Tillage cost per acre is the cost of one pass across one acre, worked from your hourly machine and operator cost divided by the acres your implement covers per hour. At the calculator presets and the page example rate, a field cultivator works out at $10.11 per acre and a disc harrow at $22.10 per acre.
What Tillage Cost Per Acre Means
Tillage cost per acre is the machine cost for one tillage pass only, spread across the acres covered in that pass. It is not the cost of the whole season. A field that needs two passes costs the sum of the two pass figures for tillage, before seed, spray, harvest or any other operation is added. The figure comes from two inputs only: your hourly cost for tractor, implement, fuel, repairs, labour and overheads, and the acres per hour your implement covers. Divide the first by the second and you have the cost for each acre.
How Tillage Cost Per Acre Is Worked Out
Use the Cost Per Acre Calculator for your own figures. First work out acres per hour. Acres per hour equals width in feet times speed in miles per hour times efficiency divided by 8.25. The figure 8.25 equals 43560 divided by 5280. Second work out cost per acre. Cost per acre equals hourly cost divided by acres per hour. Job cost equals hours times hourly cost plus travel, and hours equal field size in acres divided by acres per hour.
The default field size is 160 acres. The $150 per hour rate used in this guide is an example rate only, not a market rate. A good field efficiency for most field work, from the page FAQ, is 75 to 85 percent. Small or irregular fields use 55 to 65 percent, average fields use 70 to 75 percent, large rectangular fields use 80 to 85 percent, and ideal fields with GPS guidance use 85 to 90 percent, never 88 to 90 percent.
The Field Cultivator Worked Example
The field cultivator preset is 24 ft wide, runs at 6 mph and uses 85 percent efficiency. Multiply 24 times 6 times 0.85, which equals 122.4. Divide 122.4 by 8.25, which equals 14.836364, shown as 14.84 acres per hour. Divide the $150 per hour example rate by 14.836364, which equals 10.1103, shown as $10.11 per acre as an example figure at the page example rate.
For a 160 acre field, the calculator default field size, with $0 travel, divide 160 by 14.836364, which equals 10.7843 hours, about 10.8 hours. Multiply 160 by 10.1103, which equals $1,617.65, shown as about $1,618 as an example figure at the page example rate. For an 80 acre field the hours are 5.39 and the job cost is $808.82 as an example figure at the page example rate.
The Disc Harrow Worked Example
The disc harrow preset is 14 ft wide, runs at 5 mph and uses 80 percent efficiency. Multiply 14 times 5 times 0.80, which equals 56. Divide 56 by 8.25, which equals 6.787879, shown as 6.79 acres per hour. Divide the $150 per hour example rate by 6.787879, which equals 22.0982, shown as $22.10 per acre as an example figure at the page example rate. The harrow covers less than half the acres per hour of the cultivator at the presets.
For a 160 acre field with $0 travel, divide 160 by 6.787879, which equals 23.5714 hours, about 23.6 hours. Multiply 160 by 22.0982, which equals $3,535.71 as an example figure at the page example rate. For an 80 acre field the hours are 11.79 and the job cost is $1,767.86 as an example figure at the page example rate.
| Implement | Width | Speed | Efficiency | Acres per hour | Cost per acre at $150 example rate | Hours for 160 acres | Job cost for 160 acres at $150 example rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field cultivator | 24 ft | 6 mph | 85 percent | 14.84 | $10.11 | 10.78 | $1,617.65 |
| Disc harrow | 14 ft | 5 mph | 80 percent | 6.79 | $22.10 | 23.57 | $3,535.71 |
Why the Disc Harrow Costs More Per Acre
The harrow figure is higher because it covers fewer acres per hour at the same hourly cost. Width is the largest part of that gap. The cultivator is 24 ft wide and the harrow is 14 ft wide, so the cultivator covers about 71 percent more ground in each pass at the same speed. Speed adds a second gap, 6 mph against 5 mph, and efficiency adds a small third gap, 85 percent against 80 percent. Divide the same $150 per hour example rate by each rate and the harrow cost per acre comes out about 2.19 times the cultivator cost, $22.10 against $10.11, both as example figures at the page example rate.
