Silage and Willow Harvesting Rates
The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has published silage and willow harvesting rates in its revised and updated FCI Contracting Charges Guide 2022.
According to the association, its latest guidance reflects the “huge” increases in agri-diesel costs and machinery inflation, along with other “significant” input cost hikes.
Against this inflationary background, the FCI is “satisfied” that this revised averaged price guide continues to provide “fair and reasonable” guidance for farm and forestry contractors and their client farmers.
However, it stressed that all parties concerned must remember that this is only a guide.
The updated FCI Contracting Charges Guide for 2022 seeks to reflect the “huge” input cost increases that farm & forestry contractors face.
The FCI stressed that these alone are not restricted to fuel cost increases.
Furthermore, the revised guide also includes VAT on all charges quoted, as most Irish farmers are not registered for VAT.
The association highlighted that quoting charges inclusive of VAT for non-VAT registered farmers is “in line” with customer requirements.
It stressed that the actual guide charge may vary between:
- Regions;
- Across soil types;
- Distance travelled;
- Contract size;
- Size and type of equipment;
- Scale of work.
It has based prices on green diesel at €1.30/L; however, it acknowledged that many contractors make individual arrangements with client farmers regarding diesel (separate fuel surcharge, fuel used on-farm, ect).
As a result, it says that the guide charges “do not reflect this market trend and such arrangements may make a significant difference to contracting charges”.
Silage and Willow Harvesting Rates
It has provided the following guide charge rates – which include VAT at 13.5% – for silage and willow harvesting:
- Mowing – conditioner – €28-30/ac
- Raking/tedding/rowing – €16-17/ac
- Precision chop grass silage – complete job (in pit) – €170/ac (extra for long draw)
- Maize silage – complete job (in pit) – €210/ac (extra for long draw)
- Wagon silage – complete job (into the pit) – €150/ac (extra for long draw)
- Whole crop silage – complete job (into the pit) – €170/ac (extra for long draw)
- Zero Grazing – €90-95/load (will vary with capacity & distance)
- Willow harvesting complete job – €250/ac (extra for long draw)
- Topping Grassland – €25/ac or €70/hour
Other articles on That’s Farming:
Slurry and muck spreading: What are the FCI’s new ‘guide’ rates?
