Bushhogging Business

[fordman41291]

Hey y'all, hope all is well haven't been on here in a hot minute been real busy with everything. got a few questions every year I run a bushhog business during prime seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall.

Ive heard my prices are too high for the equipment I run which is a Kubota B8200 and a Bushhog Brand 4 footer.

I usually charge 40$ an hour plus a 2 hour minimum. Ive heard some people say thats cheap and others say its high. but I figure 40$ an hour covers my time, gas getting there, and fuel in the tractor and any other fluids i might need?

what would y'all do charge per hour or charge per acre and how much?

Thanks

Ken Klein
LK&W Ag. Property and Land Mgmt. Group.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130

 

[xring100]

That doesn't sound 2 bad considering your covering hauling loading and unloading with the fee. I try to figure about $75 / hour when when working mine. With my 84" Bush hog I can mow most fields at 3.5 - 5 mph covering
2.5-3.75 acres / hr depends on terrain. I've never had problems bogging down my neighbors 7 acre field plus his trails in the woods takes 2.5 hours.
I guess I can understand when they say your equipment is is a little small with only 19hp but seriously you have to make a living and cover maintenance.

 

[fordman41291]

hey man thanks for the input, yeah Ive had one person say i charge too much for the size of my little kubota, but i honestly thought that was cheap for charging per hour, what would you charge per acre?

 

[adventure bob]

Size is irrelevant unless it makes you slower. According to most mowing calculators found on the net, a 4ft deck at 3mph will get you about 1.31acres/hr. 5mph with your deck gets you Aprox 2.18.
So in your business model the judgment of pricing comes from how rough the terrain is.

 

[adventure bob]

Jut went out and looked, field and rough mowing is $40-$50 an hour regardless of part of the country.

 

[adventure bob]

According to the GSA (how the feds buy stuff) field mowing is priced and described as:
Large Natural Fields, Open Spaces and/or Road Right of Ways:
Provide all labor, equipment, and material associated with the Mowing of large natural fields, and
/or open spaces, and road right of ways. All turf grounds shall be policed for trash, litter, debris
and it shall be removed prior to operation. The turf shall be mowed at a height between 3 and 6
inches on a schedule of between 7 and 15 days as requested by client. To assure a high quality
cutting, all mower blades shall be sharpened prior to operation and all mowers shall be kept in top
maintenance condition. Grass clippings from mowing operation shall be allowed to decay naturally
to keep with our environmental procedures. Excessive clippings will be removed only upon
request and as a separate charge. No trimming shall be performed areas shall be left natural.
Prices are based upon referenced areas being maintained within the previous 6 months.
Cost of service = $46.00 per acre per service

 

[RDrancher]

I have my FIL handle all of the brush hogging for us with his 40 hp Kubota and 6' shredder. For straight pastures it's $40 an acre with a $150 minimum. Lots of trees, overgrown properties or junk to negotiate and its a quoted price. There's too many "for beer money" guys around here, that's for sure.

 

[Sammy3700]

I have a 3700 and my buddy has a 3400 we both run 5' mowers and charge 50 a hour per tractor. We normally run together.

 

[fordman41291]

I have a 3700 and my buddy has a 3400 we both run 5' mowers and charge 50 a hour per tractor. We normally run together.

Are those both Kubotas? And how many HP are they? I got a bushhog brand 4ft cutter and does fine whims my b8200 just sometimes it can be a little slow how much bigger of a bushhog can I go with my b8200?

 

[DT86]

There's too many "for beer money" guys around here, that's for sure.

I have been competing against these people my whole adult life. They make it hard to get jobs.

"Jimmy-John up the street did it last year for (insert ridiculously low figure), can't you match that?"

The other ones that make it hard are the people who will drag a disc mower and baler across any field, regardless of lack of forage quality. (add the property owners who think I would just love to do it for the free "hay")