Ready-to-Use Agricultural Services Agreement Template
This agricultural services agreement template helps farm owners, landholders, contractors, and agricultural workers set out the scope of work, payment terms, timeframes, equipment use, safety requirements, and responsibilities. It provides a practical written record for seasonal or ongoing agricultural services and can be adapted to local legal requirements.
An agricultural services agreement records the terms under which a contractor or service provider performs work on a farm, field, orchard, livestock holding, or other rural property. It can be used for tasks such as planting, harvesting, spraying, irrigation maintenance, soil preparation, fencing, machinery operation, or animal care. A clear written agreement helps both parties understand the work required, the price, the schedule, and the rules that apply on the site. It should be adapted to the laws, farming practices, and safety requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.
Purpose of an Agricultural Services Agreement
This type of agreement identifies the client, usually the farm owner or operator, and the service provider, who may be an independent contractor, agricultural business, or specialist worker. It should describe the services precisely enough that both parties can verify whether the work has been completed as agreed.
It is particularly useful where services are seasonal, depend on weather conditions, involve expensive machinery, or require compliance with crop protection, animal welfare, environmental, and health and safety rules.
Common agricultural services covered
- Land preparation, ploughing, cultivation, and drilling.
- Planting, pruning, harvesting, and crop handling.
- Irrigation installation, repair, and monitoring.
- Machinery operation, transport, and equipment maintenance.
- Fencing, livestock support, and general farm labour.
Key Information to Include
The agreement should state what work will be done, where it will be carried out, when it will begin, and how payment will be calculated. Avoid broad descriptions such as “general farm work” unless a detailed work order or schedule is attached.
| Document field | Purpose | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Parties and contact details | Identifies who is legally responsible for the agreement. | Using a trading name without the legal name or address. |
| Scope of services | Defines the tasks, area, crop, livestock, or equipment involved. | Leaving the scope too vague to measure completion. |
| Price and payment terms | States the rate, expenses, tax treatment, invoicing, and due date. | Failing to specify whether rates are hourly, daily, per acre, or fixed. |
| Timeframe | Sets start dates, completion dates, and weather-related adjustments. | Ignoring delays caused by unsuitable field conditions. |
| Insurance and safety | Allocates responsibility for safe work and relevant cover. | Assuming insurance or permits are in place without checking. |
Payment, Expenses, and Changes to the Work
Payment can be set as a fixed fee, an hourly or daily rate, a rate per hectare or acre, a rate per unit harvested, or another measurable method. The agreement should also confirm whether the price includes fuel, labour, machinery, materials, travel, taxes, and any applicable expenses.
Managing variations
A change process is important because agricultural work often changes due to weather, crop condition, disease, access restrictions, or instructions from the client. Require changes to be agreed in writing, including any revised price or completion date, before extra work begins where reasonably possible.
- Describe the additional or altered work in writing.
- Confirm the impact on price, materials, and timing.
- Obtain approval from an authorised representative of the client.
- Keep the approved change with the agreement and invoices.
Editable template
Document template
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
Place: ____________________ Date: ____________________
This Agricultural Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between:
Client / Farm Operator: ____________________
Address: ____________________
Registration or identification number: ____________________
Contact person and telephone/email: ____________________
and
Service Provider / Contractor: ____________________
Address: ____________________
Registration or identification number: ____________________
Contact person and telephone/email: ____________________
The Client and the Service Provider are together referred to as the “Parties”.
| Field | Agreed details |
|---|---|
| Farm, property, or work location | ____________________ |
| Services to be performed | ____________________ |
| Crop, livestock, field, or area concerned | ____________________ |
| Start date | ____________________ |
| Expected completion date | ____________________ |
| Contract price or rate | ____________________ |
| Payment due date and method | ____________________ |
| Equipment, materials, and fuel supplied by | ____________________ |
| Required insurance and permits | ____________________ |
- Services. The Service Provider shall perform the agricultural services described in this Agreement and any agreed written specification with reasonable skill, care, and diligence.
- Access and site information. The Client shall provide reasonable access to the work site and disclose known hazards, access restrictions, biosecurity requirements, and relevant operating instructions.
- Price and payment. The Client shall pay the Service Provider the agreed price or rate stated above. Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are payable within ____________________ days of receipt.
- Equipment and materials. Each Party shall provide the equipment, materials, fuel, labour, and protective equipment assigned to it in the table above. Equipment shall be maintained and used safely.
- Health, safety, and legal compliance. The Service Provider shall comply with applicable health and safety, environmental, agricultural, transport, and licensing requirements. The Client shall comply with site safety obligations under applicable law.
- Weather and delays. Where weather, crop conditions, unsafe access, or circumstances beyond reasonable control prevent performance, the Parties shall discuss a revised schedule in good faith.
- Changes. Any material change to the services, price, scope, or schedule must be agreed in writing by both Parties before the changed work is carried out, where reasonably practicable.
- Insurance and liability. The Service Provider shall maintain the insurance specified above and shall be responsible for loss or damage caused by its negligent acts or omissions, subject to applicable law.
- Termination. Either Party may terminate this Agreement by written notice if the other Party materially breaches it and fails to remedy the breach within ____________________ days after receiving written notice, where remedy is possible.
- Governing law and disputes. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of ____________________. The Parties shall first attempt to resolve disputes through good-faith discussion before pursuing other available remedies.
Signed by the Parties on the date stated above.
____________________
Client / Farm Operator
Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
____________________
Service Provider / Contractor
Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Edit the text right here. Changes are stored in your browser, and you can print them or export to Word and PDF.
Safety, Environmental, and Operational Duties
The parties should state who supplies machinery, protective equipment, fuel, chemicals, permits, and trained personnel. Where pesticides, fertilisers, livestock, hazardous equipment, or restricted areas are involved, the agreement should require compliance with applicable laws, labels, site rules, and professional standards.
The client should disclose known site hazards, access limits, utilities, drainage features, biosecurity rules, and relevant crop or animal information. The service provider should use competent personnel, maintain equipment appropriately, and stop work if conditions create an unacceptable risk.
Practical recommendation: attach a written work specification and a site map where the services cover particular fields, buildings, crops, access routes, or equipment.
Liability, Insurance, and Ending the Agreement
Include a proportionate allocation of responsibility for loss, damage, delay, defective work, and third-party claims. The service provider may be required to hold suitable public liability, employer’s liability, vehicle, professional, or equipment insurance, depending on the work and local law.
The agreement should also explain when either party may terminate, such as non-payment, serious safety breaches, repeated failure to perform, insolvency, or a material breach that is not corrected after notice. It should address payment for properly completed work and the return of property when the contract ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an agricultural services agreement the same as an employment contract?
Not necessarily. A service provider may be an independent contractor, but the actual working arrangement may still be subject to employment, tax, labour, and social security rules. The parties should seek local advice if employment status is uncertain.
Should weather delays be included?
Yes. Farming activities can be affected by rain, drought, frost, wind, field access, and crop conditions. The agreement should set out how the parties will notify each other and adjust timing when conditions reasonably prevent safe or effective work.
Can the contractor use subcontractors?
That depends on the agreed terms. If subcontracting is allowed, the agreement should require the contractor to remain responsible for the subcontractor’s work, insurance, training, and compliance with site rules.