Hay Farmers getting out of farming

[Hay Dude]

But how do you collect the tons of material you’d need? Gonna burn fuel me thinks and that also just broke $5/gal at the local pump

Local Property maintenance companies looking to get rid of leaves come to his farm with vacuum trucks loaded with leaves and dump them in a big open area. He uses them as compost.
As if times weren’t tough enough, now we have to hunker down more.

 

[leonz]

You can’t lime for $100 a ton.

Is it hammer milled lime or hydrated lime? Hammermilled limestone can
be purchased from a limestone quarry if they have a crushing circuit that
uses a rock hammermill to break the minus 1 inch limestone ore.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just picked up 12 more acres. Nice rolling rectangular field. Developer building 4 new homes on it, but now pumping the brakes sensing a recession. I got a one year agreement from them. Not a lot, but near a field I already do, so fairly convenient

 

[JDZ735M]

Just picked up 12 more acres. Nice rolling rectangular field. Developer building 4 new homes on it, but now pumping the brakes sensing a recession. I got a one year agreement from them. Not a lot, but near a field I already do, so fairly convenient

Every little bit helps these days.

 

[jyoutz]

I guess it depends on the type of hay farm operation. In my area, the profit margin on producing hay for winter beef cattle feed is slim. But those operations growing alfalfa for dairy cattle are still profitable, as are those who produce high quality hay for the race horse industry and hobby horse market.

 

[ultrarunner]

Questions of fertilizing hay fields?

On the maternal dairy farm certified organic all the field fertilizer is from the dung heap and cistern...

Very pungent but it's the way it has been done for generations and fields very productive.

I can't remember them ever buying fertilizer...

It's not without issue as some high end customs homes built near one of the fields so complaints have been made but so far farming trump's.

 

[sea2summit]

Questions of fertilizing hay fields?

On the maternal dairy farm certified organic all the field fertilizer is from the dung heap and cistern...

Very pungent but it's the way it has been done for generations and fields very productive.

I can't remember them ever buying fertilizer...

It's not without issue as some high end customs homes built near one of the fields so complaints have been made but so far farming trump's.

Over time if you import nothing, you'll need to bring in some fertilizer to replenish the land or at least lime it. The soil conditions will determine how often you need more, also how much feed you bring in (corn/grain/soy).

 

[Hay Dude]

Questions of fertilizing hay fields?

On the maternal dairy farm certified organic all the field fertilizer is from the dung heap and cistern...

Very pungent but it's the way it has been done for generations and fields very productive.

I can't remember them ever buying fertilizer...

It's not without issue as some high end customs homes built near one of the fields so complaints have been made but so far farming trump's.

I haven’t bought chemical fertilizer in years.
Theres a free supply of effective mushroom compost available to us. As much as you want. Heck, some of the suppliers will even spread it for you for free.
I have also seen a sharp increase in the number of small beef operations and horse owners looking for “close to organic, if not 100% organic“ hay.

In MY area, many customers are getting away from chemicals.

 

[Hay Dude]

I guess it depends on the type of hay farm operation. In my area, the profit margin on producing hay for winter beef cattle feed is slim. But those operations growing alfalfa for dairy cattle are still profitable, as are those who produce high quality hay for the race horse industry and hobby horse market.

I got $200/ton or more all day + loading & delivery on large bales this summer. That will increase this year.

 

[Rockbadchild]

ordered my seeds and fertilizer for my 21 acres parcel I have prep up, I was expecting the worse prices wise, it wasn’t as bad as I imagine, I haven’t got my official bill yet but it’s not bad especially since I will only fertilize the high ground since there is black dirt on low ground… I will be ready for when the snow melt…