Join the Wisconsin Custom Operators and U.S. Custom Harvesters for a day of safety training and approaches to managing risk. Farmers, custom operators and anyone interested in incident-reducing practices are encouraged to attend. This event qualifies towards WCO safety certification. Breakfast, lunch and snacks provided!

The Symposium is your chance to connect with WCO and MFA members, industry leaders, extension specialists, and researchers from across the Midwest. Join us in 2026 at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

The summer issue of the Custom News is here!

In this issue:

• Member profile: Hoff Farms
• Safety event - April 9
• WCO and PNAAW affiliate
• State budget update

Greetings from northern Illinois!

As I write this, we’re experiencing yet another hot and humid day – part of a seemingly endless pattern of high temps and regular rain showers. These conditions are making hay production, whether for silage or dry hay, particularly difficult. I hope the weather is treating you better than it is here and that your operations are running smoothly.

By Mike Rankin, senior editor, Hay and Forage Grower

Farming is never easy, but it can be made that much tougher when you’re beginning from scratch. As with many who set their life’s sail toward a sustainable farm business and start with little or nothing, Allen Hoff knows what it’s like to simultaneously fight for a bank loan, operate with and constantly fix older equipment, build and keep a client base, and start a family.