fair price for baling

[hvwilson]

I'm new at baling hay and don't really know how to price myself. What's the going rate for custom baling square bales? Just Baling he is gonna cut and rake.

thanks

 

[LarryT]

Where are you located? Here in New Mexico I'm average at $35.00 per hour and $.50 per bail.

 

[RodinNS]

That depends entirely on what baler you have, what tractor you're pulling it with and what you've got invested in the outfit...
I won't run a square baler for less than 50/H. That's on a Ford 4000 with a Ford 532 baler. That's capable of production in the 200-300 BPH range. If the baler gets stuck on one of the larger tractors here it'll often puck out up to 400 BPH. The price then starts at 60/H.
I'd suggest to you that if he's doing the mowing and raking, you work by the hour. The reason is simple... you don't knwo what kind of mess you're driving into until you get there. If you were doing the whole shot for him and can predict your production fairly accurately, then you can work by the bale and not lose...
A case in point... we did some baling for a guy a few weeks ago. He had it cut, and then he raked it with an old bar rake. It raked about 7' worth of hay into a row. Our rake takes 14'... It took twice as long to bale. He paid twice as much for his 'fun'. We were tied up from doing our own, and still burning fuel and wearing a baler out driving around on his tiny rows, so it still cost us nearly as much per hour to run. There's no economy in that kind of nonsense. It worked out to be about 50 cents per bale on that job, just to bale. If I was doing my own, 35 is about the benchmark I'd try to hit.
So... bottom line, until you know what you're in for, work by the hour based on what you figure it costs you plus a profit you're happy with.

Rod

 

[showcrop]

I baled someone else's windrows once. It was before GPS. I had to stop and ask directions.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Baling only I charge $1.00 per bale.

 

[hvwilson]

wow, looks like price is all over. He wanted to pay us $.50 a bale. I thought it was far.

I have a ford 3000 and a NH 320 baler.

thanks for yalls help.

 

[Anonymous-0]

How do people charge for round baling in your area?
I am charging $15.00 per round bale that is close to my house.

 

[RodinNS]

Sounds fair if he isn't wasting your time...

Rod