An annual survey of farmers, custom operators and managers in Iowa shows prices could slightly increase for custom strip-till services in 2025.

The Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey, conducted by Iowa State University, compiled 3,446 custom rates provided by 193 farmers, custom operators and farm managers. The sources of the reported rates in the survey are 54% service providers, 25% service users, 6% both service providers and users and 15% unknown. 

Iowa Custom Strip-Till Rates

Custom operations are frequently used in strip-till farming, given the expense of purchasing or custom-building equipment for the practice. The 2025 average custom strip-till rate is $21.65 per acre, up slightly from $21 in 2024. The range given, based on 13 responses to the 2025 survey, is $14 to $30 per acre. The median charge is $22 per acre.  

Extra charges per acre for anhydrous fertilizer and no materials ranged from $2-8, based on 9 responses, with an average charge of $5.15 — down from the 2024 average of $7.05. The average extra charge for dry bulk fertilizer (banded) is $4 per acre and for liquid fertilizer (knifed) is $4.35 per acre. 

Using technology while strip-tilling adds extra costs. Farmers charge anywhere from $1 to $9 per acre to use seed shutoffs, with an average charge of $3.15 per acre. Variable-rate seeding averages $3.05 per acre but ranges from $1 to $6 for individual rates. GPS usage and analytics costs an average of $3.30 per acre, with a range from $1 to $6.

2024 Custom No-Till & Drilling Rates

In 2025, no-tillers are charging anywhere from $13 to $45 per acre for custom no-tilling. The average charge is $27.25 per acre to no-till with a planter, compared to $26.60 in 2024. The median charge was $27 per acre. No-tilling with splitters cost slightly more in 2025, averaging $28.55 per acre. The range for no-tilling with splitters was $16-40, and the median charge was $28.10. 

No-tilling soybeans with a drill costs an average of $22.05 per acre in 2025, an increase from the 2024 average of $21.40 per acre. The range for drilling soybeans is $15-30 per acre. Drilling small grains averages $18.25 per acre, and drilling cover crops averages $18.30 per acre. Aerial seeding cover crops ranges from $9-18 per acre, with an average of $13.60 per acre.

Rates for Planting, Fertilizer Application

The 2025 survey also included average rates for a variety of other custom services, including chopping cornstalks, planting, fertilizer application, manure spreading and tiling. 

Cornstalk chopping averages $13.45 per acre, down slightly from $13.80 in 2024, with individual respondents charging or paying anywhere from $5-20 per acre. The average cost for planting with fertilizer and insecticide attachments is $27.20 per acre, up $1.95 from 2024. The price drops to an average of $25.40 per acre without attachments and increases to an average of $28.90 per acre for planting with a high-speed planter.

Broadcast spraying, not incorporated, with a self-propelled sprayer costs an average of $8.70 per acre and ranges from $5-15 for individual rates. Using a self-propelled sprayer to broadcast spray tall crops costs an average of $10.75 per acre, with individual rates ranging from $6-16 per acre. 

Dry bulk fertilizer application costs an average of $7.30 per acre. Liquid spraying costs $9 per acre on average, while sidedressing is $13.05 per acre. Injecting anhydrous with a toolbar averages $15.25 per acre, while injecting without a toolbar costs $12.30 per acre on average. Costs for spreading lime range from $5-14 per ton, with the average charge being $8 per ton. All prices are without materials included.

Injection of 1,000 gallons of liquid manure averages $17.05, while applying 1,000 gallons of liquid manure with a drag line costs $16.20 on average.

For tiling work (excluding materials), tiling with a tile plow costs $1 per foot. 

Researchers caution that the survey results, which include ranges and other information for specific services, should only be used as a guide, and point out that actual custom rates can vary widely within the state of Iowa, let alone among various states.

Click here for the full survey results.