Introduction
This report summarizes the 2025 Wisconsin custom rates and is intended to provide a reference for farmers, custom operators, and landowners when discussing and negotiating charges for custom agricultural services. Because many Wisconsin farms depend on custom work for field operations, current rate information can serve as a useful starting point during these discussions.
Launched in March 2026, the survey received responses from 135 Wisconsin farmers, farm managers and custom operators who either provided custom services, hired them, or were familiar with prevailing custom rates during the 2025 production season. Among respondents, approximately 16% performed custom work, 31% hired custom services, 13% had knowledge about custom rates and 40% did not indicate whether they performed, hired or knew about rates. Responses from operations with too few observations were excluded from the analysis. The reported rates include fuel costs. For each custom operation, the tables report five statistics:
- Average – the arithmetic mean of all reported rates.
- Range – the lowest and highest reported rates.
- Median – the middle-reported rate after ordering all observations.
- Responses – the number of usable survey responses included in the estimate.
- Percent change (% change) – the percentage difference between the current year’s average rate and the corresponding average rate reported in the previous survey.
How to Estimate Rates for the Current Year
Custom rates may change over time as input costs, labor expenses, and machinery cost fluctuate. Users wishing to estimate rates for 2026 may adjust the reported values using either:
- The percentage change for comparable operations reported in the Iowa Custom Rate Survey from 2025 to 2026; or
- The USDA Prices Paid Index for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW)
For example, the custom rate for chisel plowing in Iowa was $19.65/acre in 2025 and $20.75/acre in 2026, a 5.6% ((20.75 – 19.65)/19.65) increase. Adjusting the 2025 Wisconsin chisel plowing rate of $22.13/acre for inflation yields an estimated rate of $23.37/acre for 2026 after multiplying by 1.056 (1+5.6%). The PPITW indices for May 2025 and May 2026 were 149.3 and 163.7 respectively. Accounting for this 9.6% ((163.7 – 149.3)/149.3) increase gives a rate of $24.25/acre.
These adjustment methods provide approximate estimates and should be viewed as starting points for negotiations rather than fixed recommendations. Actual rates will continue to vary depending on local conditions, including fuel prices, machinery ownership and age, equipment availability, operator experience, field size and shape, crop type, soil conditions, and supply and demand for custom services.
We sincerely thank everyone who participated in the 2026 Wisconsin Custom Rate Survey. Your contributions provide valuable information that benefits Wisconsin’s agricultural community.
The 2027 Wisconsin Custom Rate Survey will be conducted next year. If you would like to participate or be added to our contact list for future surveys, please contact Silva Gaku, Farm Financial Management Outreach Specialist, at silva.gaku@wisc.edu, 920-342-3180, or go.wisc.edu/silvagaku.
