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Mowing / conditioning / swathing hay: custom rates by state
Mower-conditioner or swather with conditioner. Rates are per acre.
States with data
8
Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota
Lowest survey average
$15.53
North Dakota (2024)
Highest survey average
$20.10
Indiana (2025)
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 (2024, 2025, 2026); values are not adjusted for inflation or diesel prices.
| State · survey wording | Average | Range | Responses | Median / mode | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa 2026 Hay - mowing/conditioning |
$17.30/acre | $10.00 – $25.00 | 31 | median $17.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Nebraska 2026 Swathing hay with crushing/crimping |
$19.26/acre | $14.00 – $25.00 | 17 | most common $20.00 | PDF p. 12 · calculate |
| Kansas 2026 Swathing and conditioning |
$17.93/acre | $8.00 – $25.00 | 46 | — | PDF p. 15 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Hay - Mowing/Conditioning |
$17.17/acre | $5.00 – $35.00 | 32 | median $17.75 | PDF p. 6 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Mow with mower-conditioner |
$17.70/acre | $10.00 – $27.00 | 10 | median $18.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Indiana 2025 Tractor and Mower/Conditioner |
$20.10/acre | not published | 10 | — | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Wisconsin 2025 Mowing & conditioning hay |
$16.48/acre | $12.00 – $22.00 | 15 | median $16.50 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| North Dakota 2024 Mowing and Raking - Mowing and Conditioning |
$15.53/acre | $6.50 – $25.00 | 16 | — | PDF p. 2 · 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.
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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.
- Kansas: Range as published (state rows).
- Missouri: Range of responses.
- Nebraska: Range is the minimum and maximum reported. “Most common” (mode) also shown.
- North Dakota: Range is the minimum and maximum reported. “Most frequent” (mode) also shown.
- Ohio: Range is the minimum and maximum reported.
- Wisconsin: Range is the lowest and highest reported.
All included surveys say their rates cover fuel and the operator unless otherwise noted; rental items exclude them.
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