Square bales or round bales?

[Western]

I've seen rounds go for $140 and squares up to $9 in my area after last summers drought. I also see allot less cattle in the pastures too! With the Winter moisture some of us have been fortunate to get, we actually have some decent winter grasses, but I don't think it is enough for a guy to "bet the bank" and buy back a herd at the prices at the sale barn.

When I was having hay cut at our old farm, I would usually put up around 3000 square bales and around 300 rounds. I would feed my cows and have enough to sell and pay the baling cost. In dry years, I have unrolled rounds and re-baled to squares since the squares do pay much better.

 

[LastSTRAW]

My father-in-law always bought the small square bales of Alfalfa. I added it up for him what cost he has in the small ones,now he buys the big square bales.I do have to unload them for him but he has a big barn to store them in. He has two plastic bed mats that go in a pickup set up on ground were I can put one bale in and when he bust it open to feed his sheep,the good stuff dont get in the dirt,no waste this way. I usually just feed round bales to my cattle but do put up around 50 squares,case I have to keep a cow pinned up in corral or something. But for those that dont have a way to move round bales could always get one of these..

Introduing the JackRabit Hay Bale Mover - YouTube

Nice video.

I noticed that every time the round bale is about to be lifted off the ground the video gets blurry or they cut away to a shot with the bale in the air. Why is that?

 

[foreman Etexas]

Nice video.

I noticed that every time the round bale is about to be lifted off the ground the video gets blurry or they cut away to a shot with the bale in the air. Why is that?

Looks to me like it may take awhile to jack it up

 

[5030]

MotorSeven you taking orders for hay yet

I still have around 250 alfalfa/timothy rounds in the hay barn. I'm using up 2 year old rounds right now. The presently run stuff will probably next years forage....

 

[foreman Etexas]

I still have around 250 alfalfa/timothy rounds in the hay barn. I'm using up 2 year old rounds right now. The presently run stuff will probably next years forage....

Thats the way to do it,stay a year ahead.I hope we do not need to buy any next year. We have had left overs several years ago but it just caught up with us. What do them bales go for up your way?

 

[jpm1]

When we had cows we did round bales towards the last, I really liked then Especially when we wrapped them. Dad went to look at the round bailer, he kinda liked it but looked the dealer in the eye and said," how do my cows get a square meal out of a round bale of hay?" The dealer scratched his head and walked away speachless. . . .muttering to him self " I never thought of it that way", dad really had him going and bad! . . . Round Bales :thumbsup:
John :laughing: :laughing:

 

[5030]

Thats the way to do it,stay a year ahead.I hope we do not need to buy any next year. We have had left overs several years ago but it just caught up with us. What do them bales go for up your way?

20 bucks for a 4x4 and 30 for a 4x5 (to my own customers). What the market will bear to casual buyers.

I contract ahead on my customers, who pay cash. I deliver all my customer for an extra 5 per bale and I typically haul 18 on the gooseneck.

I have 2 customers that I put them in the barn for them, with their equipment.

Typically it costs me around 10 bucks to make each bale in 4-4 and 12 in 4-5

Small squares are a no-no here. I do custom squares (just bought a new 575 last season), on the ground for 50 cents a bale.

 

[foreman Etexas]

20 bucks for a 4x4 and 30 for a 4x5 (to my own customers). What the market will bear to casual buyers.

I contract ahead on my customers, who pay cash. I deliver all my customer for an extra 5 per bale and I typically haul 18 on the gooseneck.

I have 2 customers that I put them in the barn for them, with their equipment.

Typically it costs me around 10 bucks to make each bale in 4-4 and 12 in 4-5

Small squares are a no-no here. I do custom squares (just bought a new 575 last season), on the ground for 50 cents a bale.

I pay $27 a bale,for them to cut and bale.This last year was a 2 bale an acre minimium. I made 31 bales on 30 acres and had $1800 in fertilizer and $1600 in baling.I'll do the math so you dont have too around a $109 in each bale. But they gotta make money,I understand that. Mite just go ahead and buy my own equipment this year..

 

[meadowlarkponds]

For cows here in East Texas the round bales are the only way to go. This past season was the driest on record around here and hay was very scarce. I was lucky to have some left over from last year plus got a good cutting. As a result, was able to sell hay and ended up with my own hay being "free" for this year. Sold for $50 per 4x5 in the field and could have sold far more than I had.

 

[foreman Etexas]

For cows here in East Texas the round bales are the only way to go. This past season was the driest on record around here and hay was very scarce. I was lucky to have some left over from last year plus got a good cutting. As a result, was able to sell hay and ended up with my own hay being "free" for this year. Sold for $50 per 4x5 in the field and could have sold far more than I had.

