Thinking about getting into haying for my own use and for small $$$

[aczlan]

How much land do I need to get 200 square bales per cutting? Hmmm...

My inlaws have 20 acres (about 10 in hay) and we get 2-500 bales per cutting (first cutting is generally 3-500, second varies greatly).

Aaron Z

 

[pacerron]

Shawn,

We need to find/build us a big ole pole barn to store our hay in sir!

We need to add that to the calculations...

David

Plus a number of other things....
If you run it as a true business for a number of years you may be able to depreciate some of the costs, up to the sales amount each year. On the other side of that could be an increase in cost to the local tax man.

For the transporters, time is money too, so scheduling a fresh made dry pick up from the field as "Motor Seven" suggested in his operation, is doable but tricky. Most of the transporters that survive are literal "wheelers and dealers".
They know more about hay quality than you know about your kids.
They usually really prefer ton or half ton rectangular bales over round ones for obvious load reasons.
Payoff is not going to be the simple 3 year formula you stated.
Sticking with the small 160 bale plan you have might work but you need to have options built into your plan based on supply and demand in all areas of the hay market.
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it..

 

[MotorSeven]

DANG!! I could probably pay the freight for a semi truck to haul some of your hay back to me. Grass hay is selling for $180 a ton around here, and that's if you look long and hard or dicker fiercely. I'd be happier than ever to be buying hay for 5 times what you are selling it for.

$180 a ton? Jeeze I'd be selling off my animals at those prices.

It's funny, new folks to the area always want to know what kind of hay I have. When I explain that due to our pastures flooding once/twice/more a year, we have a mutt mixture. Fescue, Orchard, Clover, Johnson, Timothy and a very few weeds. Most don't think their horse will eat it, so I give them a guarantee and they always come back and say the horses woofed it down. Now I did have a guy bring in new horses from South Dakota and they turned their noses up at it, but later changed there minds and now it's not an issue.

During drought here, the bottoms are the only thing that will produce. We had one a few years ago, and any hillside pasture burned up and withered away. We still got 3 cuttings thanks to our big creek.

I have thought about selling abroad, but the market changes with the weather, so it would be a seasonal challenge to find a market and get it there. If you can get a flatbed that needs a backhaul, then the shipping cost can be pretty low.

 

[MotorSeven]

If it was easy, everybody would be doing it..

Ain't that the truth....it's work plain and simple. I don't mind it as long as I am not pressed for time. I hate rushing anything..............

 

[Iplayfarmer]

$180 a ton? Jeeze I'd be selling off my animals at those prices.

Dairy hay is pushing $300/ton.

 

[sseelhoff]

We paid $180 for a 1200 pound large square (alfalfa)

We are paying $17 per bale for squares of coastal for the horses.

Hay prices here are ridiculous, and getting higher. Drought killed local production, so everything is being trucked in.

We're looking to buy some compact baling equipment.

Mini Hay Balers and Compact Hay Balers | Small Farm Innovators

 

[bigbull338]

if your going to buy your own hay equipment.you need to have a 15 or 20ac hay meadow.an that should justify your equipment purchase.

 

[scoutcub]

if your going to buy your own hay equipment.you need to have a 15 or 20ac hay meadow.an that should justify your equipment purchase.

dam, with all this talk you guyz got me thinkin about it with a 10 acre field doing nothing......:confused3::laughing:

 

[riptides]

dam, with all this talk you guyz got me thinkin about it with a 10 acre field doing nothing......:confused3::laughing:

Well get to it... It is most satisfying work, WHEN others appreciate your efforts.

Even if they don't, it's tractor time.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

We paid $180 for a 1200 pound large square (alfalfa)

We are paying $17 per bale for squares of coastal for the horses.

Hay prices here are ridiculous, and getting higher. Drought killed local production, so everything is being trucked in.

We're looking to buy some compact baling equipment.

Mini Hay Balers and Compact Hay Balers | Small Farm Innovators

I've looked into those tiny little compact balers. There are at least a dozen little one acre pieces within a half mile of my place that I'm sure I could arrange to cut and bale and keep all the hay. I'd have no competition since one else is foolish enough to get into haying on this small of a scale. The prices on those mini balers are rediculous, though.