College of Agricultural Sciences
Principles for Setting Internal Fees for Field Laboratories

  • Fees comply with OSU policies https://fees.oregonstate.edu/ and are administered accordingly.  Internal fees are established relative to the cost to operate the locations, not the value of the land itself.  The same cost can only be recovered in one fee (e.g., cost for performing a test that has a separate rate cannot be included in the cost for a field laboratory fee). Average revenues generated on field laboratories should be treated as an offset to the expenses.
  • Separate fees are established when there is a significant cost causative difference (e.g., irrigated vs. non-irrigated services; long season versus short season crops).
  • Fee structures are unique to individual units, but equitable across similarly situated locations.  Fees reflect cost differences, but the methodology used for the computation is consistent.
  • Fees recover a reasonable proportion of the allowable costs. 
  • The fees are not burdensome to administer.  Unless significant cost differences exist, billing units are set to recover a broad set of costs (e.g., per acre).
  • The primary purpose of field laboratories is to conduct research, teaching and extension activities, not to increase the sale of residual farm products.
  • To the extent possible, fees should be billed and recorded, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis.  In certain cases, for example if seeding occurs at one time in the year, it may be necessary to bill and record fees on an annual basis.