Hay Making on a Different Scale

[LHF2019]

Seemed it was time to start a thread on what I do. We make small squares and round bales on approximately 250 acres. I will periodically update this thread. This past week I pulled off a couple firsts that I was not expecting. Making hay in November is not a first as we did it in 2021 and try to make it a regular event just because nobody does it and a lot of people say it can't be done. I find November hay to be some of the easiest and greenest hay to make but you have to be patient. This year's was no exception. It started with mowing and tedding in the snow on Wednesday. The goal was to get a couple freeze drying events to assist in the drying of the hay. We never really got those. Low temps were low 30's. The plan was Sunday to make a decision whether to attempt dry or make baleage. Friday at 830 in the morning tedding it for the 2nd time and the dust was coming off from it. 1030 I was raking and 1pm we started baling. If you had told me I was going to make dry hay in 2 days in November I would say your crazy but everything came together in an unusual way.

 

[EddieWalker]

Great pictures!!!

I didn't know that you can cut hay when there is frost on it. How do you dry it out before baling?

Here in East Texas, our hay loses it's protein when it gets cold out. If the hay isn't baled before that happens, it's labeled as late season, low quality cow hay, and sold for half the price of the good stuff. Of course, nothing really grows here once temps get below 80 degrees.

 

[Hay Dude]

Lookin good! I have made good hay in November, too.
Others think your crazy until it’s done and you have hay and they dont.

 

[LHF2019]

Great pictures!!!

I didn't know that you can cut hay when there is frost on it. How do you dry it out before baling?

Here in East Texas, our hay loses it's protein when it gets cold out. If the hay isn't baled before that happens, it's labeled as late season, low quality cow hay, and sold for half the price of the good stuff. Of course, nothing really grows here once temps get below 80 degrees.

That was snow on it. What I was hoping for was freeze drying to assist in the drying process. What I got instead was low humidity and 10mph breeze for 2 nights allowing the hay to dry down in record time.

 

[lman]

Around here we leave at least 6 inches of our alfalfa hay standing to go through the winter. Cutting it too short at the end of the season will hurt your stand for the next year.

 

[LHF2019]

Another 11 acres down. If we bale it dry today it will make a new record. Here is a picture of freeze drying. Had temperature into the 20’s yesterday and today.

 

[LHF2019]

And this brings my season to an official close. 116 bales. 11/13 is now the latest I have baled dry. Had 2 days of freeze drying that I got to take advantage of. Probably the first time taking 4 cuttings dry

 

[Hay Dude]

Lets play a little “fall ball” !!
I like it.

You are tempting me to go cut some more….

 

[LHF2019]

My uncle said I should keep the discbine ready in case another opportunity opens. Lol

 

[EddieWalker]

Sure is a nice looking field!!!!

What do you use the bales for?

 

[LHF2019]

Sure is a nice looking field!!!!

What do you use the bales for?

Sales. 99% of the hay we make is for sale.

 

[LHF2019]

Final tally of bale numbers. Last years numbers for comparison. No change in acreage. Really hoping we don't have a spring like this year for a long time.

2022

1st Squares-14,306
1st 4x4 round-541

2nd squares-5644
2nd 4x4 round-28

2023

1st square-3778
1st 4x4 round-328

2nd square-8863
2nd 4x4 round-196

 

[Hay Dude]

Thats a pretty sharp drop off in 1st cut squares.
I bet you’d do great with a Krone Multi-baler.

 

[LHF2019]

Thats a pretty sharp drop off in 1st cut squares.
I bet you’d do great with a Krone Multi-baler.

When it is your only source of income it sucks. Currently job searching to make up the difference.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here in East Texas, where I'm at, square bales are selling for $10 to $12 each and 4x5 round bales are $65 for weeds and thorns, up to $120 for really nice, clean, horse quality Coastal Bermuda. I'm paying $90 for 4x5 1/2 horse quality bales.

 

[LHF2019]

Here in East Texas, where I'm at, square bales are selling for $10 to $12 each and 4x5 round bales are $65 for weeds and thorns, up to $120 for really nice, clean, horse quality Coastal Bermuda. I'm paying $90 for 4x5 1/2 horse quality bales.

We can only wish for that here. I have the prices maxed out for my area at $4.50 1st and $6 2nd. Need a cold hard winter and a reduction of cheap hay in area and it will start moving.

Have my 4x4 at $65. They won’t sell.


Only reason we have 1st available is customers changed their stored orders and it is all last year’s. Out of field price is $3 1st and $3.75 2nd. Pre buy and stored add $0.50 to field price.

 

[EddieWalker]

Our prices are so bad that people are trucking in hay from other states. I've seen it coming in from Missouri, Florida and even Ohio!!!! Price to ship it isn't included in the price, but when people are desperate, they pay panic prices!!!

 

[sandman2234]

Our prices are so bad that people are trucking in hay from other states. I've seen it coming in from Missouri, Florida and even Ohio!!!! Price to ship it isn't included in the price, but when people are desperate, they pay panic prices!!!

Dang, I went to Texarkana a couple of weeks ago with an empty trailer! I could have hauled some hay and covered some of my fuel cost!
David from jax

 

[Hay Dude]

This is the primary reason I got out of small squares. Too much volatility caused by small timers in my area making 500 bales and selling them for way below market price for “fun” or beer money, etc. even though $8/bale is well within reason down here.

Round bales are great and can get $85 for a 4x5, but the demand for them down in MY area is below average. Not enough horse people have the courage to feed them to their precious pets that mean more to them than their own children.

I went to large squares and I wish I did it 10+ years ago. They move fast, they are fast to make and easy to load/ship. It sounds like you have a lot of acreage and could make a lot of large squares really fast.

I also like the ability to be able to make a “cube” of hay like a 4x4x5’ as a round bale alternative to keep one foot in the feed hay business.

LHF, is there any way you could switch to a large baler? Like a 3x3 or 3x4 and sell to cattle raising operations? Do you have a 150HP to pull one?
I realize it’s a big investment, but once you make the switch, you may like it a lot. The buyers have a more “9-5” work mentality and you move a lot of hay at once. This leaves me a lot of extra time for mowing and property maintenance (off farm income). You could make shorter large square bales for your round bale guys and they stack/store better.

 

[LHF2019]

Our current clientele would never accept it and 99% of them if were interested have no way to handle them. I’m not sure what the marketable aspect would be for the big squares but then we would be changing our whole system. While making a large investment is years out the ideal way would be to add it to the lineup. We used to sell a lot of rounds but those have really fell back with more squares leaving. We just keep raising our prices gradually for out of the field. One the cheap crap is sold they will be knocking.