The Wisconsin Custom Operators, Inc. (WCO) recently created a grant program to provide smaller, more flexible awards to assist with important projects or programs that will benefit custom farming and the ag community as a whole.
 

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New this year, WCO created a mini-grant program designed to provide smaller, more flexible awards to assist with important projects or programs that will ultimately benefit the custom farming community and the ag community as a whole. The WCO board feels strongly that it is important to invest in great people and innovative ideas. Thanks to the support of WCO members and sponsors, the organization is in a strong financial position and it’s important to put those dollars to good use. To learn more about the mini-grant program and to download the application, go to the Mini-grant page of the WCO website

By Mary Hookham, for WCO
As hemp production becomes more popular and streamlined in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Custom Operators are exploring the crop as a possibility for custom operators. The 2020 Symposium for the Midwest Forage Association, Wisconsin Custom Operators and Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin offered a panel of hemp producers and experts to discuss current hemp-related laws and growing practices.
 

By John Shutske, Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist

With COVID-19 dominating news cycles everywhere on the planet, there are a few questions that have come up for minimizing risk for those who operate farm tractors, trucks, and other enclosed ag equipment—especially when the same machine is being operated over the course of a day or work week by multiple people. When you have employees or others who might be trading off and using the same machine it’s important to minimize risk. Even if a person appears healthy, shared equipment should be cleaned between operators.