southernultrablack
Well-known member
To invest in a bale wrapper! It's hard to make good hay here, and this is just one step towards my goal of better hay. Should help with my production too.
Made the decision
- Thread starter southernultrablack
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Congrats!
Congratulations! Keep us posted on how it works out.
Spending lots of money to make better hay, have you thought about trying to eliminate hay? You're in fescue country, do you stockpile? Are your cows dry through the winter? You will never be profitable feeding hay in Alabama. PM if you would like to talk.
anewcomer said:
There are no guarantees in either direction though.
Stickney94
Well-known member
We've had a wrapper for 5 years and as others mention for our operation it's hard to ponder NOT having one.
Try a few different film brands and thickness. Find a flat spot to wrap.
Try a few different film brands and thickness. Find a flat spot to wrap.
Stickney94
Well-known member
anewcomer said:
Why isn't it profitable to feed hay in Alabama? Legitimately curious, lots of hay gets fed in my area 6-7 months a year.
Producers in Mississippi (Alabama) feed hay 5 months out of the year. Same as Minnesota. We have no snow. We can grow green grass 365 days a year. Hay is a tremendous drain on profitability. Look up Jim Gerrish. Figure your real cost of making that hay.
Nesikep
Well-known member
Having something to feed in case of a drought, snowstorm, etc... you can't put a price on that.. it's like money in the bank
Stickney94
Well-known member
anewcomer said:
Yeah, different environments, different economic calculations. Very little pasture available in my neck of the woods. Lots of ditch hay and cornstalks for little cost (other than time/equipment).
Green grass I think stopped growing here for the year already. haha.
southernultrablack
Well-known member
With my ability to increase production comes the possibility of selling hay also. Remains to be seen if that would be profitable though.
sim.-ang.king
Well-known member
anewcomer said:
Don't quite know about that. My clover hay cost me $65/ton, and grass hay was $42/ton after all expense (including land rent), except the cost to feed it. Can't even buy a 4x5 bale of fescue for $42.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Do you have any figures showing this. It could very well be correct but I can't say where mine needs to be on hay for the most profits. I can't get 365 but hopefully can get 345 this winter.VaCowman said:
southernultrablack
Well-known member
Right now on one 22 acre field, my hay cost is at about $36 per bale. That is with having to pay someone to cut,rake,bale. My last cutting is on the ground now and would drop that number some.
I don't know how to figure cost per bale if I had my own equipment, but I think I could get that number down substantially. If I buy hay, it's usually 25 dollars bale, but not what I'd consider top quality hay.
I don't know how to figure cost per bale if I had my own equipment, but I think I could get that number down substantially. If I buy hay, it's usually 25 dollars bale, but not what I'd consider top quality hay.
