hay

[R Heard]

I have the oppurtunity to get my hands on a new hay field. It is one of those fields that most folks here in the N. Georgia Mtns. dream of, it is all river bottoms and perfectly smooth. Anyway my question is what is a fair price to pay to get to cut and keep the hay? Most folks around here pay certain amount per bale, I just don't know how much. I will be doing small square bales. Thanks guys

 

[Allan in NE]

If you're doing small square bales, someone should pay you.........A lot. :>)

Allan

 

[IaGary]

Around here hay ground rents for about half the value of the hay if it was sold.


In other words if hay is bringing 40 dollars for a big round you would pay the land owner 20.

Little squares bring more per ton but there is more labor so I would never give 1/2 the sale price for rent for little squares.Maybe a 1/3.

Gary

 

[CHRISCO]

But some people do pay you to haul it away.

If you know some one that will take the hay ask
them. But $2.50 min by the way it sounds your area is a lot higher like $4.50.

 

[Anonymous-0]

And I believe that "someone" is Alan's wife.

 

[Allan in NE]

Mornin' Chris,

Yes, it's true. I'm still highly agitated and bitter about this whole affair. :>)

Makes me mad enough to go out and buy another old red tractor! Yeah, that's what I'll do. :>)

Allan

 

[Allan in NE]

Don't bring her up. She's walking on some pretty thin ice around here. :>)

Allan

 

[IaGary]

Look at the bright side Allan.

You only have to handle those bales 3 more times.

Once on to the truck to get to manger, once off the truck into the manger.and the last time when you get to use the loader again to load the waste.

If you sold the horses now and burnt the hay pile you would end up with the same amount of income.~})

Gary

 

[Allan in NE]

Dunno,

Sometimes think maybe I should have stayed with the "Silver Dollar Queens".

They were dummer than a bucket of rocks, but I could always shoo 'em away and send 'em home in the morning. :>)

Allan

 

[IaGary]

I hope the wife has as good of sense of humor as you do. If not if she looks in on this. You are in trouuuuble.~})

Gary

 

[Allan in NE]

I'd probaly end up out "re-stacking" that damned hay. :>)

Allan

 

[dhermesc]

So when are you going to put the other half of the load that trailer?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I keep reading here "price per bale" how heavy are your bales? Before I went to round bales my NH baler made 75 lb bales, I have someone else make the hundred or so little bales I need now but they vary from 100 - 120 lbs per bale depending on who bales it. Here in Idaho we sell by the ton, right now most of us are in 1st crop and good feeder hay is starting at around $90 and dairy quality is $120 or higher. When I sold little bales I always took price per ton and devided it by how many bales per ton.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Here in Mt Sterling, Ky lots of folks give me their hay for mowing the place off, I do go back with a bushhog and trim up the rough places for them. I also put some up on the shares and I get 3 to 1 on square bales and 2 for one on rolled hay. With the price of fuel,twine,parts,labor,etc. You can't afford to do it much cheaper than that unless it is very good and thick. I wouldn't dream of paying more than 1/3 of the value of the hay.

 

[centralilbaler]

thats why i enjoy "dumping" them in the field and letting the owner come and get them

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'm baled a lot of square bales early in my career, but now only bale a few hundred straw bales/year. Having this background experience, I can't understand what all the "fuss" is about over a few hundred bales. A thousand maybe not so good, but a few hours labor for a couple of hundred is it all that bad? Perhaps I've missed the point and the complaining and counter "jabberwalling" is only in jest.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Heard at the local feed & grain this morning $5.50/bale for hay. Small squares here usually run 40-60#. Split the difference, that's $220/ton, but that's all going for "pets" from goats to horses and I suspect it's a combination they don't mind the cost that much and don't mind the easier handling bales.

If I buy a couple from a farmer up the road who keeps some beefers to keep is tax abatements, they're up in the 80# range and a couple bucks cheaper. Not many people are still square baling now except those selling pet food.

 

[Walt Davies]

It runs from take it all for small lots 5 to 10 acres and the amount and quality of hay on it.
I get $110 per ton to cut rake and bale 50 to 80 lb. bales if they own the hay. They haul and stack themselves.
If I take the hay I will put most of it away for winter to sell at the higher prices. Other than than its $130 a ton in the field. I give the owner the difference between the $110 and the $130. I can tell you this its high this year but some people out there are still cutting hay on a 50/50 basis I don't know how they make money at that price.
I have seen prices out here go from $105 to $200 a ton just depends on the hay and market. Talk to your neighbors and look in the local paper to see what other's are charging don't undercut them just to sell its not the right thing to do.

 

[Walt Davies]

Forgot if you are cutting their hay for them to haul do what ever they want with it then set your price for cut,rake and bale no matter what the quality of the hay is. That's their problem. Sparse fields you need to add some for extra fuel cost and time.
And don't let them talk you down they will always go with what you want because there just isn't that may people out there cutting hay for other's.
Walt

 

[big hunter]

here in maryland my cousin cuts, rakes, and bales round bales...he keeps 80% owner gets 20%. he told me he's thinking about raising it to 90/10. don't know but if the owner doesn't want the hay maybe you just pay them what 20% of the crop is worth????

 

[R Heard]

Thanks for all the replies. They have helped out and gave me some idea what to charge. Thanks again.