40 acres of hay. What should I do?

[Egon]

Strangely; farming hasn't really changed from the times of horses.

Good strong well fed horses with several spare ones were essential when the heavy pulling jobs came around. Harness and equipment had to be in good shape too.

Egon

 

[jwcinpk]

Let me put it this way to you all!
A few years back I had about 25 acres of hay that I paid a neighbor to bale for me at $1 a sqaure bale. I picked it up and sold it from my barn for $2 a bale. Thus I made money on it!
A couple years later i got the bright idea that I could save that roughly $1000 I was paying the neighbor and I invested in some new and some used equipment (sickle bar mower NEW, sqaure baler VERY USED, hay rake NEW, Fluffer NEW) The next few years I made nothing actually lost a little money.

Well now we have about 70 acres of hay since purchasing more property. I could get no help putting up the sqaure bales and hardly anybody wants to mess with them so they don't sell very well. So we got the bright idea we'd just roll it which meant investing more money. Now I'm working a full time job, cutting my own hay, doing some hay for others and just praying I can pay for the equipment.
<font color="red"> </font> Take my advice sit on the porch watching someone else do it and drink lemonade! It will save you a lot of headaches and money!

 

[cowboydoc]

Pretty much my progression as well jw. You soon find out with poor equipment that you spend all your time working on it and very little time actually using it as your hay wastes away in the fields. So you buy better equipment more land, invest more time, ALOT more money, and like you said pray it all pays!! If I had to go back to using poor equipment again I wouldn't do it. That $1/bale for squares and $10/bale for having it round baled was worth every penny compared to the headache of trying to keep used equipment going and fighting the weather. With good equipment it's actually kind of fun. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Egon]

You be an honest man. There are many others that have tried the same thing with the same results.

Small square bales have to be the most labour intensive aggrivating farming process ever tried.

Egon

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue">It's fun to spend other people's money, isn't it! </font>

Depending on the income tax bracket that you are in? You may be able to let Uncle Same pay for 30-40% of your purchases. I believe these purchase would qualify as Capital Items Purchased that you are allowed to depreciate or completely write off under the Section 179 Election to expense on your Federal income taxes--I am not 100% sure about this, so I will yield to the people in the "Know"--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New Disc Mowers and Hay Tedders at discount prices*

 

[40Kchicks]

Hopefully you have the option to get it cut for you. In our area there are few custom balers left. Several of my friends have had no choice but buy their own equipment. The trouble with having someone else do it is when your hay is ready so is everyone else’s. Everyone that I have talked to about alfalfa says that timing is critical to getting the most out of the cut. If you’re waiting for the hay people to come and take care of your field and miss the prime time your crop could be ruined. This is something to consider. I would try having in done at least the first year and see how it works out before buying equipment. That is actually what I am doing this year.

Eric

 

[Carpenter]

Eric, The guy that's been haying this acerage for the last five years is going to continue doing it. He's a knowledgeable old-timer and this will be his main haying job. He'll be using his half to feed his own livestock, so I think he'll be timely and do a good job. The previous owner was happy with him.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I appreciate the honest opinions. If I win the lottery, maybe I'll buy some new equipment and give it a go! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MFMan]

I would recommend you check out this link to Massey Ferguson's site. It shows a new line up of smaller hay tools that don't require a lot of horsepower, but do a good job and allow you the flexibility of putting up your own hay rather than relying on a custom operator.

http://www.masseyferguson.agcocorp.com/

 

[timb]

Are the M-F balers the same as the those sold under Hesston's tag?

Tim

 

[MFMan]

They are made in the Hesston, KS facility of AGCO which owns both Hesston and Massey Ferguson.