Baling Cost??

[OldCrow]

Hello all,

1st post, but I've been reading the forums for 3 or so weeks now. I have a question about charges for baling hay. A buddy of mine is going to cut and rake a 70 acre field but he doesn't have a baler so I suggested that I would do it if he needed me to. We are running short on hay so I would rather take the hay for payment instead of money. The way I have it figured is that it should cost me around $11 dollars/bale just to bail it without any profit. So I was thinking around $12.65 per bale. Around here you give about $40 per 5X5 role so that would come out to a ratio of 1(me):3.16(him). I want to be fair to the both of us so does this sound about right to Ya'll? I have little to no experience haying as this is my first year so take it easy on me.

Thanks!

OldCrow

 

[JSCATTLE]

I brake mine down like this 8 to cut 10 to bale and 3 to rake . If they want me to only do part of the job .. I can cut and bale a 30 acre field with 40 gallons of diesel in one tractor .

 

[bigbull338]

well here they charge $25 a bale to cut rake an bale.so id think it would be $7 to cut $7 to rake an $11 to bale.

 

[tom4018]

I did some last year for a third once, another time I did all of it and gave the landowner a third. It was all well fertilized.

 

[OldCrow]

Thanks all for the imformation provided. It sounds like I'm in the ballpark. I'm going to suggest a 1:3 as it seems fair.

OldCrow

 

[ohiosteve]

1 for you 3 for them sounds fair if all you have to do is bale. I do a field for a lady where I cut/rake/bale and put her 1/3 in her barn for her and take 2/3. I also have a field where they cut and rake all I do is bale and I only take 1/3. Everyone is happy.

 

[Caustic Burno]

It is 40 dollar's a roll here with a 20 roll minimum before a piece of equipment will hit the field.

 

[bigbull338]

It is 40 dollar's a roll here with a 20 roll minimum before a piece of equipment will hit the field.

CB are you kidding $40 to cut rake an bale.i can understand charging the guys with small places more.but that is pure overkill.

 

[TexasBred]

One guy here charges $26...another $30..don't know what size bale it is tho. That's to cut, rake and bale.

 

[highgrit]

20$ here for 4x5, and 23$ for 5x6 string tie. He has a 300$ minimum. More than fair I feel.

 

[bigbull338]

20$ here for 4x5, and 23$ for 5x6 string tie. He has a 300$ minimum. More than fair I feel.

man those are more than fair prices.

 

[Angus Cowman]

well here they charge $25 a bale to cut rake an bale.so id think it would be $7 to cut $7 to rake an $11 to bale.

would be closer at $11 to bale.$10 to cut and $4 to bale
cutting and baling is your most expensive part of the equation. I have never figured the exact breakdown on mowing
I have on baling though

I have only cut a few times where I didn't do it all and I got $25pr acre, that is what I was offered and I took it
like I said I have only done it a time or two to help a friend out

 

[Caustic Burno]

It is 40 dollar's a roll here with a 20 roll minimum before a piece of equipment will hit the field.

CB are you kidding $40 to cut rake an bale.i can understand charging the guys with small places more.but that is pure overkill.

That is what you will pay here or they bale on halves.

 

[bigbull338]

well baling on the halves is dead here.they like to bale on the 3 to 1 here now.talked to our baler man after lunch an he said 1 14ac place has made 31 bales so far,an that he had 6 bales on the ground more or less.the rain is coming so he isnt cutting anymore till the rains gone.he thinks we will make 350 bales an im thinking 400.so we will see who is right when the hay is baled.

 

[Limomike]

Buddy of mine who custom bales around here, usually dose a 60/40 ratio for folks he likes, and a 3/1 ratio for those he doesnt... :lol:
but the costs he associates with the cutting, raking, baling is around $22 per acre.

 

[dun]

Buddy of mine who custom bales around here, usually dose a 60/40 ratio for folks he likes, and a 3/1 ratio for those he doesnt... :lol:
but the costs he associates with the cutting, raking, baling is around $22 per acre.

Persoanlly I think a per acre charge is more fair then per bale charge.

 

[Limomike]

Buddy of mine who custom bales around here, usually dose a 60/40 ratio for folks he likes, and a 3/1 ratio for those he doesnt... :lol:
but the costs he associates with the cutting, raking, baling is around $22 per acre.

Persoanlly I think a per acre charge is more fair then per bale charge.

I agree dun, but guess it depends on the yield.... sounds like most folks are paying 20-25 per bale

 

[bigbull338]

well now if you boys want to take it 1 step further.why not charge $60 an for cutting raking an baling.that way you could make money off fields that arnt worth balong.

 

[calfbuyer]

Around here its 25 per roll to make a 5 by 5 bale. To do it on shares they all want 60them 40you. last month, i made a deal with my neighbor/friend to bale a field on a lease place that i have: I used all of his equipment and diesel, i cut it, raked it and baled part of it and we split it. It made 81 rolls and we were both grinnin' from ear to ear.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Buddy of mine who custom bales around here, usually dose a 60/40 ratio for folks he likes, and a 3/1 ratio for those he doesnt... :lol:
but the costs he associates with the cutting, raking, baling is around $22 per acre.

Persoanlly I think a per acre charge is more fair then per bale charge.

There are some here starting to charge by the hour.