The cost of baling hay

JESSE1 · May 31, 2012

Most of the hay advertised as 4x6 were more like 4x5's and very light. Last January I ended up buying 12 rolls of ryegrass hay that came out of Mississippi, stored in a barn and looked real good--$115/roll. Most people were willing to pay the price just so they could keep their cows. I'm not going to do it again, if we go into drought like it was last summer, the cows are gone. Luckily we've been having some good rains, got nearly an inch yesterday and probably that much early this morning.

foreman Etexas · May 31, 2012

JESSE1 said:
Most of the hay advertised as 4x6 were more like 4x5's and very light. Last January I ended up buying 12 rolls of ryegrass hay that came out of Mississippi, stored in a barn and looked real good--$115/roll. Most people were willing to pay the price just so they could keep their cows. I'm not going to do it again, if we go into drought like it was last summer, the cows are gone. Luckily we've been having some good rains, got nearly an inch yesterday and probably that much early this morning.

I actually added another bull and started another herd and picked up some lease places,from the ones that did get out last year. It gives me a good bit of pastures to run cows without any over grazing and bought all new hay equipment this year,so I can bale my place and smaller places nobody wonts to fool with for the hay.

Duffster · May 31, 2012

mjw357 said:
Ongoing drought conditions carrying on from last year. Hay is literally 5x-10x more expensive in SW states than midwest.

5-10 times is quite an exagaration.

Duffster · May 31, 2012

JESSE1 said:
4x6 rolls of hay were selling for $120/roll last winter.

That's what decent hay sells for here.

whodat526 · May 31, 2012

i must be baling hay to cheap i cut rake and bale a 4x5 rale for 18 to 20 dollars a roll depending on the fields and how ruff they are. and i only sell my hay for 40 to 45 dollars a roll unless someone buys a 100 or more bales then its 35

Duffster · May 31, 2012

foreman Etexas said:
You dont have to buy it,I did already. I also had to payed $80 for 4x5 Rice hay out of Marque and had to haul it 40miles home, 33 rolls. End of last year paid $100 roll 5x6 bales out of fairfield from a guy at work david walker, 20 rolls.I also bought 10 rounds of $100(may have been $125)Alfalfa from Mr.Lancaster out of fairfield.
View attachment 267694 View attachment 267695

Nobody has yet to state a real reason for baling to be that extreme in price. Price of hay should have little to do with the price of baling. Drought should have little if any effect on the price of baling.

Maybe I should head south with my baler.

JESSE1 · May 31, 2012

Duffster said:
Nobody has yet to state a real reason for baling to be that extreme in price. Price of hay should have little to do with the price of baling. Drought should have little if any effect on the price of baling.

Maybe I should head south with my baler.

I have my own equipment (paid for) so I don't have to worry about paying someone else to do my hay. I think it's a combination of high equipment costs, high fuel costs and not much hay to bale. Most of the commercial hay balers are going to keep pretty new equipment just to keep from breaking down. Figure $90,000 for a 90hp tractor, $35,000 for a round baler, $5000 for a rake and $7000 for a disc mower. Takes a lot of hay baling to pay for that. If there's much hay to bale they can run 20,000 rolls through a baler in a few years. Very little hay to bale last summer. Also have to figure in a way to move the equipment, usually a dually and gooseneck trailer. Adds up to a lot of money.

Duffster · May 31, 2012

JESSE1 said:
I have my own equipment (paid for) so I don't have to worry about paying someone else to do my hay. I think it's a combination of high equipment costs, high fuel costs and not much hay to bale. Most of the commercial hay balers are going to keep pretty new equipment just to keep from breaking down. Figure $90,000 for a 90hp tractor, $35,000 for a round baler, $5000 for a rake and $7000 for a disc mower. Takes a lot of hay baling to pay for that. If there's much hay to bale they can run 20,000 rolls through a baler in a few years. Very little hay to bale last summer. Also have to figure in a way to move the equipment, usually a dually and gooseneck trailer. Adds up to a lot of money.

None of that is different than from here though. Check out the going prices I posted for WI.

whodat526 · May 31, 2012

Duffster said:
None of that is different than from here though. Check out the going prices I posted for WI.

its all high compared to louisiana

foreman Etexas · May 31, 2012

Duffster said:
Nobody has yet to state a real reason for baling to be that extreme in price. Price of hay should have little to do with the price of baling. Drought should have little if any effect on the price of baling.

Maybe I should head south with my baler.

If your selling shouldnt you factor in the cost of baling?
If drought conditions are bad and the grass is thin and the baler guy isnt making as many bales,he should be fine with it?

I like the way you think thou:thumbsup: