Getting paid for hay

[lt190b]

Thanks for the insight guys. I don't need the hay, no use for it. And with hay being plentiful this year and last I suspect the value is hardly worth the time, fuel and fertilizer. I agree the brush hogging would take a lot of time with my 3032E JD and my 5' brush hog. Better off to have it hayed for a good use. I think next year we will have a little better understanding on what's going on and when. I didn't like the fact that that they were working into the evening after dark on July 3rd and also the fact that they were baling on July 4th when we had a whole bunch of guests over for the holiday. I know, I know, you farm when you can but the timing was all wrong for me this year and being a new land owner I really didn't know what to expect. I know better now and will have an understanding next year or have someone else do it.

Thanks

kcflhrc, a tip from my experience with having someone do your hay. What ever your deal, have them take there's as soon as their finished. Don't be the warehouse. lt190b

 

[kcflhrc]

kcflhrc, a tip from my experience with having someone do your hay. What ever your deal, have them take there's as soon as their finished. Don't be the warehouse. lt190b

We actually did have that discussion. When we moved in there was hay on the property, about 20 large round bales. The neighbor made it clear that it was his hay. I said great, then move it, he did? This year they removed it right after they baled it, unfortunately it was on July 4th when we had lots of company over and we were all outside and having to listen to that baler and all that crap was very annoying for our guests. I will make it clear that it wont happen again.

 

[charlz]

You can look at your local Craigslist to get an idea of what hay sells for in your area versus what you would have to spend to have it cut, fertilizer etc. If they really are putting down fertilizer then they are likely keeping the ground in good shape, not depleting it etc. Having to find a custom cutter, fertilize it yourself, deal with people on Craigslist 'tire kicking' your hay ("Would you say that is 75% grass/25%Alfalfa or 76% grass/24%Alfalfa?" ...) and wanting you to load it or deliver it or whatever along with no-shows can be time consuming.

 

[Sysop]

Traditionally in this area, first cut is ALWAYS 4th of July Weekend.

 

[brin]

When my brother bought his 40 acres, the previous owner had an arrangement with a neighbor for half the hay that he cut. When my brother talked to the guy about keeping the arrangement, he said that it wasn't worth it to him for only half the hay and he wanted all of it, which my brother declined. So now the hay fields have gone native and are more weeds then grass. He would have been better off to have the guy keep taking care of it for nothing since he didn't have the equipment to do it himself. Just the free mowing would be worth it to me.

Eddie

Eddie...I agree completely...I have a neighbor who asked to cut my pastures 2 yrs. ago...he fertilizes and cuts ,bales and takes the hay and bush hogs around other areas and keeps the pastures looking great...I told him I did not expect any payment...I was just glad to not have to bush hog anymore and my pastures not look great....

 

[KiotiKowboy]

USDA also keeps abreast of hay prices:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams...ndTransportationData&page=LSMarketNewsPageHay

 

[farmer2009]

I understand that you didn't like them baling on the 4th but remember the calendar means nothing if it's ripe and the sun is shining. You would be surprised how many people will loose a crop of hay because it's ready to bale on Sunday and set to rain Monday thru Thursday. Just because it's Sunday.

Sometimes we will leave hay in the field for a week or two because we have to move to another farm and keep bailing. Then when done we come back and haul it all in on our way back home. Doesn't do ally of damage as the grass come back. But have seen people make their second cutting around the bales of their first. I don't like that.

 

[ustmd]

In my county, the ag exemption would be worth way more $$$$ than any money you could make off of hay from sized property. I am talking a difference of an assessment of $8K-15K per acre (non exemption) vs <$1k exempt.

 

[MH8675309]

I understand that you didn't like them baling on the 4th but remember the calendar means nothing if it's ripe and the sun is shining.

I couldn't say it better but it's worth repeating. Just curious though - why would someone run a brush hog just for the sake of mowing 10 - 20 acre fields?

 

[kcflhrc]

One thing you have to remember is this is my property, not theirs. A courtesy call would have been the right thing to do to see if I had anything going on that day. Keep in mind I get nothing out of this deal, if I have to brush hog the highway frontage in front of my house to keep it looking nice then that's what I will do.