Primary Pass or Secondary Pass: Pick the Right Preset
A primary pass works ground that has not yet been tilled in that season, so it meets firm soil and heavy residue. A secondary pass works ground that a primary pass has already opened, so it meets looser soil. Pick efficiency for the ground and field shape in front of you. A first pass on rough ground calls for a lower efficiency, in the 70 to 75 percent range for average fields or 55 to 65 percent for small or irregular fields. For pass type background, see the guide on primary vs secondary tillage rates.
How Width, Speed and Efficiency Move Your Cost
Width, speed and efficiency all sit in the acres per hour formula, so raising any one of them raises acres per hour and lowers cost per acre, while lowering any one of them does the opposite. Width is fixed by the implement you own or hire. Speed is the input most likely to be overstated, because the top speed on a flat run is not the speed you can hold across a whole field with turns, residue and soil variation. Enter the speed you can hold. Efficiency is the input most likely to be guessed, because it hides turns, overlap, stops and headland time in one number.
What to Put in Your Hourly Cost
The calculator page lists five parts to include in your hourly cost, and no dollar figure for any part is given on the page, so every part is a reader entered cost. First, fuel and lubricants. Second, repairs and maintenance for both tractor and implement. Third, ownership costs, which are depreciation, interest, insurance and housing. Fourth, labour, which is the operator wage and benefits. Fifth, overheads, which are a share of trucks, tools and admin. Leave any part out and the cost per acre that follows will understate the true cost, because the missing part is still paid, just not counted.
Two Passes, Small Fields and Travel
One pass is the unit in this guide, but real tillage often needs more than one pass, and the cost per acre for the job is the sum of the passes. If a field needs a harrow pass at $22.10 per acre as an example figure at the page example rate, followed by a cultivator pass at $10.11 per acre as an example figure at the same rate, the combined tillage cost per acre is $32.21 per acre as an example figure at the page example rate, before travel and setup. Small fields raise cost per acre through efficiency, because more turns lower efficiency and acres per hour. Travel and setup cost is an optional input, added to the job cost, and the page gives no travel fee amount.
How to Check Your Result
Check your result against the two worked examples before you quote it. With the cultivator preset, 24 ft, 6 mph and 85 percent, at the $150 per hour example rate, the calculator should show 14.84 acres per hour and $10.11 per acre as an example figure at the page example rate. With the harrow preset, 14 ft, 5 mph and 80 percent, at the same example rate, it should show 6.79 acres per hour and $22.10 per acre as an example figure at the page example rate. Cultivator hours for 160 acres are about 10.8 and the job cost is about $1,618, while harrow hours are about 23.6 and the job cost is $3,535.71, both as example figures at the page example rate, with $0 travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is tillage cost per acre?
A: It is the cost of one tillage pass across one acre, worked as hourly cost divided by acres per hour. At the page example rate, a field cultivator is $10.11 per acre and a disc harrow is $22.10 per acre.
Q: How do I work out tillage cost per acre for my own implement?
A: Enter your width, speed, efficiency and hourly cost in the Cost Per Acre Calculator. Acres per hour equals width times speed times efficiency divided by 8.25.
Q: Why does a disc harrow cost more per acre than a field cultivator in this guide?
A: Because the harrow preset covers fewer acres per hour, 6.79 against 14.84, at the same $150 per hour example rate. The harrow is narrower at 14 ft against 24 ft and slower at 5 mph against 6 mph.
Q: Does tillage cost per acre change with field size?
A: No, when width, speed, efficiency and hourly rate stay the same. Field size changes cost per acre only when it changes efficiency, for example when a small field forces more turns.
Q: Should I use the primary pass or the secondary pass preset for tillage?
A: Use the preset that matches the pass you will make, and pick efficiency for the ground and field shape in front of you. A first pass on rough ground calls for a lower efficiency.
Q: What is not included in tillage cost per acre?
A: Seed, spray, harvest and any other operation are not included, because tillage cost per acre covers one tillage pass only. Travel and setup cost is a separate optional input, added to the job total.
Work Out Your Own Tillage Cost
Tillage cost per acre comes down to two worked sums at the same example rate. The cultivator preset, 24 ft, 6 mph and 85 percent, covers 14.84 acres per hour and costs $10.11 per acre, about $1,618 for 160 acres. The disc harrow preset, 14 ft, 5 mph and 80 percent, covers 6.79 acres per hour and costs $22.10 per acre, $3,535.71 for 160 acres. Both figures are example figures at the $150 per hour example rate. Enter your own figures in the Cost Per Acre Calculator for your own field and rate.
