 · 4 responses

BALING LARGE ROUND BALES WITH NET WRAP, (AVERAGE LBS/BALE = 1,559#)

$17.88per baleAverage Rate

Most Common $20 · Range $12–$25 · 26 responses

BALING CORNSTALKS WITH NET WRAP, (AVERAGE LBS/BALE = 1,192#)

$21.22per baleAverage Rate

Most Common $20 · Range $18–$27 · 9 responses

North Dakota · 2024

North Dakota baling rates

Source: 2024 North Dakota Custom Rates, Part I - Early Season Operations, North Dakota State University Extension, August 2024. The rates in this report include charges for equipment, power, fuel, and the operator.

Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Small Square Bales, 250 lbs or less

$3.00per baleAverage Rate

Range in Rates $1.00–$9.00 · 6 responses

Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Large Square Bales, Over 250 lbs

$12.00per baleAverage Rate

Most Frequent Rate Reported $15.00 · Range in Rates $8.00–$15.00 · 4 responses

Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Round Bales, 1,500 lbs or less

$12.99per baleAverage Rate

Most Frequent Rate Reported $15.00 · Range in Rates $5.00–$30.00 · 21 responses

Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Round Bales, Over 1,500 lbs

$15.27per baleAverage Rate

Most Frequent Rate Reported $15.00 · Range in Rates $5.00–$60.00 · 13 responses

Questions

Questions about Custom Baling Rates

What do custom operators charge for baling rates?

Each state's survey on this page lists what operators reported charging, with the unit (per acre, per bale, per hour). Surveys here: Kentucky (2024), Missouri (2026), Indiana (2025), Ohio (2026), Kansas (2026), Iowa (2026), Nebraska (2026) and North Dakota (2024).

Is there a Tennessee custom rate survey here?

No. Kentucky and Missouri are the nearest states with a survey on this site. Kentucky's guide adjusts other states' surveys for Kentucky conditions.

Does the rate include fuel and labor?

Usually. Each state block says what its survey includes; most rates include the operator, tractor, implement and fuel.

Which number should I use?

Start with your state or the nearest one, and the line that matches your job and unit. The average is what operators reported on average; the range shows the low and high answers.