What Im about to say pertains to NE gnerally:
In general small square bales are the only medium if hay is being sold.
Round bales stay on the farm where they were baled.
Small square bales dont necessarily mean more labor. It depends on how you plan to use them. Selling out of the field means the buyer provides the labor. If its collected it mostly gets kicked onto carts and hauled back to a central location where the buyer does the unloading/loading. Day labor is only needed if its stored for use on the farm and there arent enough relations to get the job done. Im not sure what the break down is between forage farms and others. I think most farmers though sell some hay.
Land use and size is radically different than most other places in the country. Field sizes tend to be small as the land is cut up in umteen number of small parcels.
In my neighborhood (the southern part of the state) many land holders allow farmers to hay their land w/o payment. It keeps the land open and in good condition. The farmer pays the expense of upkeep (fertilizer, seed, lime, etc). It works well for all involved.
Most hay is straight grass hay...nothing special. If you take the time and expense to grow something special you can do rather well. However, its a full time job for sure b/c the weather early and late in the yr doesnt make it easy to hay. To make money you need to cut 4 crops....a major challenge. However, you can sell all you make w/o a problem.
As for the report that lead off this topic it applies to a certain region and *maybe* others as well. Very little about an operation in TX would apply to NE. I suppose they have to read them w/ an eye to glee more than as gospel. Before I would put aything into practice Id have to verify the research and assumptions that went into it. Too much of what comes out of universities and the govt can be classed as 'publish or parish' material.
