custom hay baling

lust for rust · Jun 3, 2009

I was curious what others were getting for doing custom baling. I am doing this one land for a lady who co-owns it with her sisters heirs. The land had not been touched for several years and was very overgrown. The deal was that I would work on cleaning it up a little bit each year and would keep 2/3 of the sale from the hay. I also sold all of the hay for them. After three years, they decide to sell. New owner comes in and has land two counties away. He says that I can keep doing what I am doing but for 50/50 on hay. I don't think it is really worth my time to come in and clean out his hay fields for half and possibly lose haying it when I get it all cleaned out. What do you guys think?

2x4 · Jun 3, 2009

find another tract. He doesn't know what it's worth so he's asking for more to see if you've been taking advantage of the women. Will folks be lined up to take his offer? Doubt it; let him do a couple of years without.

lust for rust · Jun 3, 2009

Thats kind of what I am leaning toward. There aren't too many places around here that one can get. Most land is in about 4 different families.

Paul in MN · Jun 3, 2009

I think you were giving the gals too good of a deal, and I have done some custom hay for 25 years.

The only way you even get close to coming out on a 50/50 split is for the land owner to have good clean land, and a recent planting with correct fertilizer, and then the best I'd do is give him his hay on wagons with 18 hours to empty the wagons. It's his hay to unload, stack, sell, or get rained on if he isn't timely. I have had the 50/50 offer put to me, and only fell into that trap once. With today's parts costs, fuel costs, twine cost, equipment investment, your labor or you paying for hired labor, it just does not pencil out. For land that has been out of production and has some scrub brush or scrub cedars or other woody stuff growing in, they should be paying you!

Run, don't walk! Let Mr Smart Guy buy and maintain and operate his own hay equipment. After about 2 years, he will be much smarter! Remember a deal is only good if it is good for BOTH parties.

Paul in MN

M Nut · Jun 4, 2009

I wouldn't even consider it. I don't do any hay on shares, but I do pay rent by the bale. (1000lb rounds) I pay anywhere from $1 per bale for feedable canary grass to $8 per bale for really nice seeded in timithy, clover, brome, alfalfa mix hay. On the higher priced fields, they are wide open, no rocks, trees, etc. to slow me down. I can really make hay on those fields.

Errin OH · Jun 4, 2009

I would have to agree. You have been real nice up to this point and the new guy could go take a flying leap.

I take all grass hay on any fields I just maintain. And yes I have let ground go. Just isn't worth it when you have to give them all the profits.

If I have control and do as I wish I pay rent. Generally I plant it into something other than grass. Have to be carefull though. If you do anything less than 3 years (I prefer 5) and you will likely be giving someone else a newly planted hay field.

The only shares I do is Labor. I have a couple fella's that work for hay. I know both real well and they are not drag @$$ 's. They get every 5th bale (2 for expenses, 2 for me, 1 for them).

Walterdavies · Jun 4, 2009

When I bought my place in 92 50/50 was sort of common around here then the fuel and parts cost went out of site and you can't get cheap help anymore so now its anywhere from $75 to $110 with a 2 ton per acre minimum or 75/25 on large acreage. One thing leave his share in the field if he wants it in the barn that's an extra charge. Its real hard to make a good living at haying now. Its even harder to find people who will do the small bales so just let him have fun looking he will come back to you and beg.
Walt

cjk · Jun 6, 2009

Im getting $1.40/bale to cut rake and bale this year. They unload the wagons as I bale. I figure I could sell the hay for 2.50-3.00 per bale so 50-50.

I think its fair, but Im new to this farming stuff.

custom hay baling

lust for rust

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2x4

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lust for rust

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Paul in MN

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M Nut

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Errin OH

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Walterdavies

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cjk

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