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Post by ctownson on May 15, 2013 21:30:47 GMT -5
Your prices are WAY too low! We are baling tomorrow from the pasture next to my barn. Hope to get 200-300 bales. Lots of hay here, but prices in the field are about $2.50-$3.00 per bale. If I was close to you, I would buy it all at your price!
Our weather has been like yours - low 40's earlier this week and then 88 degrees today. We cut hay on Monday and it is ready to bale tomorrow.
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Post by lakeportfarms on May 16, 2013 4:44:47 GMT -5
Square bales around here are still selling for $10.00. We're still 5-6 week from when most do their first cutting.
For a class project (Sheril is a middle school math teacher) she had the class figure equivalent pricing and volume of square bales vs. 4x5 rounds and the various other sized round and large squares. One of the numbers I remember was that a 4x5 round bale at $50 equaled around a $2.30 small square. Obviously there is a lot more labor in putting up small squares (as Gene will no doubt confirm).
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Post by Fran on May 16, 2013 7:42:37 GMT -5
Gene, I sure do wish that you were closer...  |
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Post by wvdexters on May 16, 2013 8:51:50 GMT -5
Gene, I wish you were closer. That price is really going to help out a lot of people. They are making hay up here now too. I can hear the tractors running at night. We already have our order in.
With this rain and a bit of help from above maybe we will be able to get a good season this year. Fill up some of these empty barns and get hay out to areas that need it.
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Post by ctownson on May 16, 2013 20:50:33 GMT -5
We put up 370 bales today and have another 200+ bales still laying in the field waiting for tomorrow. There is LOTS of hay around here - the best I have seen in the last 15 years. Square bales can be found easily for $3.00 and it is good hay.
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Post by midhilldexters on May 17, 2013 10:18:13 GMT -5
Gene do you have the side cut out of your bush hog? I have read that if you cut a side out, and I think it is the front left, it is better for cutting hay, but don't know anyone that has done it before. This will be my first year cutting hay to bale, and like you we have an old sickle mower and if it breaks or is a pain then all I have is a bush hog. I guess the theory with cutting the side off is that it doesn't mulch it up as much? Makes sense but would like confirmation on it.
Carol L
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Post by ssrdex on May 17, 2013 13:07:01 GMT -5
Here in NorCal the best deal I've found to date is $5 a 100# bale of oat hay, that the baler broke on, so they're missing at least the middle string...& I'D HAVE TO PICK THEM UP FROM THE FIELD!! With my truck & trailer it's 4 30 mile round trips for 200 bales. Ouch
Joel
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Post by ctownson on May 17, 2013 18:06:29 GMT -5
I'm sure Gene is correct in terms of the reduced amount that one would get using a bush hog to cut. We ended up with over 500 bales on about 7 acres using a nice cutter. The quality of your rake would also make a difference.
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Post by midhilldexters on May 17, 2013 18:31:21 GMT -5
They used to make a brush hog with a removable left side, think it was called a " hayside" and they would use those for hay. It was bolted on, would love to find a used one to have here as a back up, don't think I want to cut the side off my 6 footer!
Interesting subject though.
Congrats on your hay Charles! Like Hans, we are way behind you but the fields are looking better every day.
Carol
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Post by copperhead on May 18, 2013 21:45:40 GMT -5
You are a good man, Genebo, it's very kind of you to help your fellow farmers, and not be consumed with making money off of someone else's need.
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