Hay Farmers getting out of farming

[ddbackhoe]

Those seem like 2 separate issues. If you have a customer with large barn, it would be cheaper to take hay bales directly from field to him in your wagons, IF the hay has sweat and is cured for storage. Thats a big IF.
I did the second option. I let go of small square customers that wouldnt change to big bales. I showed them the $1000 outlay for a Hay Hut would pay off in XXX time by purchasing big bales. Most like the bales outside in a covered feeder and NO handling of hay. Makes both our lives easier.
Loading small squares and off loading them into barns is a difficult way to make a living. I did it and have shoulder bursa and rotator pain. Couldn’t find any help. Customers always wanted it on weekends so they could “supervise” ( aka get in the way) Screw that. Big bales has worked for me, but it was also a big step up in equipment and acreage

Yes 2 different issues. Neither of which involves us unloading and stacking at customers barn.
With a hay hut, who is replenishing the bale? Are you delivering or are they storing and moving? Dont want to be in the round bale a week (day, month, w/e) market either.

 

[ddbackhoe]

The complication, accidental coincidence, and whacky business model of my current hay operation could be it's own thread. Bottom line is right now every square foot of roof and field I use is bartered/traded for or leased.

 

[sree251]

Don't lecture people on poverty.

I am not doing that. I just don't like the idea of hard times faced by anyone. You look too good in your pictures to be living below average wage level

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes 2 different issues. Neither of which involves us unloading and stacking at customers barn.
With a hay hut, who is replenishing the bale? Are you delivering or are they storing and moving? Dont want to be in the round bale a week (day, month, w/e) market either.

I have worked that out to the best of my abilities. Typically, my round bales last about 15-18 days for 2 horses working a hay hut.
I replenish the bale (remember, you charge $ for that its value added). I typically charge $125/bale delivered locally.
I’d rather do that than sell the bale for $75 out of the barn on a Sunday when I should be enjoying family/friends.
This took a while, it did not happen overnight. You have to talk your customer into it and its NOT for everyone.

If I have a customer with 10 horses working 2 hay huts, I would probably offer to deliver 10 bales and place on pallets under tarp or in their barn. They usually have a chore tractor to put them in hay hut. If not, then charge them to show up and place bales in each in hay hut for them. Then they dont have to do it.
Gotta keep finding ways to increase your value to the customer.
Have a customer with a huge, house-size pile of brush. I was walking past it and mentioned the pile to her. She said she doesnt know what to do and will NOT burn it.
I proposed a price to her and she accepted. We start chipping on Monday. Good money in the job.
Look around on the farms you visit for work that needs to be done and offer to do it for them. Youd be surprised.

 

[sree251]

I know you think its crazy, but if you are set up to store a lot of squares, store them until supplies are at their low point in your area THEN sell them. Let all the little guys sell out at $4.50/bale FIRST. You can probably get 1-2 bucks more per bale. OR tell your customers theres a storage fee for pre-purchased hay? You gotta try ways of adding value to your services. Remember, you arent just baling hay, you are storing it and you are delivering it. Most, not all, horse people want the hay delivered and stacked in their barns for next to nothing extra for your bale price.
But I dont know your operation. Up north, the colder it gets, the higher the price (usually).

Sounds like you could be going into the hay broking business on the side yourself.

 

[sree251]

If I have a customer with 10 horses working 2 hay huts, I would probably offer to deliver 10 bales and place on pallets under tarp or in their barn. They usually have a chore tractor to put them in hay hut. If not, then charge them to show up and place bales in each in hay hut for them. Then they dont have to do it.

All that hay for horses. They don't look like race horses in your picture. What are the horses for?

 

[Hay Dude]

All that hay for horses. They don't look like race horses in your picture. What are the horses for?

Just to reiterate, only about 20% goes to horses or livestock.
None of the horses are “Race horses”. These are all easy-keeper, yard ornament horses
Race horses are fed gourmet hay/alfalfa indoors in stalls.

Dont cater to those people, nor do I want to In MY situation.
If I was limited to a 50 acre patch of hay, I would make it perfect alfalfa/hay mix and sell in small squares knowing it would be a part time break-even or slightly better operation.

Not the case here.

 

[ultrarunner]

From the outside looking in the cost of hay sure varies around the country.

When I posted $28 bale it is the current price here at the feed store cash and carry and yes the feed store is closed Sundays.

The difference between 4.50 and 28 is quite a spread...

 

[Hay Dude]

SF Bay Area most exotic expensive in country, right?

 

[Bearsixty7]

For a better way to handle large volume of small square bales "hands free", Check out Bales Hay Farm and Ranch https://www.youtube.com/c/BalesHayFarmandRanch

Granted more equipment expense but in one video he mentions getting $12-14 a 100lb bale so they must be profitable to keep going.

They use the New Holland bale movers but also the "Squeeze" machines to move and load those stacks. They also steam the hay sometimes.

I just found it all interesting and way better than the manual hay stacking and bucking I did back in the day.