FCI Contracting Charges Guide 2025

These are the average guideline charges surveyed from FCI members, the actual prices may vary considerably between regions, soil types, distance travelled, size of contract undertaken, size and type of equipment used, amount of product applied etc. FCI is also aware that many contractors make individual arrangements with their client farmers regarding diesel (eg separate fuel surcharge, fuel used on-farm etc). The guide charges below do not reflect this market trend and such agreements may make a significant difference to contracting charges.

Prices are shown as GUIDE ONLY, PLUS VAT at 13.5% and per area or per hour & include operator, unless otherwise stated ©FCI 2025

CONTRACTING OPERATION	(All Charges in euro EXCLUDING VAT at 13.5%)	(All Charges in euro  INCL. VAT at 13.5%)
Baling & Bale Handling
Bale, wrap, stack and move (inc. plastic 4 layers, extra layers additional cost) For NRF add €1/bale	22-24/bale	25-27/bale
Bale, wrap, stack and move (excl. plastic)	15-16/bale	17-18/bale
Bale and wrap (inc. plastic 4 layers, extra layers additional cost)   For NRF add €1/bale	15-16/bale	16-18/bale
Bale and wrap including combinations (excl. plastic)	11-13/bale	13-15/bale
Baling silage (4 x 4)	8.50-9/bale	9.50-10/bale
Wrap (4x4) (excl. plastic)	4-4.50/bale	4.50-5/bale
Bale Transport	82-87/hr or 6/bale	93-99/hr or 6.50/bale
Bale Stacking	82-87/hr	93-99/hr
Large square bales of silage (6x4x3)	17-18/bale	19-20.50/bale
Large 5x3x2 silage bales wrapped	12-13/bale	14-15/bale
Hay - small square bales	2/bale	2.50/bale
Hay - round bales (4x4)	7-8/bale	8-9/bale
Hay - cutting/mowing	27-28/ac	30-32/ac
Hay - turning/rowing/rowing	13-15/ac	15-17/ac
Straw - small square bales	2/bale	2.50/bale
Straw - round bales (4x4)	7-8/bale	8-9/bale
Straw - round bales (5x4)	7-8/bale	8-9/bale
Straw - (8x4x3)	12.50-15/bale	14-17/bale
Straw - (6x3x3)	8-9/bale	9-10/bale
Straw - (8x3x3)	10.50-12/bale	12-13.50/bale
Cultivations
Min till cultivation (per pass)	38-40/ac	43-45/ac
Disc Harrowing	38/ac/run or 130/hr	43/ac/run or 148/hr
Ploughing - lea	54-56/ac	61-64/ac
Ploughing - stubble	50-52/ac	56-59/ac
Power harrowing/run (3m)	56/ac/run or 156/hr	64/ac/run or 177/hr
Rolling	15/ac or 63/hr	17/ac or 70/hr
Sub-soiling /Mole draining/hr	147-157/hr	168-178/hr
Gravel Mole Drainage	16/ton gravel or 155/ac	18/ton gravel or 175/ac
Drilling/Sowing Operations
Conventional grain/fertiliser	52-56/ac	59-64/ac
Conventional seed only	44-48/ac	49-54/ac
Direct drill	60-63/ac	68-71/ac
Maize seeding (inc. laying plastic and spraying, excl plastic cost)	95-100/ac	107-113/ac
One pass - seed only	53-57/ac	60-65/ac
One pass - seed and fertiliser drill	58-63/ac	65-70/ac
Strip-Till Drill	50/ac	55/ac
Non-Till Disc Drill	52-54/ac	59-61/ac
One-pass grass reseeding	63-67/ac	71-76/ac
Grass seeding -quality job, seeding & rolling (not incl. seed)	262 -267/ac	295 -300/ac
Plough, till & sow maize	240-260/ac	270-295/ac
Seed Cleaning & Crimping
Cleaned and dressed	183-187/tonne	207-212/tonne
Crimping	17-19/tonne	19-21/tonne
Complete Cultivation Work
Plough and one pass	92-100/ac	104-113/ac
Plough, till and sow grain	110-114/ac	125-130/ac
Fertilizer Application