Custom Land Tillage Services, 2025
| ($/acre) | Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisel Plowing | $22.13 | $14.00-35.00 | $22.00 | 15 | 2% |
| Disk / Ripper | $25.00 | $18.00-35.00 | $24.00 | 9 | 14% |
| Disking with Harrow or Cultipacker | $22.14 | $18.00-32.00 | $20.00 | 7 | 1% |
| Field Cultivating | $18.82 | $10.00-32.00 | $18.00 | 17 | 6% |
| Vertical Tillage | $21.67 | $11.00-30.00 | $25.00 | 15 | 3% |
| Finishing Disk | $18.80 | $15.00-29.00 | $17.00 | 5 | -8% |
| Offset Disk | $21.75 | $15.00-32.00 | $20.00 | 4 | 7% |
| Subsoiling (16-20 inches deep) | $25.14 | $20.00-35.00 | $24.00 | 7 | -4% |
Custom Drilling Services, 2025
| ($/acre) | Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | |||||
| Alfalfa | $21.28 | $15.00-30.00 | $22.00 | 16 | 15% |
| Soybeans | $21.04 | $15.00-30.00 | $22.00 | 13 | 10% |
| Small Grains | $22.42 | $15.00-30.00 | $22.00 | 12 | 10% |
| No till | |||||
| Alfalfa | $21.89 | $15.00-25.00 | $23.25 | 14 | -4% |
| Soybeans | $22.59 | $15.00-35.00 | $22.50 | 11 | 1% |
| Small Grains | $22.29 | $15.00-35.00 | $22.25 | 14 | -2% |
| Without Fertilizer | |||||
| Small Grains | $22.80 | $16.00-30.00 | $23.00 | 10 | 11% |
Custom Seeding and Planting Services, 2025
| ($/acre) | Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | |||||
| Corn with fertilizer | $25.41 | $15.00-37.50 | $25.00 | 17 | 2% |
| Soybeans with fertilizer | $26.42 | $15.00-37.50 | $25.50 | 6 | —— |
| Corn without fertilizer | $23.22 | $10.00-35.00 | $25.00 | 9 | -1% |
| Soybeans without fertilizer | $24.50 | $10.00-35.00 | $25.00 | 8 | —— |
| No-Till | |||||
| Corn with fertilizer | $27.18 | $17.50-35.00 | $28.00 | 19 | 9% |
| Soybeans with fertilizer | $30.00 | $25.00-35.00 | $30.00 | 5 | —— |
| Corn without fertilizer | $26.38 | $15.00-40.00 | $25.50 | 8 | 17% |
| Soybeans without fertilizer | $25.68 | $17.00-35.00 | $25.00 | 7 | —— |
Custom Application of Fertilizers and Chemicals, 2025
| $/acre | Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fertilizer | |||||
| Bulk Dry – Broadcast | $9.89 | $6.00-25.00 | 9.00 | 26 | 11% |
| Liquid Broadcast | $12.61 | $8.00-20.00 | 11.00 | 9 | 40% |
| Liquid – Side-Dressing with Drop Nozzles | $15.88 | $11.25-30.00 | 15.00 | 10 | 19% |
| Lime Application ($/ton) | $31.71 | $10.00-75.00 | 22.00 | 7 | 55% |
| Fungicide Ground Application | $12.17 | $9.00-25.00 | 11.00 | 16 | 2% |
| Herbicide | |||||
| Boom Sprayer | $11.01 | $8.00-18.00 | 10.50 | 29 | -4% |
| Broadcast or Banded (only) – Liquid | $13.50 | $10.00-20.00 | 13.00 | 6 | 40% |
Custom Harvesting and Combining Services – Flat Rate, 2025
| $/acre | Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combining by Commodity | |||||
| Corn | $38.47 | $26.00-55.00 | $38.00 | 34 | 0% |
| Small Grains from Swath | $35.38 | $24.00-42.00 | $36.50 | 8 | -10% |
| Small Grains Straight | $37.12 | $25.00-50.00 | $38.00 | 17 | 1% |
| Soybeans | $38.45 | $26.00-55.00 | $38.00 | 29 | 4% |
| Harvest | |||||
| Corn (Combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) | $51.08 | $33.00-75.00 | $44.00 | 13 | 8% |
| Corn (Corn Stalks, large bales ($/bale)) | $17.17 | $10.00-25.00 | 1$6.00 | 6 | 24% |
