News and Events

By John Osterhaus

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.

Your WCO Board has been busy exploring new ways to grow our reach and add value for both current and future members. While we continue to focus on the core areas of harvesting and manure application, we’re also looking beyond to expand our network and presence in the broader ag community.

One of our newest initiatives is a sponsorship with the Badger State Tractor Pullers (BSTP). Many of our members are involved in tractor pulling—either behind the wheel or in the stands—and this partnership offers a unique opportunity to connect with a wider audience. Our hope is to raise awareness of WCO among potential members and customers alike. If you have a chance to attend a BSTP event this summer, we’d love to hear your feedback.

Another exciting project in the works is a joint Forage and Manure Safety Day, co-hosted with U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. This event will take place on April 9, 2026, at the UW Research Farm in Arlington, Wisconsin. We’re planning a full day of hands-on safety training tailored specifically for forage and manure crews. Our goal is to provide your team with practical skills to help them work more safely and efficiently. A detailed agenda with speakers and topics will be released soon, so stay tuned—and please consider bringing your whole crew.

We’ve also entered into an agreement with the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin (PNAAW) to begin the process of combining our two organizations. While this merger is still in its early stages, both groups will maintain their individual identities for now, with all financial operations being managed through WCO. If all goes as planned, PNAAW will eventually become part of WCO. We see this as a positive step toward building a stronger, more unified voice for our industry.

As we head into a busy fall season, I want to wish everyone a safe and successful harvest and manure application season. As always, thank you for being a part of WCO. If you have questions, suggestions, or want to get more involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Stay safe and take care,

John