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Wisconsin custom farming rates 2025
71 rates from the Custom Rates for 2025 Wisconsin Farm Operations.
- Published by
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension (Farm Management)
- Published
- August 2026 (PDF dated Aug 18, 2026)
- Rates for
- 2025 · Rates for 2025
- Responses
- 135 responses
- Fuel
- Rates include fuel.
- Diesel baseline
- not stated. No diesel baseline stated.
- Ranges
- Range is the lowest and highest reported.
- Source
- Original report (PDF) · publisher page
Survey averages, not quotes. These are averages of what people reported in extension surveys. Use them as a starting point for a conversation, not as a price.
Tillage (8) · Planting & seeding (15) · Spraying (3) · Fertilizer application (4) · Harvesting (8) · Hauling (7) · Drying & storage (1) · Hay & forage (15) · Manure (5) · Machinery rental (5)
Tillage
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisel Plowing compare states | $22.13/acre | $14.00 – $35.00 | 15 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Disk/ripper compare states | $25.00/acre | $18.00 – $35.00 | 9 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Disking with Harrow or Cultipacker | $22.14/acre | $18.00 – $32.00 | 7 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Field Cultivating compare states | $18.82/acre | $10.00 – $32.00 | 17 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Vertical tillage compare states | $21.67/acre | $11.00 – $30.00 | 15 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Finishing disk compare states | $18.80/acre | $15.00 – $28.00 | 5 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Offset Disk compare states few responses |
$21.75/acre | $15.00 – $32.00 | 4 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Subsoiling (16-20 in. deep) compare states | $25.14/acre | $20.00 – $35.00 | 7 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
Planting & seeding
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drilling, conventional - Alfalfa | $21.28/acre | $15.00 – $30.00 | 16 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Drilling, conventional - Soybeans compare states | $21.04/acre | $15.00 – $30.00 | 13 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Drilling, conventional - Small Grains compare states | $22.42/acre | $15.00 – $30.00 | 12 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Drilling, no-till - Alfalfa | $21.89/acre | $15.00 – $25.00 | 14 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Drilling, no-till - Soybeans compare states | $22.59/acre | $15.00 – $35.00 | 11 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Drilling, no-till - Small Grains compare states | $22.29/acre | $15.00 – $35.00 | 14 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Drilling, without fertilizer - Small Grains | $22.80/acre | $16.00 – $30.00 | 10 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| Planting, conventional - Corn with fertilizer compare states | $25.41/acre | $15.00 – $37.50 | 17 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, conventional - Soybeans with fertilizer | $26.42/acre | $15.00 – $37.50 | 6 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, conventional - Corn without fertilizer compare states | $23.22/acre | $10.00 – $35.00 | 9 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, conventional - Soybeans without fertilizer compare states | $24.50/acre | $10.00 – $35.00 | 8 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, no-till - Corn with fertilizer | $27.18/acre | $17.50 – $35.00 | 19 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, no-till - Soybeans with fertilizer | $30.00/acre | $25.00 – $35.00 | 5 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, no-till - Corn without fertilizer compare states | $26.38/acre | $15.00 – $40.00 | 8 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Planting, no-till - Soybeans without fertilizer | $25.86/acre | $17.00 – $35.00 | 7 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
Spraying
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fungicide Ground Application compare states check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$12.17/acre | $9.00 – $25.00 | 16 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Herbicide application - Boom Sprayer compare states check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$11.01/acre | $8.00 – $18.00 | 29 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Herbicide application - Broadcast or Banded (only) -liquid check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$13.50/acre | $10.00 – $20.00 | 6 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
Fertilizer application
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fertilizer application - Bulk Dry - Broadcast compare states check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$9.89/acre | $6.00 – $25.00 | 26 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Fertilizer application - Liquid - Broadcast compare states check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$12.61/acre | $8.00 – $20.00 | 9 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Fertilizer application - Liquid - Side-Dressing with Drop Nozzles compare states check ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. |
$15.88/acre | $11.25 – $30.00 | 10 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Fertilizer application - Lime Application compare states checkoutlier ⚠ Table 4 in the source is labeled “2024” while every other table says 2025. Probably a typo; data kept with the 2025 survey. ⚠ +175% vs. the cross-state median ($11.53) for “Spreading lime (per ton)”. |
$31.71/ton | $10.00 – $75.00 | 7 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
Harvesting
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combining - Corn compare states | $38.47/acre | $26.00 – $55.00 | 34 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Combining - Small Grains from Swath | $35.38/acre | $24.00 – $42.00 | 8 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Combining - Small Grains Straight compare states | $37.12/acre | $25.00 – $50.00 | 17 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Combining - Soybeans compare states | $38.45/acre | $26.00 – $55.00 | 29 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Harvest - Corn (Combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) compare states | $51.08/acre | $33.00 – $75.00 | 13 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Harvest - Soybeans (Combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) compare states | $50.27/acre | $32.00 – $75.00 | 11 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Harvest - Wheat (Combine, grain cart, haul local to farm) | $48.18/acre | $32.00 – $75.00 | 11 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Harvest - Swathing few responses |
