Pricing large acreage mowing jobs

[ultrarunner]

Local guy that does fire suppression mowing gave my brother a quote of $900.

Sears had a ride on mower at the clearance center for $800.

Bought the mower and 6 hours later the job was done and the mower is in the shed.

I'm guessing California Bay Area pricing runs on the high side of the scale...

When I bought my first Kubota our family friend that lives in Oregon said I should just hiring out the jobs... where he lives there are lots of guys with tractors looking to pick up a little side job unlike here...

 

[tmc_31]

So - just what is the technical difference between mowing, bush hogging and shredding?

Technically? Not sure. One might mow with a shredder but wouldn't shred with a mower? nope thats not right.

 

[smstonypoint]

Technically? Not sure. One might mow with a shredder but wouldn't shred with a mower? nope thats not right.

Maybe it's just me, but when I hear "shredding" in an. ag. context, I think of the flail cutters/shredders used to "shred" corn stalks:

Steve

 

[tmc_31]

Maybe it's just me, but when I hear "shredding" in an. ag. context, I think of the flail cutters/shredders use to "shred" corn stalks:


Steve

Confusing isn't it?

Since I have never used anything but a rotary cutter for mowing/shredding/bush hogging (Ag or commercial related of course) I have always used the terms interchangeably as do most on this forum I suspect.

That said, I have never shredded stalks either. I have only mowed pasture or commercial lots.

Tim

 

[tmc_31]

Thought you guys might enjoy an update.

The guy that asked me about mowing the 100 acres of CRP land called back. I had originally given him a price of $25/acre which he ultimately accepted 4 months later. Took me 33 hours of mowing time to do the job (I had planned on 40hrs). It took two weeks because of rain delays and a mechanical issue. If the weather had been perfect and I hadn't busted a hyd line, I would have completed the job in a week. After I saw the fields (3) I almost turned the job down. There was a lot of mesquite!! He and I discussed it and he told me to mow down what I could and go around the rest.

All in all it turned out to be a good job as I made some money and gained some experience pricing these larger jobs. I would do the same job again at the same rate if that tells you anything.

All the best,

Tim

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

The main thing is you are happy with doing this job at that price. if its was only 10 acres and at the rate you are mowing say would take you 2-3 hours would you be satisfied with 250 dollars because you still have travel fuel and wear and tear expense and the extra time involved. I'm glad your happy but IMHO your selling yourself short. Good Luck

 

[TractorGuy]

Bush Hogging as the name implies is the mowing of bushes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyKW3JjPffk

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Bush Hogging as the name implies is the mowing of bushes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyKW3JjPffk

That's fairly common around here as everything grows almost year around

 

[tmc_31]

Hey Rocky, yeah, $25/acre would not be to good at 10 acres. But at 100 acres it's not too bad. I charge on a sliding scale that begins at $40/acre for up to 5 acres ($200 minimum). As the acreage increases, the price per acre decreases. This works for me for two reasons. One, I have a transport charge built into the rate and the transport charge becomes less of a factor as the acreages increases. Two, I have found that my mowing efficiency increases as the acreage increases. So far I have not been adjusting for efficiency but it could be a negotiating point on larger acreages.

Ha, I really figured I'd get dinged for being to expensive, not too cheap

Tim

 

[OrangeToys]

A month ago I did 24ac quoted $800 completed in 16hrs using a 6ft deck. I bid it per hr hoping yo compete it in 14hrs. I was pleased, since it was my first job to have over 7ac.