square bale hay price question, your comments?

JOCCO · Jul 3, 2008

Some of us that bale hay came up with $3 per bale picked up and $4 per bale delivered or in barn. Are we close or to high. The customers are griping a bit. But cost has skyrocketed. I know it will vary in different areas, and some expect it to increase this winter. From what i can see the cutting is going to be down a bit too.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 3, 2008

Where are you located at? That makes a big difference. Here in Southern Wisconsin, $3 for first crop is the norm this year.

Mike (WA) · Jul 3, 2008

In southwest Washington, we got good native grass hay for $3.50 baled in the field, and were glad to get it- others are trying to get $5 to $6 baled in the field, don't know if they'll get it.

Spook · Jul 3, 2008

In SE Michigan, I just paid $5 a bale. I picked it up at his barn.

Dick · Jul 3, 2008

Here in NW Oregon prices range for $3.00 to $6.00 a bale in the field. These prices are what is advertised. Most are charging $3.50 a bale to cut,rake and bale. Hay buckers want $10.00 an hour.
Thanks to high fuel prices, everything is expensive. Getting worse everyday.

IaGary · Jul 3, 2008

If I could get, what some of you guys get for hay I would be better off raising hay than corn.

I could get 200 to 250 bales to the acre at $6.00 a bale that is $1200.00 per acre.

Here in my area hay will not bring that.

Not enough horses I guess.

Gary

jose bagge · Jul 3, 2008

Va $6.00 a square at the barn loaded

jose bagge · Jul 3, 2008

Va $6.00 a square at the barn loaded

PJBROWN VT · Jul 3, 2008

Everyone that I talk to claims the price of a square bale should be the same price as a gallon of diesel. When diesel was $1.00/gal they used to sell hay for a $1 a bale. When diesel was $2.50/gal they sold hay for $2.50 per bale.

Keith in NW MO · Jul 3, 2008

Gary I have baled heavy hay but never that many squares per acre. I can put 30 to 32 squares in one of my big bales at that it would make 6.5 to over 8 big rounds per acre. That would equal 6 to 7.5 ton per acre, if you can get yields like that you should be in the hay business. A big Alfalfa Orchard mix will yield 4 to 5 ton per acre first cutting. On good dirt here in MO that woiuld make a great total of squares per acre for three or four cuts for the whole year. North of Kansas City out of the field $5 per bale but its no get rich quick deal.

Spook · Jul 3, 2008

I was told years ago, that for a small farm in Michigan, hay was the most profitable crop, year after year. The farmer who told me that has been making hay since the 50's. And still is.

RodinNS · Jul 3, 2008

If they're just griping but still buying then it's probably still too low...
We were at 2.75 in the barn. It's going up for the new hay this year. Probably 50 cents or more. You're not making much, if anything at 3 bucks depending on your yeild.

Rod

GordoSD · Jul 3, 2008

Allen, did you see this? THis is a 1400 lb bale.

Gordo

GordoSD · Jul 3, 2008

Bet it came out of a NH BR780?

Gordo

Keith in NW MO · Jul 3, 2008

What makes you say it is 1400 lbs.?

Keith in NW MO · Jul 3, 2008

Deere

Butch WI · Jul 3, 2008

Around here Iwill probably be paying about $2.00 per bale BUT (one thing you all have not mentioned is WEIGHT OF THE BALE) I weighed the load and counted the bales the bales averaged 27.8 lbs That meant I will be paying over $150 per ton. and I pick it up.

How much do your bales weigh?

Butch

Michael Soldan · Jul 3, 2008

Jocco, ask those that complain how much they pay for their gasoline or Diesel and then you can tell them that's why bales of hay aren't cheap...Hay didn't go up in price, fertilizer, twine and fuel did! Make sure they get the picture, you are cheap at $3 a bale, this winter they would be glad to pay $4 or $5

IaGary · Jul 3, 2008

No I would not get that on one cutting. It would take 3 cuttings to get 200 to 250 per acre.

First cutting I got 102 big bales made by a 565 Hesston off of 20 acres.

So like you say that would be 150 little squares on the first cutting per acre. Next 2 cuttings will be lower for sure.

Last year I got 10 bales to the acre on 3 cuttings. It was a good year for hay.

Gary

Jim.UT · Jul 3, 2008

Let 'em gripe. Around here it's $175 - $200 per ton. If you figure a 60 lb bale, that's $5.25 to $6.00 per bale. One guy said he sold some for $5 per bale but only because they came and picked it up out of the field.

kyhayman · Jul 3, 2008

Nothing less than 5.00 a bale, off the wagon. I was afraid I was a too high and worried about getting it. Night before last cured that, some guy bought 40 bales of my bet first cutting alfafla and timothy to mulch his yard!! So far nobody has said a word, guess they remember paying 15.00 a bale last year at the co-op.

GordoSD · Jul 4, 2008

Is it more?

Gordo

Doug in IL · Jul 4, 2008

My neighbor rolled some bales for me with a baler just like that one a couple weeks ago. I couldn't believe how fast that thing runs. Over 60 bales in an hour. We timed him at 17 seconds to fill the baler, from the time he started to roll until he stopped to net wrap and eject the bale. Quite a machine! These were 5 1/2 foot diameter bales in heavy alfalfa.

John S-B · Jul 4, 2008

Depends on where you're at. In Ohio and Indiana, there's been so much rain much of the first cutting is still standing or rained on. And Iowa I'm sure is just a mess. So it's the opposite of the drought last year, too much rain, plus WAY higher fuel costs. So you may be low if anything.

T_Bone · Jul 4, 2008

I don't see how you guys are making any money at $3/bale.

I wasn't going to post this but hey I thought I'd let you drule some.

In the AZ desert this week, there on the 6th cutting since January.

Hay 2yrs ago was $8sq at the feed store in town. I have no idea what there getting today.

T_Bone

RayP(MI) · Jul 4, 2008

I figure it's going to cost me at least $2.00 a bale just to get it on the wagon. That's if my baler starts tieing the knots properly. Think I got a bunch of poor twine this year.

square bale hay price question, your comments?

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