No way in hell I trust some one who shows up and says they will cut, rake and bale for $10 a bale. That doesn't cover expenses and some thing would give eventually.
Yep the hobby farmers got the money. The real farmers should pay attention to that fact...Around here a lot of tax write off hobby farmers that don't depend on a profit from cattle. I have read several of your previous post as you said hurts everybody else and I agree. I guess they have to spend their money on something.
Those people also have top of the line equipment to process their hay.
I'm just 75 miles northwest of you and I don't know of anyone that rolls hay much less does the whole deal by the roll. We do it ourselves or buy the hay. That being said I bought 4x5 rolls last year for $20. Decent hay.No. I was just talking specifically about baling. And none of us are what you would call custom balers. All full time farmers who try to make a little side income. I don't even know of anyone that does mowing, tedding, raking, and baling as a total package. Actually never really even heard of it until I joined this site.
I also don't know of anyone around my area that offers mowing, raking, and baling..I know of a couple that will only bale and seems like around $10/ bale is what they charge.I'm just 75 miles northwest of you and I don't know of anyone that rolls hay much less does the whole deal by the roll. We do it ourselves or buy the hay. That being said I bought 4x5 rolls last year for $20. Decent hay.
I totally agree and hay stored in the barn is still good with me.I also don't know of anyone around my area that offers mowing, raking, and baling..I know of a couple that will only bale and seems like around $10/ bale is what they charge.
Right now I'm buying and hauling barn stored 4×5.5 bales for $22. I don't need the hay but I have barn space and predict hay is going to be very scarce next year. No one I know of is fertilizing hay fields this spring..
At $22 per bale, I'm buying way more hay than what I think I'd make extra if I fertilized my hay fields.
I am 7 miles west of Jonesville VA. Stopped at Meade Equipment Thursday and picked up some parts. Pretty close to you isn't it.I've always wondered about where you were. A lot of your posts mentioned landmarks that I knew of. I'm in Gray, TN. Yeah, around here, you're about guaranteed to go in the hole if you're selling hay. When I've got extra, it's usually $35 for stored outside hay and $50 for barn stored. My hay is mostly orchard grass and teff. Do some pearl millet too occasionally. This year I'm going to have hopefully a banner year on ryegrass/triticale/wheat, hopefully in about 2 weeks- if Mother Nature cooperates.
If you own a cutter, rake, and the tractor for both, why stop now and not get the baler?It's interesting how different places are. I have never heard of anyone around here that does there own cutting, tedding, raking, and then has someone come bale it? I think I would buy a baler if I was already that close to doing it all myself.
If you own a cutter, rake, and the tractor for both, why stop now and not get the baler?
Actually most people around here with more than a acre or two use disc with conditioner.I think some regional difference might come into play.
Seems like in the south east they use drum mowers quite a bit. You can get a new drum mower for 6000.00 add a small rake and be good for less than 10,000. Plus get by with a small tractor.
Baler adds 40,000 +.
Here you have to have a moco. 30,000 +
And you need ~ 80 at the pto to run it.
Tractor, rake, moco, round baler, trailer, we won't count the truck. Might as well have a square baler, don't want your customers calling someone else.
Takes 200,000.00 to play
I wish I could find that deal.I pay 18.00 for 4x5. 400 rolls per year.
Takes less tractor to move a 4 foot bale.I hear talk of 20-20 around here.
20 per acre to cut and rake.
20 to bale.
5x5 or 5.5
I can't wrap my head around 4 foot bales. Why would anyone want them? The bigger bales mean a whole lot less time putting hay out!