By Blake Jackson
The 2026 planting season is underway in Wisconsin, and early results from the 2025 Wisconsin Custom Rate Survey have been released to support farm planning decisions.
These preliminary findings offer useful benchmark information for farmers, landowners, and agricultural service providers as they prepare for the season.
The early release focuses on custom rates for tillage and field preparation, planting activities, and the application of fertilizers and crop protection chemicals.
These rates are based on data provided by survey participants for the 2025 data crop year. The reported figures include fuel costs and the labor of the equipment operator, offering a realistic view of typical custom operation expenses.
The survey results are intended to serve as general guidelines rather than exact pricing tools. Actual custom rates may vary depending on factors such as local supply and demand, equipment size, field conditions, and timing.
To help users better understand the data, the report includes the range of reported values and the number of responses for each operation. This information allows farmers to judge how much variation exists and how reliable each estimate may be.
A full and detailed report covering all field operations will be released in the coming weeks. This comprehensive version will include updated figures and a wider range of farming activities.
Survey organizers are continuing to collect data for the 2025 crop year and encourage additional participation to improve accuracy and representation.
To help farmers plan ahead, guidance is provided on adjusting reported rates for inflation to reflect 2026 conditions.
One suggested approach is to increase 2025 rates by six percent based on changes in the producer price index from March 2025 to March 2026.
Another option is to use percentage adjustments by operation category, as reported in regional custom rate guides. These methods help farmers estimate current costs more accurately.
The Wisconsin Custom Rate Survey plays an important role in supporting transparent pricing and informed decision making across the agricultural community. Farmers and custom operators are encouraged to review the findings carefully and consider contributing their own data.
Participation helps strengthen future reports and ensures the information remains valuable and reliable for the entire farming sector.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jevtic
Categories: Wisconsin, Rural Lifestyle