custom haying rates

JH in NM · Sep 16, 2013

Hi guys, I'm wondering what everyone is getting to cut bale and stack hay in small squares, and in 4x5 round bales. It's kinda hard to pin down a good rate, being fair to the customer, but also not doing it for free. Thanks in advance

Nick m · Sep 16, 2013

Msu has a custom rate sheet that seems quite fair. Google it and check it out.

David G · Sep 16, 2013

Most states have this information compiled as Nick as stated.

Formerly PaMike · Sep 16, 2013

$7 for 4x5 net wrap with late model NH round baler. South Central PA

DeltaRed · Sep 16, 2013

Western Colorado: $24.00 cutting;.75 baleing;.75 stacking(NewHolland stackwagon).Works out to (give or take) $2.00 per bale. $8.00 per acre to rake(over and above) if needed to 'dry'or if hay is too light to bale properly.

JH in NM · Sep 16, 2013

Thanks again for the info guys, it's really appreciated.

dcarp · Sep 16, 2013

Wow, if that $7 is for cutting, raking & baling it's same thing as doing it for free. That would just barely cover the cost of fuel to do the job, not to mention the cost of the net wrap.

Wheat Farmer · Sep 16, 2013

Here in the CO Upper Arkansas valley, most put up the hay for half. Half the hay or half what it sells for.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2013

Cutting, raking, baling 4 X 5, net wrapped. From 20 to 25 dollars per bale, depending upon production volume. Tom

dmiller · Sep 16, 2013

I charge $45 per acre to cut and drop a bale in the field (small squares). I also do hay on halves (60/40 I get 60 if I do the stacking)
By my estimate on most places this means I'm covering fuel and twine with a small amount for parts but only making about $15 per hour for my time. Nothing in there to cover the cost of replacing equipment sometime out in the future.
I have a spreadsheet I made up that I use to estimate my costs and returns. I can e-mail it to you if you want, can't figure out how to share it here.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 16, 2013

besides shares, charging by the bale is the fairest for all. too many varibles in haying for acre rates imo.

oldtanker · Sep 17, 2013

Being as honest as I can I would never do it per bale. Bad year you net nothing. By the acre would be my choice. Don't matter if it's a good year or bad you still get paid.

Rick

Don-Wi · Sep 17, 2013

I get $1 per small square on the ground. $70/ hr. to cut. There needs to be a minimum amount you get for baling too, because if it's stupid thin it doesn't pay out very good for time involved.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Formerly PaMike · Sep 17, 2013

No, just baling.

JH in NM · Sep 17, 2013

Dmiller, I'd sure like to see your spreadsheet. my email is [email protected]. Thanks again for your replies everyone.

swood043 · Sep 17, 2013

Here is central Oklahoma I get 17.50 per 4X5 with twine where they land.

kyhayman · Sep 17, 2013

2.50 for small squares dropped on the ground. 65.00 an hour if I run the NH bale wagon to pick up on it.

4x5 net wrapped rounds 22.00 each where they land. Or 12.00 to cut and or 12.00 to roll if I break it down that way (2.00 discount if I do it all). Thats with a discbine, tedder if needed, rake, and roll. Minimum is 1000.00 for 3 days (or partials) on the job.

dhermesc · Sep 17, 2013

A neighbor asked me to cut, rake and bale his little 5 acre patch. Just off the cuff I told him I'd do it for $1 a bale and he thought I was trying to rob him. That evening I figured my cost in wire and fuel alone is about .65 a bale, leaving me .35 a bale to cover the equipment and my time. I was kind of glad he went away without accepting especially since he probably would have roped me into helping him pick it up out of the field just to be "neighborly".

He found someone to do it on shares - they were ticked when the neighbors kids told them there was over 200 golf balls in the field that they probably baled up.

What does a golf ball do to hungry cow?

Mike (WA) · Sep 17, 2013

I was getting $1 a bale to cut, rake and bale 30 years ago!

The "share" rate was usually 1/3 - 2/3, so if I would have got 2/3 of the hay, I just figured 2/3 of the value of the hay would be the custom charge.

larryanderson · Sep 17, 2013

In Ia I pay $16 for cutting[240acres] with newer self propelled unit $12 for netwrapped 1900# round bales made with 605M raking is around $2 and hauling 80mi with semi [30 bales]$4 a loaded mile.The higher quality hay[alfalfa grass ]is bring $250 a ton.

dhermesc · Sep 17, 2013

To be fair I'm using equipment that was considered old 30 years ago (56 NH rake, 47 IH baler and 350 Farmall). But the fuel and wire I'm using is up to date.

custom haying rates

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads