Updating Labor Efficiency and Productivity Benchmarks

Labor is a significant expense for crop farms. This paper updates labor efficiency and labor productivity benchmark values using financial data from a sample of non-irrigated crop farms in Kansas. Based on a five-year farm-level average from 2020 to 2024, the mean labor efficiency was 19%, and the mean labor productivity was $577,739. Farms with both a below average labor efficiency and above average labor productivity have an average labor efficiency of 12.6% and an average labor productivity of $801,420.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)
Published
2026-09-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.410266
Primary Topic
Efficiency Analysis Using DEA
Type
article
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article

Updating Labor Efficiency and Productivity Benchmarks

Michael R. Langemeier, Megan N. Hughes, Chelsea Plummer
AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)
Efficiency Analysis Using DEA
article

Updating Labor Efficiency and Productivity Benchmarks

Michael R. Langemeier, Megan N. Hughes, Chelsea Plummer
article en

Abstract

Labor is a significant expense for crop farms. This paper updates labor efficiency and labor productivity benchmark values using financial data from a sample of non-irrigated crop farms in Kansas. Based on a five-year farm-level average from 2020 to 2024, the mean labor efficiency was 19%, and the mean labor productivity was $577,739. Farms with both a below average labor efficiency and above average labor productivity have an average labor efficiency of 12.6% and an average labor productivity of $801,420.

AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)
Decent work and economic growth
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Efficiency Analysis Using DEA
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