Getting paid for hay

[Gator6x4]

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

In my area if the individual fertilizes, limes, sprays for weed control, uses a plugger to stimulate growth and cuts and bales the hay and the land owner is not out any money, no charge. It is better to have the land taken care of than to let it turn into a huge weed patch.

As to the baling on the 4th of July, I am sure the individual would also probably have enjoyed taking the day off and entertaining guest, but hay is not something that will wait, it is a do now job. You have never seen a mess in a field until you see hay that was raked ready for bailing and it rained on it for a couple of days. What a mess, you can't use the hay it will mildew and you can't leave it in the field. Pick up and clean up is the order of the day. Be happy the individual bailed the hay on the 4th of July.

 

[AGRIMAN]

I farm one place basically as a large food plot. The owner doesn't have the equipment to do it and asked me about farming it on halfes with him. That was until he learned just how much money it would take.

He quickly changed his tune and asked if I was interested in farming it, if the rent was free...

 

[TomSeller]

I cut a number of ~5 acre fields and don't pay for any of it. Like others have mentioned, the fertilizer, fuel, etc costs money. Also the repair you need to do because someone tossed a bicycle in the field or whatever adds up. The landowner gets a much nicer cut than any brush hog.

 

[Clint S]

I farm one place basically as a large food plot. The owner doesn't have the equipment to do it and asked me about farming it on halfes with him. That was until he learned just how much money it would take.

He quickly changed his tune and asked if I was interested in farming it, if the rent was free...

Yes, factor in the all the $$$$ for the prep work, man hours on equipment and maintaining it, equipment wear and tear and fuel. After that there is not much meat on the bone.

 

[kcflhrc]

Good information guys, thanks for the education. Been away from farming since I was a kid. I think my mind is a little more clearer now after going through all of your posts, I do appreciate it. I will take all of your advice. Living in yuppy land for the last 30 years has clouded my vision. I'm better now, thanks.

 

[Obed]

Agreed. It sounds like you have good hardworking neighbors. I would treat them like kings. You can't overestimate the value of a good neighbor. Out in the country you could just as easily live beside a meth lab.

We used to live on 8 acres without a tractor. I would have loved to have someone make hay on the place. Instead our two fields filled up with polk weeds and pine saplings.

My dad still lives on the 100+ acre farm where I grew up. He runs 60-80 head of cattle. He used to have someone make the hay on a percentage take. My dad paid for the fertilizer. He has since figured out it costs less money for him to pasture all the fields all year and buy winter hay from other people than to buy fertilizer and give away half his hay.

Hay growing in the field is not worth much in dollars; hay gets its dollar value from the effort required to harvest it.

Obed