Wisconsin Custom Operators, Inc.

WCO - Wisconsin Custom Operators

Representing custom farming in Wisconsin and beyond

Heim Brothers Custom LLC // Kewaunee, Wis.

WI Act 28 bill signing // Madison, Wis.

D & J Manthe Forage Service LLC // DeForest, Wis.

Blasel Custom Fieldwork // Dorchester, Wis.

United Ag Enterprises, LLC // Seymour, Wis.

Arneson Custom Farming // Barneveld, Wis.

WCO Safety Certification program // Click to learn more

Touch-a-truck outreach event // Greenfield, Wis.

Who We Are

The Wisconsin Custom Operators is an organization comprised of individuals throughout the state who derive their income in whole or part from providing custom farming services. These services include: forage harvesting (alfalfa and corn silage), forage bagging, baling, tillage, planting, combining, trucking, manure handling, spraying, among other services.

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News & Events

Oh brother! These guys can chop
Posted On: August 26, 2026

By Mike Rankin, senior editor, Hay and Forage Grower

The large forage chopper roared to life. Viewing through the cab window, I watched as the machine gobbled standing corn like a Great Dane eating its first meal after two days of fasting. Sitting next to me and manning the controls with precision was Charlie Schultz, the co-owner of Schultz Brothers Forage Service LLC.

On this fall day, we were traversing cornfields on a dairy farm so close to Chicago that you could almost smell the deep-dish pizza. Schultz and his younger brother Dave started their custom harvesting business a little over 10 years ago. Even though they grew up working on both grandparents’ farms, there was metaphorically no room at the inn when they graduated high school. Dave eventually began hauling livestock across the country while Charlie, after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural education, managed river terminals for a large grain exporter.

From the President's Cab: Looking ahead together
Posted On: August 26, 2026

By John Osterhaus

Hello all,

I’m writing this column on a hot evening here in northwest Illinois. This summer has brought plenty of heat and humidity, making it very difficult at times to get hay completely dried down. Add in the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and dry hay harvest has been a bit of a challenge. I hope your spring and summer crops have been good and that your harvest season has been safe and successful as well.

WCO and USCHI host spring safety event
Posted On: August 26, 2026

Safety took center stage April 9 as WCO and U.S. Custom Harvesters (USCHI) welcomed custom operators, crew members, and industry partners to the UW Agricultural Research Station in Arlington for a full day of hands-on training.

The Forage & Manure Safety Event drew more than 70 registered attendees and offered a mix of equipment walk-arounds, breakout sessions, and practical emergency-response training. The event also qualified for WCO Safety Certification, giving members an opportunity to complete training before the busy spring season.