5 acres worth it to offer for haying?

[StuartDK45SE]

I buy my 200 square bales for the horses for 3 dollars per bale delivered, stacked + some for labor. I used to pick up. but no more, The local feed store is selling feed hay for 5 dollars a bale and 2nd cutting for 7 dollars a bale. If you have the equipment, you can make a little money, especially if you have a buyer. Horses- you want dust free, mold free hay that is not something rich like alfalfa hat they can colic from. Call around to the guys that sell hay- that's who will cut the hay for you.

Around my parts (south of Houston), people pay $6 in the field per square bale for good horse quality hay. At the feed store it is higher. Of course a lot of that depends on what kind of year we have had. I'm going to buy some used equipment and bale my 10 acres of Jiggs in the future instead of having someone bale it just to keep my exemption. I won't make any money to speak of, but it will cover my expenses and most importantly, put me back in control.

 

[AKfish]

I'm doing several small fields for the neighbors for no rent - just the hay. 'Course I'm on the hook for the fertilizer, the lime and any herbicide for weed and tree control. If the hay winter kills or gets thin - it's on me to replant or overseed as well.

I generally make a profit after expenses. Most years. There were a couple years outta the past ten that didn't work that way, though. Made out with just enough feed for our critters... And some good cardio work!!

 

[2458n]

Miami county Ohio was concerned about loss of farm ground and passed a law making 10 acres the smallest size lot you could build on. Never slowed a thing. Now 4 acres maintained rest left go to weeds and brush. 250 thousand dollar homes like this. Friend maintains 10 of these properties and he has a 50 acre hay field for free.

 

[AKfish]

Miami county Ohio was concerned about loss of farm ground and passed a law making 10 acres the smallest size lot you could build on. Never slowed a thing. Now 4 acres maintained rest left go to weeds and brush. 250 thousand dollar homes like this. Friend maintains 10 of these properties and he has a 50 acre hay field for free.

There ya go.... That works for me, too! There's another few acres down the road a mile or so from me.. Likely be haying that this next season as well.

Keeps their place lookin' good and keeps me doin' what I love!

 

[Texasmark]

Nope. I tried if for several years on a tract that size that was 4-5 miles from the place. Not worth it and too hard to do the work and have space to get any kind of crop if fenced or prevented from encroaching on neighbor's property to execute maneuvers.

 

[corl]

I hayed, round baled, neighbors fields for years and kept the hay for my beef cattle. The land owners were happy that I kept their fields cut. Most fields were about your size or a little smaller. Nobody was trying to steal my fields by paying for the privilege. Almost all fields were within a few hundred yards of my property.

 

[lucky001]

Small scale farming is a poor business decision at best. Best bet is to bushhog it to keep it clean then maybe some day someone may stop by and 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 to take first cutting!!

 

[lucky001]

Ever heard this proverb about framing?
How to retire from farming a millionaire? Start out with two million $

 

[lucky001]

I agree. People seem to forget that all that equip is very expensive to own and operate. All it takes is a baler or tractor repair costing thousands of $$$$. Not to mention labor and fertilizer seeding etc. last few years my production cost was more than I could have bought hay. Rounds bales that is

 

[mark kram]

You can always hay it yourself. I started with a wore out ford 9N for $3000, rebuilt a JD-9 sickle bar for $300 including purchase price, scored an old Allis ground driven side discharge rake for $300 and paid $150 for a working 47 binder wire-tie baler square baler. If you have small acreage I'm sure there are others in the same boat who would love to get their land cut and baled for 1/3 of the bales. In some cases they might let you have it all. As far as changed timber to grass, what I've found with the 2 acres I've cleared is the grass is hayable. I have brome, orchard grass, big bluestem, little bluestem and fox tails. I didn't plant any of it. If you have an area that's thin cover it with hay and let it set. The hay acts like green fertilizer and it will plant seeds for you.