greasemonkeyok
Veteran Member
Valid point Steve. Some of us are happy cause we're dumb.
Thinking about getting into haying for my own use and for small $$$
- Thread starter MossflowerWoods
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MossflowerWoods
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keegs
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MossFlower..I'm probably not the only one to have had someone harvesting their hay fields just for the the cost of keeping them cut.
flusher
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That's the kind of deal I was talking about-- locate somebody who's been into haying and is getting out of the business or is upgrading his equipment and selling the stuff he's using now. That's a darn good price for some nice equipment that's been well cared for. Parts are available for all that stuff.
Make several trips yourself or get a friend or two who have trailers and caravan to the seller's place. I'd pay for the gas and the first round of beers.
Good luck.
Just because some guy cut, raked, and baled/rolled it doesn't mean it is worth
anything as horse hay.
If you value the health of your horses you need to know what grasses are in it, that it was cut at the right time, dryed right before baling, and then put in your barn before it gets rained on. In the barn, if it is a pole barn type and you are storing the hay at ground level, you will probably need to elevate it more than just on some old skids to keep it from molding on the bottom. We have rolls on skids but the bottom row is not used to feed. It is just used to elevate the second and third layer high. The bottom row can serve as a platform for the hay above for a few years.
I'm not suggesting that you need ritch alfalfa hay unless you have race horses. Depending on the exercise your horses get, or lack thereof, it might be best to have little or no alfalfa in it.
If you've been horsing for a while, I'm sure you know all of this... but nowhere was it mentioned anything about the purpose of the hay except for horses.
You won't save any money making hay yourself, as others have warned, but you could have the piece of mind of knowing that the hay was made properly and at the right time if you do it yourself... depending on the weatherman
anything as horse hay.
If you value the health of your horses you need to know what grasses are in it, that it was cut at the right time, dryed right before baling, and then put in your barn before it gets rained on. In the barn, if it is a pole barn type and you are storing the hay at ground level, you will probably need to elevate it more than just on some old skids to keep it from molding on the bottom. We have rolls on skids but the bottom row is not used to feed. It is just used to elevate the second and third layer high. The bottom row can serve as a platform for the hay above for a few years.
I'm not suggesting that you need ritch alfalfa hay unless you have race horses. Depending on the exercise your horses get, or lack thereof, it might be best to have little or no alfalfa in it.
If you've been horsing for a while, I'm sure you know all of this... but nowhere was it mentioned anything about the purpose of the hay except for horses.
You won't save any money making hay yourself, as others have warned, but you could have the piece of mind of knowing that the hay was made properly and at the right time if you do it yourself... depending on the weatherman
blueriver
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All I can say is I used to count on others to buy from and alot of times I never got what they claimed it was ... then I used to wait for the custom guy and I'd wait and I'd wait ...
NOW ... my hay is weed free, fertilized and the quanity and the quality has greatly improved....now when its time and the weather is in my favor ... well I make hay.
Another thing. I started out with the used stuff, fixed and repaired used it and resold it in better condition for considerably more and gradualy worked up to bigger and better equipment ... start small and slow you'll be okay and you may find you like it and may even sell enough to pay for the cost.
NOW ... my hay is weed free, fertilized and the quanity and the quality has greatly improved....now when its time and the weather is in my favor ... well I make hay.
Another thing. I started out with the used stuff, fixed and repaired used it and resold it in better condition for considerably more and gradualy worked up to bigger and better equipment ... start small and slow you'll be okay and you may find you like it and may even sell enough to pay for the cost.
bigbull338
Elite Member
if you want to really get into baling your own hay heres what you do.if you have a friend with baling equipment help him bale an learn as your working.if you 2 can really work togather after a summer of helping him.then in the winter you can find a buy a cutter an rake if you have the money.then next summer you can cut an rake hay for yourself an your buddy.then if you still want baler find an buy 1.
scoutcub
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David -
I bet I could fit all (or most) of that stuff on my 30' gooseneck. And, that sounds like a great deal!
Let me know if you're interested, I'll be home in a few weeks.
Frank
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Excuse my language (economics)
The first (and simplest) is to compute the number of bales that you would have to bale yourself each year in order to just breakeven versus buying hay, Q*. The formula is Q* = FC/(P-AVC), where FC is fixed costs (annual equipment ownership costs and the prorated costs of establishing the hay fields) measured in $/year; P is the price you pay when buying hay measured in $/bale; and AVC is the average variable cost of producing hay (fertilizer, lime, twine, equipment operating cost, etc.) measured in $/bale. If Q* is greater (less) than the # of bales you buy each year, you are better off buying (making) hay. Here is an enterprise budget that you might find useful in estimating FC and AVC for your individual situation: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/aes/budgets/files/fescue.pdf
The second is to compute the net present value (NPV) of an investment in hay equipment. You would need to compare your initial investment to the discounted value of the after-tax cash flows associated with making versus buying hay.
Steve
I have 60 acres of hay meadow myself, and take care of another 35 acres for a neighbor. I have all of the equipment listed in my signature, and I'm still paying a note on the two newest tractors. (the rest is paid for)
After using Steve's formula, the only viable alternative that I have left is to shoot myself!
:laughing:
smstonypoint
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I have 60 acres of hay meadow myself, and take care of another 35 acres for a neighbor. I have all of the equipment listed in my signature, and I'm still paying a note on the two newest tractors. (the rest is paid for)
After using Steve's formula, the only viable alternative that I have left is to shoot myself!
:laughing:
Hey, economics didn't earn its reputation as the "Dismal Science" just by chance.
Steve