So, I am going to ask a "silly" question. I thought about PMing but I think there is a bunch of folks that would have some good input.
What is the best way to find a person to bale? I have about 10 acres. I know it is not huge, but I plan on seeding, spraying, and fertilizing for maximum growth. How do I get into their rotation to do multiple cuttings? Also, what is a fair deal for payment?
Thanks!
Unless you have a true friend ( look up the definition, not today's loose internet friend definition) you will be at a disadvantage trying/waiting/paying someone else to come bale 10 acres. You will find the root cause of folks having small acreage to bale but investing in equipment anyway that will never have a break even point financially to be a few years bad experience trying to get their hay made by someone else either by direct payment, or on shares.
Even if they live only a few miles up the road and your hay is better than what they have on their own place, the cost to them in time, transportation non-productive expense to get their equipment to and from your place as well as come back and haul their share away even on a 60/40 basis (60% to them ) doesn't compare to the advantages and economics of doing an equal amount of their own hay on their own place.
As the saying goes, "when it's ready, it's ready" and in any given area everybody's hay is in it's prime at about the same time.
There are weekend farmers in most areas, some of whom don't even raise hay on their own property, that have in the past before they got a town job
had or inherited the equipment from a relative, decided to do some share or custom baling usually for cattle feed for some cattle they have. They usually mean well and say they will do your hay soon/next but are at the mercy of a work schedule, family obligations and other folks they have promised to make hay for too that all want their hay done when it is ready as well. Plus the weatherman has an even bigger influence on their limited time than on someone who's main purpose 24/7 is to produce hay.
So you are in a pickle, you've spent time and resources growing a quality special purpose hay, on someone else's land, and are still at the risk of not getting it harvested in it's prime, if at all. You might get lucky and find someone, but it's a lot too late, for this cutting and a second cutting is always quite iffy and usually not worth the fuel and time in our latitude
unless considerable extra fertilizer and plenty of precious water is applied during the summer.
So in my experience there is no best way to find another person to bale 10 acres or even multiples of that. Your associations with riding clubs might help
but it is going to be a lot of calling and probable disappointment until you
and your husband or other stable associates have the equipment to do it yourself, when it is ready.
I know that is not the answer you were hoping for, but that is usually the way it is..