$17.75/acre | $13.00 – $28.00 | 4 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
Hauling
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hauling corn silage (per truck hour) | $135.79/hour | $100.00 – $250.00 | 14 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Hauling silage (per truck hour) | $131.43/hour | $80.00 – $250.00 | 14 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Grain hauling - Corn compare states | $0.18/bushel | $0.10 – $0.35 | 14 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Grain hauling - Soybeans compare states | $0.22/bushel | $0.10 – $0.50 | 15 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Grain hauling - All Wheat | $0.19/bushel | $0.14 – $0.35 | 10 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Grain hauling, extra charge per 10 miles over base mileage - Corn compare states | $0.09/bushel/10 miles | $0.04 – $0.15 | 6 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Grain hauling, extra charge per 10 miles over base mileage - Soybeans compare states few responses |
$0.10/bushel/10 miles | $0.05 – $0.15 | 4 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
Drying & storage
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn drying compare states few responses |
$0.06/point/bushel | $0.05 – $0.07 | 4 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
Hay & forage
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baling corn stalks, large bales | $17.17/bale | $10.00 – $25.00 | 6 | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Mowing hay compare states | $18.27/acre | $13.00 – $25.00 | 11 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Mowing & conditioning hay compare states | $16.48/acre | $12.00 – $22.00 | 15 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Raking hay compare states | $11.77/acre | $5.00 – $18.00 | 11 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Tedding hay compare states | $9.83/acre | $5.00 – $18.00 | 9 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Windrowing hay | $13.40/acre | $10.00 – $17.00 | 10 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Baling round bales - Small Bales check ⚠ The “Small Bales” and “4x5” rows have identical average, range, median and count (11.83, 7.50–16.00, 12.00, n=9). Possibly a duplicated row in the source. |
$11.83/bale | $7.50 – $16.00 | 9 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Baling round bales - Large Bales (>1500 pounds) compare states | $11.43/bale | $8.00 – $15.00 | 7 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Baling round bales - 4x5 compare states check ⚠ The “Small Bales” and “4x5” rows have identical average, range, median and count (11.83, 7.50–16.00, 12.00, n=9). Possibly a duplicated row in the source. |
$11.83/bale | $7.50 – $16.00 | 9 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Baling round bales - 5x6 compare states | $13.40/bale | $8.00 – $20.00 | 5 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Baling square bales - Large (>250 pounds) compare states | $13.22/bale | $8.00 – $16.50 | 9 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Moving large round bales from field to storage few responses |
$4.00/bale | $1.50 – $5.00 | 4 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Silage chopping Only check ⚠ Silage chopping around $800/hour (range up to $1,390). Self-propelled forage harvester rates; per-hour, not comparable with per-ton rates in other states. |
$801.25/hour | $275.00 – $1,390.00 | 24 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Silage chopping and Hauling Only checkfew responses ⚠ Silage chopping around $800/hour (range up to $1,390). Self-propelled forage harvester rates; per-hour, not comparable with per-ton rates in other states. |
$785.00/hour | $450.00 – $1,025.00 | 4 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Silage self-Propelled Chopper check ⚠ Silage chopping around $800/hour (range up to $1,390). Self-propelled forage harvester rates; per-hour, not comparable with per-ton rates in other states. |
$798.46/hour | $275.00 – $1,050.00 | 13 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
Manure
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manure - Liquid Manure applied by drag line compare states | $17.50/1,000 gallons | $10.00 – $30.00 | 7 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Manure - Loading | $145.90/hour | $110.00 – $157.50 | 5 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Manure - Spreading checkfew responses ⚠ $147.38 per acre for manure spreading looks very high (n=4). Check if the unit should be per hour or per load. |
$147.38/acre | $115.00 – $160.00 | 4 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Manure - Agitation boat | $327.86/hour | $200.00 – $400.00 | 7 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Manure - Aerating liquid manure in a storage tank few responses |
$345.00/hour | $300.00 – $380.00 | 4 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
Machinery rental
| Job (survey wording) | Average | Range | Responses | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine rental (hourly) - Tractors few responses Listed in source simply as 'Tractors' (size not specified) |
$52.00/hour | $25.00 – $85.00 | 4 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Machine rental (hourly) - 2-wheel drive, 150-250 hp | $71.33/hour | $35.00 – $200.00 | 6 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Machine rental (hourly) - 4-wheel drive, < 175 hp | $76.17/hour | $42.00 – $100.00 | 6 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Machine rental (hourly) - 4-wheel drive, > 175 hp | $117.44/hour | $50.00 – $250.00 | 9 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |
| Machine rental (hourly) - Skid steer loader compare states few responses |
$67.50/hour | $25.00 – $85.00 | 4 | PDF p. 5 · calculate |