Custom hay work

[Animal]

Have any of you thought about what you are going to be charging next year for mowing, raking and round, and small square baling? Just curious.

 

[hayray]

I am going to have to raise it high enough that I might loose some business but gain in the long run. There seems to be enough people out there that will do it too cheap so I figure to let their wallet hurt instead. I charged $1.90 per small square last year and $16 per 4 x 4 round bale. I also charged another customer $9 per round for just baling and $1.25 per small square for just baling. I think I will raise custom work a dime per square and another buck per round.

 

[Keith Harpster]

Mowing and raking=$15 per acre
Big Baling with Deere net=$12 per bale
Small square(wire) with accumulator and putting hay away= $1.35 per bale

 

[Anonymous-0]

Same as the last 2 yrs. $60.00/hr.

 

[JM in Merit]

Going to wait and see what fuel does. Charged 17.50 for 5X5 20.00 for 5.5 X 5. Charged 1.50 a square bale ( about 55 lbs bales).
I pretty sure I will not go down more than likely go up or stay the same all depends on fuel, oil, string etc.
Located here in north east Texas. some guys were charging 25 a bale last year

http://cattleandhay.free-web-hosting.biz/index.htm
http://cattleandhay.blogspot.com/

 

[Anonymous-0]

I can't charge by the roll anymore because people in my area won't fertilize and expect you to run over 80 acres and not even make a roll to the acre.

 

[SheldonS]

Will a TD-6 pull a small baler? If so, what kind of affordable baler should I look for? I know they aren't cheap, but I need to find a cheap one. I'm interested in growing my own alfalfa for my small ranch, I have about 3 acres I can plant on my little 10 acre ranch. I think with a good 4 cuttings I can grow enough to get me through the whole year. Usually 5 or even six cuttings can be had in Central California where I am.

 

[JoshuaGA]

Not sure what a TD-6 is, but at a minimum you will need a sicklebar mower, a side deliver rake, and a small square baler. Tractor needs to be about thirty horse with a live/independant pto and a slow first gear. If you can find some good older well maintained hay equipment, not including tractor, will cost $1000-$2000. have to buy another tractor, brings your cost up to $5000. If your a tinker, may get buy with a lot less initial investment, but will come in time. For costs, Seeding alfalfa probably $200 to $250 an acre, then fertilizer and chemical, then the fuel and equipment, make 5 tons to the acre over three acres 15 tons. 40 50 lb. bales in a ton. if we say you have $1250 in the hay before equipment.
Already have $2.09 in each bale. add in just hay equipment ($2000), we have $5.42 in each bale. Add another tractor to bring cost to $6000 total, and you have $10.00 hay. Not trying to scare you, but unless you want the fun, if hay is less expensive, you may be better served to pasture that land or find a more proitable use for it. Of course, I have been wrong before. .HTH

JoshuaGA