| Soybeans (Combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) | $50.27 | $32.00-75.00 | $45.00 | 11 | 7% |
| Wheat (Combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) | $48.18 | $32.00-75.00 | $42.00 | 11 | 4% |
| Swathing | $17.75 | $13.00-28.00 | $15.00 | 4 | —— |
Custom Forage Harvesting Operations, 2025
| Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/acre | |||||
| Mowing hay | $18.27 | $13.00-25.00 | $17.00 | 11 | 13% |
| Mowing and conditioning hay | $16.48 | $12.00-22.00 | $16.50 | 15 | 7% |
| Raking hay | $11.77 | $5.00-18.00 | $12.00 | 11 | 24% |
| Tedding hay | $9.83 | $5.00-18.00 | $10.00 | 9 | -7% |
| Windrowing hay | $13.40 | $10.00-17.00 | $13.25 | 10 | 7% |
| $/bale | |||||
| Round Bales | |||||
| – Small Bales | $11.83 | $7.50-16.00 | $12.00 | 9 | 9% |
| – Large Bales (>1500 pounds) | $11.43 | $8.00-15.00 | $11.00 | 7 | -5% |
| – 4×5 | $11.83 | $8.00-12.00 | $12.00 | 9 | 10% |
| – 5×6 | $13.40 | $8.00-20.00 | $12.00 | 5 | —— |
| Square Bales | |||||
| – Large (>250 pounds) | $13.22 | $8.00-16.50 | $14.00 | 9 | 21% |
| Other Harvest Services | |||||
| Moving large round bales from field to storage | $4.00 | $1.50-5.00 | $4.75 | 4 | —— |
| $/hour | |||||
| Chopping Only | $801.25 | $275.00-1,390.00 | $775.00 | 24 | 1% |
| Chopping and Hauling Only | $785.00 | $450.00-1,025.00 | $832.50 | 4 | —— |
| Self-Propelled Chopper | $798.46 | $275.00-1,050.00 | $850.00 | 13 | -10% |
Custom Crop Hauling and Trucking, 2025
| Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/hour | |||||
| Corn Silage | $135.79 | $100.00-250.00 | 125.00 | 14 | —— |
| Silage | $131.43 | $80.00-250.00 | 125.00 | 14 | —— |
| $/bushel | |||||
| Corn | $0.18 | $0.10-0.35 | 0.15 | 14 | 6% |
| Soybeans | $0.22 | $0.10-0.50 | 0.18 | 15 | 22% |
| Wheat | $0.19 | $0.14-0.35 | 0.17 | 10 | 6% |
| Maximum One-Way Mileage ($/bushel) | |||||
| Corn | $16.14 | $8.00-25.00 | 15.00 | 7 | -27% |
| Soybeans | $17.50 | $10.00-25.00 | 17.50 | 4 | -19% |
| All Wheat | $17.00 | $8.00-25.00 | 17.50 | 4 | -18% |
| Extra Charge ($/bushel) per 10 Miles Over Base Mileage | |||||
| Corn | $0.09 | $0.04-0.15 | 0.09 | 6 | 80% |
| Soybeans | $0.10 | $0.05-0.15 | 0.10 | 4 | 100% |
Miscellaneous Custom Services, 2025
| Average | Range | Median | Responses | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn Drying | |||||
| $/bushel/point | $0.06 | $0.05-0.07 | 0.06 | 4 | 0% |
| Manure Services | |||||
| Liquid Manure applied by drag line ($/1,000 gallon) | $17.50 | $10.00-30.00 | 16.50 | 7 | 17% |
| Loading ($/hour) | $145.90 | $110.00-157.50 | 155.00 | 5 | —— |
| Spreading ($/acre) | $147.38 | $115.00-160.00 | 157.25 | 4 | —— |
| Agitation boat ($/hour) | $327.86 | $200.00-400.00 | 340.00 | 7 | —— |
| Aerating liquid manure in a storage tank ($/hour) | $345.00 | $300.00-380.00 | 350.00 | 4 | —— |
| Machine Rental | |||||
| Tractors | $52.00 | $25.00-85.00 | 49.00 | 4 | —— |
| 2-wheel drive, 150-250hp | $71.33 | $35.00-200.00 | 44.00 | 6 | —— |
| 4-wheel drive, <175 hp | $76.17 | $42.00-100.00 | 87.50 | 6 | —— |
| 4-wheel drive, >175 hp | $117.44 | $50.00-250.00 | 125.00 | 9 | —— |
| Skid steer loader ($/hour) | $67.50 | $25.00-85.00 | 80.00 | 4 | 33% |
