Any ideas to pre maket 2011 Hay?

[blueriver]

I have expanded my hay for the 2011 year and will be taking on considerably more land. We are adding square bales of Bermuda grass ... the grapple is ready and will be building the accumulator and adding wagons with the projected goal of 10,000 square bales.

The question is ... Give me your ideas to pre market this product, I am North of DFW 2 hrs and SE of OKC 2 hrs ... I am convinced after talking to my local feed store who stated they would take 500 bales that there must be alot of potential wholesale customers (feed stores) as well as the Public.

I am considering a direct mail flyer to all feed stores with in 120 miles or maybe a direct email ...also thinking about a website????

I have my equipment, storage barns ... and am thinking 10,000 is a lot of hay to move and would sure appreciate contracts in advance.

BTW ... hauling I see as a simple solution, there are folks begging for that job. Charge the customer the amount the hauler charges.

 

[sweettractors]

I have found that if you can sell a portion of the hay right behind the baler and not have to load and store it, you can sell for a lot less per bale and attract more local buyers. Craigslist good place to run ads. Ken Sweet

 

[blueriver]

Yes Ken thats good and I fiqure the local folks will help with that ... It would be nice to sell it all right out of the field. Don't anticipate that!!

 

[sweettractors]

Yes Ken thats good and I fiqure the local folks will help with that ... It would be nice to sell it all right out of the field. Don't anticipate that!!

My Oldest Son is in the Alfalfa square bale business and local "paid" deliveries can also add to the profit margin. He has already sold out for the winter. Some guy that requires semi loads every month took it all. My Son has his Hay tested by UK dept of Ag at a very nominal cost and he can verify quality without guessing % protein levels and TDN. UK posts the results on their website for all potential buyers to see. Ken Sweet

 

[blueriver]

My Oldest Son is in the Alfalfa square bale business and local "paid" deliveries can also add to the profit margin. He has already sold out for the winter. Some guy that requires semi loads every month took it all. My Son has his Hay tested by UK dept of Ag at a very nominal cost and he can verify quality without guessing % protein levels and TDN. UK posts the results on their website for all potential buyers to see. Ken Sweet

Good for him. I am checking with the Dept of Ag here for the same testing ...

 

[charlz]

Any dairies or feedlots in the area? One tough thing about getting contracts now is you don't know what the season will bring and how much hay you will actually get out of the field.

I know there are hay brokers around this area but I am not sure how they operate.

 

[ustmd]

Don't have any good ideas on pre-marketing hay, but I can say it is going to be a good/bad year (depending on which side you are on selling/buying) for hay in Central Texas.

Between the fall drought (so no winter rye in the pastures) and general economics (no can sell their live stock), hay prices here are sky rocketing.

My wife has horses and horse quality round bales are >$75 per bale.