Need Advice on Growing Hay in Central PA

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Farmer,
Thanks for the thoughts...I really don't have any family around here. And the relatives I have would turn up their noses. I have 2 son-in-laws. The one would be good at it and is mechanically inclined. The other is more into computers and shooting hand guns. Now my grandson who is 11 might be wiling to help Pap out, but, he's a little young. We both need someone like you. Nothing beats knowledge and experience. Thanks so much for the valuable lessons and thoughts.
John

 

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That's alot of lifting, moving, handling, and re-handling...I have to think on this carefully.
John

 

[vulcancowboy]

I'm not too far from you. I suggest small, square bales and aim for the horse people. Timothy or alfalfa are the preference in this area. I think the going rate is around $4/bale. A lot of hay is sold at the auction in New Holland. Might be worth a trip to check things out.

 

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Vulcan,
Thanks for the suggestions...ya, your not far away. How many acres in hay do you have. Do you grow or raise anything else? What kind of haying/baling equipment do you use. Any idea how much I might gross per acre for Timothy or Alfalfa ? Where is the auction held at ? Can you provide any details ?
Thanks so much for responding. While its nice to hear from all people and locations, its a little more meaningful coming from someone like yourself in my geographic area.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
John

 

[vulcancowboy]

I have about 15 acres, currently not raising any hay, just mowing it. I would like to make some hay, but don't have the equipment and can't justify the cost. When we had horses, I would buy my hay in the field from a nearby farm and just hook onto a wagon as he baled it and pull it to my barn. Worked good for both of us.

Actually, I think Green Dragon is a better auction for hay. Here is a link to their website:
Shops at The Green Dragon

 

[flusher]

Flusher,
You are one smart farmer...and what an eye for deal making. I sure wish I had your talent for machinery and bargaining. If you're half as good a farmer as you are a bargainer, I'm sure you have an outstanding farm.
Thanks for the education.
John - Keep the advice coming please...you have a lot of knowledge.

I just piddle around--I enjoy working on the equipment more than planting a crop.
With the drought here in CA going into the 4th year, I haven't planted a hay crop for three years. I don't have irrigation on my 10 acres and annual rainfall for the past 3 years has averaged about 14" (normal is 18-20"). So it's just a waste of $$$ to try to farm under those conditions.

My neighbor across the road grows hay (forage mix) on 7 irrigated acres. It's a winter crop (plant in late Oct, bale in early May). This year our rainfall totaled 11". He irrigated last Feb/March--put about three acre-feet on the field at $41/a-f. He bales with a three-twine NH baler (100-120 lb bales). His total amounted to 430 bales which he sold to one buyer at $12/bale. His cost was seed and diesel (he didn't fertilize this year or apply any herbicide). He got in just under the wire since in April the irrigation district raised its price to $625/a-f because of the drought. The water comes from Shasta Lake (holds about 8 million acre-feet) via the Sacramento River and the lake is down to the 50% level now.