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Hay cutting & swathing ratesRed Deer County, Alberta
Custom hay cutting & swathing in Red Deer County, Alberta typically costs $19.00 per acre: the median of 5 distinct operator charges in the Alberta Custom Rates Survey, 2014–2018, with the middle half between $18.00 and $20.00 per acre. Source: Alberta Custom Rates Survey, via PrairieRates.ca.
Last updated · Methodology
Typical charge in Red Deer County, Alberta
$19.00/acre
Median of 5 surveyed charges, 2014–2018
Low (25th pct)
$18.00
High (75th pct)
$20.00
Rates over time ($/acre)
Median charge per year, with the middle 50% of charges shaded.
The median went from $15.00 in 2007 to $15.00 in 2011. In 2024 dollars that’s $21.61 to $20.09 (Statistics Canada CPI). Years with fewer than 5 charges are left out of this comparison.
These are surveyed rates: what Alberta producers and custom operators reported actually charging, by county (Alberta Custom Rates Survey, Government of Alberta). Some are “good neighbour” rates. Alberta hasn’t published a newer survey. How we source data
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Individual charges, 2014–2018
Each row is one operator’s reported charge (repeats from later surveys shown once), linked to its source PDF page.
| Red Deer County | $22.00 | Red Deer MC Fendt 930 300 hp tractor, Claas 24` wide mower | |
| Red Deer County | $20.00 | Red Deer County MC John Deere 2wd tractor, Hesston 1340 discbine 12' wide | |
| Red Deer County | $19.00 | Red Deer County MC Tractor, Hesston 8500 discbine 15' wide Hay | |
| Red Deer County | $18.00 | Red Deer County MC MacDon M200 w/16` disc head sp standard conditioner rolls | |
| Red Deer County | $14.00 | John Deere 7800 mfwd 150 hp tractor or John Deere 4240 2wd 110 Red Deer MC hp tractor, John Deere 946 mower-conditioner 10' wide |
Common questions
How much does custom hay cutting & swathing cost in Red Deer County, Alberta?
Custom hay cutting & swathing in Red Deer County, Alberta typically costs $19.00 per acre: the median of 5 distinct operator charges in the Alberta Custom Rates Survey, 2014–2018, with the middle half between $18.00 and $20.00 per acre. Charges flagged as data errors are left out. Alberta's survey last ran in 2018, so add for inflation and fuel; recent farmer reports are on PrairieRates.ca.
Does the hay cutting & swathing rate include the operator and fuel?
Custom rates are normally quoted with the operator, but extras vary. Of the 5 recent charges in Alberta's survey notes for Red Deer County, Alberta, few mention fuel separately. If a quote doesn't say, confirm fuel and travel before the job starts.
How have custom hay cutting & swathing rates changed over time?
The median surveyed charge in Red Deer County, Alberta went from $15.00 per acre in 2007 to $15.00 in 2011 (+0%). In 2024 dollars, using Statistics Canada's consumer price index, that is $21.61 to $20.09 (−7% after inflation).
How does Red Deer County, Alberta compare with the rest of Alberta?
The Red Deer County, Alberta median of $19.00 per acre compares with $17.50 for all of Alberta (41 charges, 2016–2018), about 9% higher.
How current are these rates?
They come from the Government of Alberta's custom rates surveys, 2004–2018; Alberta has not published a newer survey. PrairieRates adds anonymous 2026 reports from farmers and custom operators, shown separately once a county has three or more. Data last updated October 12, 2026.
Cite this page
PrairieRates. “Hay cutting & swathing custom rates, Red Deer County, Alberta.” Data: Government of Alberta, Alberta Custom Rates Survey. Updated October 12, 2026. https://prairierates.ca/alberta/hay-cutting/red-deer-county