question for the custom hay operators on the forum ...

[TBD]

how much you guys charging per acre for cutting and baling (large round bale).


cheers !

[TBD]

including raking ... so it looks perty

[hillbillyreefer]

Alberta Ag custom rate guide.

https://www.alberta.ca/custom-rates-...nd-silage.aspx

The bottom ends of those ranges are pretty cheap. I’d guess you should be able to get it done for 75% of the high end of the ranges, depending on the year, weather, and crop conditions.

[Smokinyotes]

Shares 2/3-3/4 for the one putting up the hay depending on the stand.

[tool]

I’ve always charged $10/bale to bale and $14/acre to cut.

I avoid using the rake whenever I can.

I know those prices are pretty light given today’s fuel, netwrap and equipment replacement costs.

[TBD]

.....................

[Puma]

Originally Posted by tool

I’ve always charged $10/bale to bale and $14/acre to cut.

I avoid using the rake whenever I can.

I know those prices are pretty light given today’s fuel, netwrap and equipment replacement costs.

That's exactly what I paid the last couple years.

[smith88]

Just got asked for prices for a 22 acre piece. Only ever cut my own small pieces as a hobby. Would anyone be willing to share some info on what they charge? Thanks in advance

[W921]

Originally Posted by smith88

Just got asked for prices for a 22 acre piece. Only ever cut my own small pieces as a hobby. Would anyone be willing to share some info on what they charge? Thanks in advance

22 acres is like nothing. Depends on how far you have to travel, what you have for equipment, how busy are you,how many tons per acre, how rough is the field, are you crop sharing and what part of province you are in.

[dfarms11]

Originally Posted by tool

I’ve always charged $10/bale to bale and $14/acre to cut.

I avoid using the rake whenever I can.

I know those prices are pretty light given today’s fuel, netwrap and equipment replacement costs.

Wow! You better bump those prices, you're losing money! Either that or you can come do all mine for me! Lol

[Who Da Fisherman]

Originally Posted by dfarms11

Wow! You better bump those prices, you're losing money! Either that or you can come do all mine for me! Lol

Thread is from 2020
WDF

[smith88]

Originally Posted by W921

22 acres is like nothing. Depends on how far you have to travel, what you have for equipment, how busy are you,how many tons per acre, how rough is the field, are you crop sharing and what part of province you are in.

Like I said it's a hobby more than anything. I have an old sickle mower that I'd like to replace, and a small square baler, and run it with a JD 4020. They want to keep all the hay. It's an irrigated field in the SE portion of the province. It's only 5 miles away from me. I have a feeling the person who cut it last year upped their rates and now they're looking at options.

[dfarms11]

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

Thread is from 2020
WDF

Lol. Good grief. Did I ever get suckered into this one!

[W921]

Originally Posted by smith88

Like I said it's a hobby more than anything. I have an old sickle mower that I'd like to replace, and a small square baler, and run it with a JD 4020. They want to keep all the hay. It's an irrigated field in the SE portion of the province. It's only 5 miles away from me. I have a feeling the person who cut it last year upped their rates and now they're looking at options.

I only do dryland and big round bales so I'm guessing irrigated with alfalfa?could probably be 4 tons to a acre? Is it irrigated or are you doing the corners and run off where pivots don't reach? Could take long time to dry with no crimp.
Ive never done small square's so I'm not sure of your costs. I know my costs have skyrocketed since covid.
Its looking like a good year so hopefully cow hay prices will be way down. Those small square horse bales seem to be always expensive regardless of cow hay prices.
If you really want to do the hay . I would recommend if you think small square's are going to be selling for $10 a bale then offer to make them for $5 a bale.Basically 50/50 split.
If used to be the guy making the hay received 2/3 of it. Easy to lose money custom baling.
It also depends on your baler. If its old and only makes soft small 35 pound bales then you can't really charge like you have a newer baler and baling 80 pound bales.

[Smokinyotes]

If it is a very smooth field that is straight and a heavy crop I would do it for 2/3. If it’s rough and not heavy tell them to find someone else to do it.

[huntinstuff]

No one reads......

[esher]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

If it is a very smooth field that is straight and a heavy crop I would do it for 2/3. If it’s rough and not heavy tell them to find someone else to do it.

If you are talking 2/3 to you, 3 bales a acre smooth Field you get 2 at 100 plus a bale. At 100 a bale you get 200, at 60 you get 120. Anyone thinking running a baler across my land the crop I seeded and need to maintain and make more than a crop I grow is in for a economics education. And don't get me started on the but but the cost of twine.