I quut about 99% of my custom baling this year. The 40 bales I did were at $35 for a 4x5.5 roll weighing about 1150lbs average.
The way equipment/fuel/parts/everything prices a have inflated the last few years it is really a money losing endeavor.
If your hay guy is cutting/tedding/raking/baling/hauling bales for $~21 I would bet my farm his costs are more than that. If he likes operating for free and losing money then I would be hiring him to do my hay as well.
As the owner of 100% paid for late model hay equipment if somebody would bale my hay for less than probably $35 per bale I would park mine and watch them work.
I don't think you was making any profit even at $ 35 a bale were you ? I don't think $ 50 a bale would be profitable.
Clutch went out on my 90 hp that I bale with. Dealer ship say's it is going to cost me $5 to 6,000 to put a new clutch in it. That doesn't include what it is going to cost hauling it 120 miles there and back so they can work on it. Then from past experience there could be more wrong than just a clutch.
I had about 40 acres left to finish with my hay for the winter. I had a 65 h.p and a 7 foot rotary mower so I was able to cut and rake what I had left. Was lucky my neighbor let me swap me help him with raking his in return he would bale mine. He is a great guy and am very appreciative he let me work out a deal like that with him.
But I am having physical therapy for back pain, limping on my left leg. Feels like a knife stabbing me in my lower back every step I take. Am scheduled for a MRI on my left shoulder October 5th for a suspected torn rotator cuff.
So in the last couple of days I have raked so far about 30 acres for my neighbor, my 40 acres and from what my neighbor told me we are just getting started on his. He has baled 1200 bales so far this summer. I use my tractor to rake for him which is still a good deal for me and am greatful for him
helping me out.
I tried to get him to let me pay him to bale my 40 acres but he didn't want to do that. Said he had a little hay that I could rake for him
Instead. Well I thought that sounded like a bargain. I didn't realize he had that much land. I think in the end he is going to get the best end of the deal and from now on
When someone tells me I can rake a little hay for them baling my hay in return. I am going to get them to be a little more specific as to what they're calling raking a little bit in return.
Man I don't slow poke along when I take and still don't stay very far a head of him baling. The guy is an expert. Should have known anyone born and raised on a cattle ranch that is 60 years old knows what he is doing.
Should be laws against someone like that horn swaggering a hobby farmer like myself. Hope he is getting close to running out of paster needing raked. Lol !