Several factors influence the decision on buying versus custom services or machine rental.
Operating costs of hired vs. owned machines do not differ greatly except in custom service, extra labor is hired in addition to the machine. It may be profitable to hire custom services or rent machines or to own a special machine so that jobs can be done within this critical time period. Farmers operating their own machines may be more careful in seeing that the job is done right than custom operators working on a piecework basis. On the other hand, custom operators may have better machines and be more skilled at adjusting and operating the machines than the farmer who uses his machine only a few days each year. Quality of performance can be improved in some custom operations if an incentive is given above the flat rate per acre.