2013 Hay Season

[Bigfoot62]

What would you need a bale if you did bale it and size bales? I have two pasture left to see what going to end up with,starting one next friday 30ac., I have 40rolls,takes me 140 to 160(5x4s).

My JD 457 is a 4x5 roll that weighs 1000-1100 lbs.

PM incoming with contact info.

 

[blueriver]

Know what you mean. But, I won't bale hay just to watch it rot. And, without a market for the hay, I'm not spending the money to fertilize those meadows. And, I don't sell hay that's not been fertilized.

There is always a market .. Ag Daily nick named hay as the next gold crop. with the drought as well as the acres of hay ground taken out of production for corn the demand is high ...advertise on Craigslist and it will sell. i sold over 250 rolls of 4x5 last yr to Colorado ... If you make it they will buy it

 

[dan28040]

Just baled 3 acres got 182 small square bales, of good hay, also got be stung 3 times, all in all it was a good day

 

[sam5570]

your so right

There is always a market .. Ag Daily nick named hay as the next gold crop. with the drought as well as the acres of hay ground taken out of production for corn the demand is high ...advertise on Craigslist and it will sell. i sold over 250 rolls of 4x5 last yr to Colorado ... If you make it they will buy it

your so right hay around here always sells a pretty quick. they call me for mine way before it's ever cut.

 

[sam5570]

Just baled 3 acres got 182 small square bales, of good hay, also got be stung 3 times, all in all it was a good day

dan glad you got your hay up hate you got bee stung in the process. i sure hope we can start on mine 2mar

 

[dan28040]

Just barely got it up. It just came a thunderstorm and raining so hard to can barely see the road. Only have about 70 more acres to get cut and baled.

 

[Barry 1]

Lexington Ky. Craigslist (today) 5x4 just rolled-$12(sold in one day). 5x4-$16 and 5x6-$20 They are all over the place on price-from $12 to $50 but average asking price for fescue/mixed is $20-25
I just put up the last of my square bales,had one break in the weather about 3 weeks ago,and this week finished up.

 

[sam5570]

Lexington Ky. Craigslist (today) 5x4 just rolled-$12(sold in one day). 5x4-$16 and 5x6-$20 They are all over the place on price-from $12 to $50 but average asking price for fescue/mixed is $20-25
I just put up the last of my square bales,had one break in the weather about 3 weeks ago,and this week finished up.

Barry our hay sells for $35 abale 5x5 good orchard grass and clover mix. i'm a little worried that the rain is gonna be here sometime monday so just wait till morning and see what the forcast says. we got around 35 acres we need to get up

 

[Bigfoot62]

Lexington Ky. Craigslist (today) 5x4 just rolled-$12 (sold in one day). 5x4-$16 and 5x6-$20 They are all over the place on price-from $12 to $50 but average asking price for fescue/mixed is $20-25
. . .

Barry,
That's a huge part of the problem. 5x4's will cost you more than $12 to cut, rake, and roll. I have over $100k invested in my tractors and hay equipment. Diesel is nearly $4/gallon. Just the twine will cost about $1.50 per bale. A set of blades for the hay mower will run about $35. And, don't even think about having any money to replace a tire, baler belts, chains & sprockets, etc, etc.
That doesn't even take into consideration the time required.

I'll get off my stump now.

 

[blueriver]

Barry,
That's a huge part of the problem. 5x4's will cost you more than $12 to cut, rake, and roll. I have over $100k invested in my tractors and hay equipment. Diesel is nearly $4/gallon. Just the twine will cost about $1.50 per bale. A set of blades for the hay mower will run about $35. And, don't even think about having any money to replace a tire, baler belts, chains & sprockets, etc, etc.
That doesn't even take into consideration the time required.

I'll get off my stump now.

Your not on a stump .. Every business has competition .. Your spot on about the cost factors. Each geographical area is different SE Oklahoma has hay for sale some a lot cheaper than others... I have a neighbor with old equipment puts out no fertilize rolls the weeds right in with it and is happy with any price ... Says he making money ...probably is ,,, some of us on the other hand have that $100k invested and spray, fertilize and put up a good bale ... When I advertise it I go after the market that demands quality.. Very seldom do I get asked why is your hay more expensive? Return happy customers produce new customers.. I can not put up enough square bales seems like almost every day my phone rings for hay.