Broadcasting - 2 bags per acre	47/tonne or 100/hour	53/tonne or 113/hour
Broadcasting - general	47/tonne or 100/hour	53/tonne or 113/hour
Bulk spreading	47/tonne or 100/hour	53/tonne or 113/hour
Lime spreading	9-11/tonne	10-12/tonne
Spraying
Low volume - 83 l/ac	13-15/ac	15-17/ac
Liquid Nitrogen - per hour	94/hour	115/hour
Combining & Beet
Cereals & Oil Seed Rape	70-75/ac	80-85/ac
Cereals & Oil Seed Rape & Chopping	81-86/ac	92-98/ac
Grain transport (up to 15 kilometres)	10-12/tonne	11-13.50/tonne
Beet harvesting	162-168/ac	184-190/ac
Hedgecutting
Hedgecutter - flail	65-70/hr	74-80/hr
Hedgecutter - sawhead	82-87/hr	93-99/hr
Hedgecutter - excavator/digger	87-90/hr	99-102/hr
Mulching hedges	87-96/hr	99-110/hr
Silage & Willow Harvesting
Mowing - conditioner	27-28/ac	30-32/ac
Raking/Tedding/Rowing	15.50-17/ac	17.50-19.50/ac
Precision chop grass silage - complete job (in pit)	168-178/ac (extra for long draw)	190-200/ac (extra for long draw)
Maize silage  - complete job (in pit)	192-197/ac (extra for long draw)	218-224/ac (extra for long draw)
Wagon silage  - complete job (into the pit)	157-168/ac (extra for long draw)	178-190/ac (extra for long draw)
Whole crop silage - complete job (into the pit)	184-189/ac (extra for long draw)	208-214/ac (extra for long draw)
Samco Silage Bagging	27/linear metre	30/linear metre
Zero Grazing	87-97/load (will vary with capacity & distance)	99-110/load (will vary with capacity & distance)
Willow harvesting complete job	230/ac (extra for long draw)	262/ac (extra for long draw)
Topping Grassland	23/ac or 60/hour	26/ac or 68/hour
Slurry & Muck Spreading
Muck loading wheeled loader	70-75/hr	80-85/hr
Muck spreading - flail	63-65/hr	71-74/hr
Muck spreading - 10 tonne	70-80/hr	79-90/hr
Muck spreading - 14 tonne	94-105/hr	107-120/hr
Loading and spreading - 12 tonne spreader	145-150/hr	164-170/hr
14 tonne dual/rear discharge spreader and loader	163-172/hr	185-195/hr
Slurry agitation	105-125/hr	119-140/hr
Slurry spreading - 1500 gal tanker	70-75/hr	79-85/hr
Slurry spreading - 2500 + gal tanker	76-86/hr	86-98/hr
Slurry spreading - 3000 + gal tanker	102-109/hr	116-124/hr
Umbilical spreading (set up charge - laying out & reeling in €100/hr)	168-178/hr	190-202/hr
Dribble Bar - 2500 + gal tanker	92-97/hr	105-110/hr
Trailing Shoe - 2500 + gal tanker	97-109/hr	110-124/hr
Plant & Tractor Hire & Snow Work
14t excavator	90/hr	100/hr
Digger hire (3CX)	71-73/hr	80-83/hr
Tractor and dumper - 14 tonne	71-81/hr	87-99/hr
Wheel Loader - 10 tonne	87-97/hr	99-110/hr
Teleporter	71-73/hr	81-83/hr
Mini - digger	40-44/hr	44-49/hr
Road sweeper	66-68/hr	75-77/hr
Tractor Hire (100 to 150hp tractor & operator)	63-65/hr	71-74/hr
Tractor Hire (150 to 200hp tractor & operator)	74-78/hr	83-89/hr
Tractor Hire (200hp to 250hp tractor & operator)	82-87/hr	93-99/hr
Wheel Loader Snow Hire - 10 tonne	100-120/hr	113-135/hr
Tractor Snowplough Hire (100 to 150hp tractor & operator)	88-98/hr	100-110/hr
Tractor Snowplough Hire (150 to 200hp tractor & operator)	103-113/hr	116-128/hr
Digger hire (3CX) at snow work	82-87/hr	93-99/hr
Forestry Contracting
Forwarded Small	96-115/hr	110-130/hr
Forwarded Large	130-136/hr	147-155/hr
Timber Harvester Small	136-147/hr	155-168/hr
Timber Harvester Large	147-168/hr	166-190/hr