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Custom farming soybeans (all operations): custom rates by state
Custom operator does all field operations for soybeans. What is included varies; see each row. Rates are per acre.
Survey averages, not quotes. These are averages of what people reported in extension surveys. Use them as a starting point for a conversation, not as a price. Survey years differ (2025, 2026); values are not adjusted for inflation or diesel prices.
| State · survey wording | Average | Range | Responses | Median / mode | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa 2026 Custom farming, all operations - Soybean check ⚠ Very wide range ($65–$375/acre). Survey does not specify yield or field conditions. |
$161.70/acre | $65.00 – $353.00 | 63 | median $155.00 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Nebraska 2026 Irrigated soybeans (average times over the field = 6.7) few responses |
$130.00/acre | $105.00 – $155.00 | 4 | — | PDF p. 16 · calculate |
| Nebraska 2026 Dryland soybeans (average times over the field =6.8) |
$125.00/acre | $100.00 – $180.00 | 6 | most common $100.00 | PDF p. 15 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Custom farming, all machinery operations - Soybeans |
$155.53/acre | $75.00 – $350.00 | 19 | median $140.00 | PDF p. 7 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Soybean, conventional tillage check ⚠ Full custom farming at $96–$112/acre is well below Iowa ($178) and Ohio ($165). What is included may differ; only 5–6 responses. |
$111.00/acre | $90.00 – $125.00 | 5 | median $120.00 | PDF p. 1 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Soybean, no-till check ⚠ Full custom farming at $96–$112/acre is well below Iowa ($178) and Ohio ($165). What is included may differ; only 5–6 responses. |
$96.00/acre | $80.00 – $110.00 | 5 | median $95.00 | PDF p. 1 · calculate |
| Indiana 2025 Soybeans |
$107.23/acre | not published | 8 | — | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
Minnesota and Illinois: no state survey, so they are not listed or counted separately. Iowa’s 2026 rate above is often used as a reference there.
Bar: shaded = published range, dark tick = average (scaled to the highest value on this page). “Few responses” = fewer than 5.
What’s included and how ranges differ
- Indiana: Where shown, the range is the average ± one standard deviation (only published when 30+ responses).
- Iowa: Range excludes the single lowest and single highest response.
- Missouri: Range of responses.
- Nebraska: Range is the minimum and maximum reported. “Most common” (mode) also shown.
- Ohio: Range is the minimum and maximum reported.
All included surveys say their rates cover fuel and the operator unless otherwise noted; rental items exclude them.