I was gonna ask how the Tifton 9 Bahiagrass worked for you.Im thinking about planting 38acres in it.Whats your suggestion?

 

[meadowlarkponds]

I was gonna ask how the Tifton 9 Bahiagrass worked for you.Im thinking about planting 38acres in it.Whats your suggestion?

Well, in the worst drought we have ever had, the two upland fields with the Tifton 9 Bahiagrass produced some of the best hay in this county...at least that is what my baler guy told me. He said it was far better than other coastal and bahia fields he had been in. It yielded over 2 rolls to the acre with virtually no rain and zero fertilizer. I could never fertilize because it was so dry.

I'm certainly glad I planted it years back, but never expected to see this kind of drought.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Well, in the worst drought we have ever had, the two upland fields with the Tifton 9 Bahiagrass produced some of the best hay in this county...at least that is what my baler guy told me. He said it was far better than other coastal and bahia fields he had been in. It yielded over 2 rolls to the acre with virtually no rain and zero fertilizer. I could never fertilize because it was so dry.

I'm certainly glad I planted it years back, but never expected to see this kind of drought.

Thanks!!! I will go ahead and plant it then. I seen cple of your pictures,was kinda hard to tell in the photos how it turned out.. Were is your place located in east texas?

 

[MotorSeven]

SKS, sorry we hijacked your thread, but this is some interesting stuff

5030 I only have about 5 bucks in a bale, but our pastures are in a bottom with a big creek that likes to flood a few times every winter. It sure messes things up, but it's free fertilizer.

Foreman if you are going to buy equipment bite the bullet and buy a new baler. We bought a used one and spent $600 in parts, 3 weeks down time waiting for said parts and paid a neighbor $100 to roll up what we had already cut. Rakes tedders and cutters are a better risk buying used. I have my eye on the Krone but $16K is scares the bejesus outa me

 

[meadowlarkponds]

Thanks!!! I will go ahead and plant it then. I seen cple of your pictures,was kinda hard to tell in the photos how it turned out.. Were is your place located in east texas?

Between Lufkin and Livingston

 

[5030]

I pay $27 a bale,for them to cut and bale.This last year was a 2 bale an acre minimium. I made 31 bales on 30 acres and had $1800 in fertilizer and $1600 in baling.I'll do the math so you dont have too around a $109 in each bale. But they gotta make money,I understand that. Mite just go ahead and buy my own equipment this year..

You already have the power. Heck, my M runs everything and never works up a sweat, heck, I have to blow the dust off the fuel gage once in a while.

I think the only disconcerting thing is turning a windrow end with the 575. I've taken to disengage the pto and allow the bailer to slow down before turning. That huge plunger really rocks the M.... it spills my beverage....

Last summer I ran contract wheat in small squares for a farmer down the road. I put almost 4000 squares on the ground in less than 12 hours and that included numerous beverage breaks.......:laughing:

 

[foreman Etexas]

You already have the power. Heck, my M runs everything and never works up a sweat, heck, I have to blow the dust off the fuel gage once in a while.

I think the only disconcerting thing is turning a windrow end with the 575. I've taken to disengage the pto and allow the bailer to slow down before turning. That huge plunger really rocks the M.... it spills my beverage....

Last summer I ran contract wheat in small squares for a farmer down the road. I put almost 4000 squares on the ground in less than 12 hours and that included numerous beverage breaks.......:laughing:

Im looking at the Vermeer Rebel or the NH Roll-Belt both 4x5 balers,would like to be able to run the M5040 but can use M7040,just didnt wonna have to haul it when I usually keep 5040 at lease place....But A/C and cab may be worth the extra haul

 

[NativeSon]

My father-in-law always bought the small square bales of Alfalfa. I added it up for him what cost he has in the small ones,now he buys the big square bales.I do have to unload them for him but he has a big barn to store them in. He has two plastic bed mats that go in a pickup set up on ground were I can put one bale in and when he bust it open to feed his sheep,the good stuff dont get in the dirt,no waste this way. I usually just feed round bales to my cattle but do put up around 50 squares,case I have to keep a cow pinned up in corral or something. But for those that dont have a way to move round bales could always get one of these..

Introduing the JackRabit Hay Bale Mover - YouTube

Cheaper than a tractor but not near as fun!!!


Charlie

 

[forgeblast]

My buddy sold out of hay for the first time this year. He only sells the square bales, easier for people to "try" his hay first and then buy.