Brush Hogging Rates ..

[brin]

Sure glad I have always owned my own equipment...I would never pay an hourly rate to anyone regardless of the size of their bush hog...I don't know their skill level and they don't know my property so the first time they did it I would be paying them to learn...I like my pastures cut low..2 inches..no more...If I ever had to pay someone to bush hog for me and I sure hope I don't , it would be on a by the job basis and I would watch to be sure it was being cut low enough and not just laid down. but that's just me..LOL

 

[LD1]

Sure glad I have always owned my own equipment...I would never pay an hourly rate to anyone regardless of the size of their bush hog...I don't know their skill level and they don't know my property so the first time they did it I would be paying them to learn...I like my pastures cut low..2 inches..no more...If I ever had to pay someone to bush hog for me and I sure hope I don't , it would be on a by the job basis and I would watch to be sure it was being cut low enough and not just laid down. but that's just me..LOL

That is exactly why I dont price by the hour. And the people that charge by the hour, usually arent getting as much business.

Skill level and equipment have a lot to do with it and not just the size of the cutter.

I have a 5 footer on my L3400 and I can assure you that I can be more productive (especially if obsticals or difficult terrain) than if I were to use the same cutter on dads 8n (which a lot of the adds around here state something like "8n and 5' bushhog for hire @ $40 per hour".

8n lacks live hydraulics, doesnt have a live PTO, and no shuttle shifter, and not as much HP. I can outwork an 8n. But If I were on the 8n and a newbie city slicker that has never ran a tractor is on one like mine, I doubt he will be as productive either. So skill level is important too but that is something the customer doesn't know going in.

All reasons why I quote by the job. But in the back of my mind I am figuring how long it will take me and measuring how many acres there are. It is a good Idea to get one of those rolling measuring wheels and take a calculator with you when you bid a job. 43,560 sq ft per acre.

 

[jlsmith]

That is exactly why I dont price by the hour. And the people that charge by the hour, usually arent getting as much business.

Skill level and equipment have a lot to do with it and not just the size of the cutter.

I have a 5 footer on my L3400 and I can assure you that I can be more productive (especially if obsticals or difficult terrain) than if I were to use the same cutter on dads 8n (which a lot of the adds around here state something like "8n and 5' bushhog for hire @ $40 per hour".

8n lacks live hydraulics, doesnt have a live PTO, and no shuttle shifter, and not as much HP. I can outwork an 8n. But If I were on the 8n and a newbie city slicker that has never ran a tractor is on one like mine, I doubt he will be as productive either. So skill level is important too but that is something the customer doesn't know going in.

All reasons why I quote by the job. But in the back of my mind I am figuring how long it will take me and measuring how many acres there are. It is a good Idea to get one of those rolling measuring wheels and take a calculator with you when you bid a job. 43,560 sq ft per acre.

Thats also why i do it by the job and not by the hr. I use a batwing on most jobs but also take a 7' for the close areas. I can go as fast as i want or as slow and know im still making the same money and the owner isnt getting mad cuz he thinks im going to slow.

 

[jlsmith]

It had been kept up till 2 years ago ... then it sold and the new owner needs someone to cut it.

Good luck with the job you can PM me if you want to chat about the job or questions about anything.
Jeremy

 

[trook]

I obtain the size of the lot in acres, then look at the property to determine what may make the job difficult and time consuming such as overgrown grass, the layout, rough terrain, etc. Then, I give a flat price. I normally try to aim for $100 for the first hour and $65 for each additional hour.

 

[Big Wave D]

This question is aimed at those doing bush hog work.

How do you or did you go about getting your work?

Is it word of mouth, advertising - if so where and what kind, signage of some sort, solicit - and if so who and how?

It's something I'd seriously like to take a look into, just be nice to have a better idea or game plan to try and get it off the ground with the least amount of errors and blunders.

Thanks

 

[LD1]

I usually throw an ad on c-list every so often. And not just for bushhogging either, but just general small tractor work. I had people call me for all sorts of things.

One guy wanted a hole dug to plant a tree. I told him all I had was a FEL. He said it would be perfect. He wanted a ~8' square area dug down to 2' because his soil was VERY bad. He had a load of topsoil and filled in the rest around his tree.

Another guy wanted a small pond filled in. Like a 20 x 20 x 5' deep or so. More like a large goldfish pond that never held water.

I also do things like tilling, post hole digging, and all the other crazy things that we do with our tractors.

I don't get a whole lot of business, but enough for me. Just something to do on the side on my days off. But no way would I make a living at it. I would have to look for other forms of advertising. But I also get quite a few customers by word of mouth and from people I know. People you know like friends and family are always the hardest to set a price for.

 

[Heavyduty]

I use a 1ton with a 32'gooseneck with a 5'dovetail. All with farm tags, I look at the land and then set a price. I get anywhere from 40 to 65 an acre. The last job I did was 835 acres that hadn't been mowed in about 4 years I charged 65 for 600 acres that was just overgrown and 100 an acre for the other 235 acres that was grown up with prickly pears and thorn bushes.

How much Hp is your tractor and what kind of bushhogs do you have? If you don't mind telling.

 

[blueriver]

This question is aimed at those doing bush hog work.

How do you or did you go about getting your work?

Is it word of mouth, advertising - if so where and what kind, signage of some sort, solicit - and if so who and how?

It's something I'd seriously like to take a look into, just be nice to have a better idea or game plan to try and get it off the ground with the least amount of errors and blunders.

Thanks

Actually I don't do this ... a fellow just bought the property. I had an ad on CL for round bales for sale and he needed hay ... the conversation lead to cleaning up the ground and future hay crops. So at this point I am selling round bales to him, gonna brush hog the land and next summer put it into hay production on a 60/40 basis ... I start after the 1st of the year at $30 an acre ... I wanted $35 but considering I get the hay deal I agreed to the $30.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have tried several things, but 90% comes from craigs list. I post in the farm,agriculture "for sale" section. Return business is a pretty big deal. Do a good job at a fair price and most people will call you back. I send them reminder cards at the start of the season and a thank you or Christmas card somtimes as well.