We have also had to deal with the multitude of customers that have been talked about here. We have a couple of horse customers that get small square bales. Have had them for years. There is always a check or cash, or if we deliver and they aren't home, they call to ask how much and send the check. 3 are fairly close together so we try to take hay to all 3 when we are going; one gets 100,+/- one can only hold 50 or so and one only gets a small amount like 30 or so. They all know about the other, and if one can't hold as much, usually another can fit in some extra. They are pretty easy to satisfy, one is a little pickier, but it has worked out well over the years. They also are first on the list when the weather is dry/drought like conditions. If they are home they often help unload.
For first time customers, they are told to come see the hay, take a bale home and see if their animals like it. After that, there is no picking through and all that. We will make good on any that have wet or mold in them; keep them and return 'em, and will kick in an extra one or two for their time but we try to keep any "heavy bales" here and feed it out right away.
We don't sell many round bales, but do have one customer that we deliver 2 at a time that is close. He is so happy to not have to go haul it, works irregular hours, and has a tractor with a FEL that can move them the short distance into the field. If he is away with work we will put one in the field when we deliver. He pays good, never complains, calls ahead unless he gets stuck out of town and then still gives us a couple days notice.
We don't do much custom work for too many other people, but do have one that we took over when our friend passed away.... kinda got passed on to us. He has beef cattle, can't make his own hay anymore, but is reasonable and knows the weather situation. He's close to another place we do, so catch it at the same time.
Had one decide to do something different this year after not being happy at how long it took us to get there last year. I'm glad and we don't miss the hay or the aggravation. It was the farthest away place so in my opinion, good riddance. Have since heard he goes through/changes hay makers about every 4-6 years. We had it 4 or 5.... One of those 30+ acre estates that want it to look like a showplace but wants the tax/land use advantage.
Got one real close we are probably going to lose/give up after this year because now they want all of second cutting to help their brother feed his cows. We do all the fertilizer and all the work and used to get all the hay and they got land use tax status, plus we paid a lease on it. Then they wanted about 50 square bales for their horses when they were there on the farm....now its all the second cutting???? Since it has been very dry there isn't much second cutting, we will see haw many bales it makes, but something will have to give. Not doing this for free or to be the "nice guy" deal anymore.
My son said that he is tired of kissing everyone's a$$ and everyone thinking this is owed to them, or that it can't possibly cost much for them to just get some of the hay when that is not in the original agreement. Tired of dealing with them, would rather keep the few good ones and then feed the extra to our cows. Maybe even have a little time to do other things than work 20/7365 between farming and full time jobs. Maybe even get more than 4 or 5 hours sleep some nights????? Have a day off even....
