Economics of Buying Hay vs Baling your own

[kacraig1]

Hi all; my first post on this forum - are there any threads/forums about economics of Haying? Thanks!

 

[Ed of all trades]

It depends on many things. How many of what size bales, do you have the hay field, do you have the equipment, if you are going to buy are you going to buy new or used, top of the line or ....... Give us some idea what you are doing and we can do better at answering. :welcome:

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:

 

[stingray1]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[zzvyb6]

Welcome but you may be a little late. This was the year to bale your own hay and sell whatever is left over. Growth volume is down by 2 and prices are up by 2 - 4 times a 'normal' year's. Here in S.E. Mi, horse people are feeding out their winter hay already because the pastures were burned up by the dry heat and only slowly recovering. Vets are recommending buying straw now because if the critters are hungry enough, they will eat it. And you'll have to augment it with high protein and high fat supplements. If its going to be a cold winter prices will go even higher. If you can get access to equipment now do it. If you need hay and can trade labor for partial loads, now is the time. If you have a 30+ hp tractor and can borrow a mower and a baler, learn how to use it asap. Even a 3 acre field is worth a pile of money for you. Its a limited commodity right now and more money won't help very much in 3 months.

 

[bglz42]

After years of having unreliable folks cut my hay, I just bought my own baler. Still gathering the other equipment.

Economically sound decision, maybe not so much....

Satisfying? OH YES!!!

 

[Turbys_1700]

The biggest issue you will have is labor...
If you are going to bale squares you will need to get some type of accumulator or stacker unless you can get someone to stack while bailing...
That is what we did many moons ago...
My dad would bale and I would stack...
Never let the bale touch the ground...
Worked real good...
We had two guys taking a wagon back to the barn to unload while we kept bailing in the field...
It took 3 wagons and 4 hands to do this...
After I left for school my father went to round bales...
He would bale an entire field and then come back later to either load on a wagon or stack...
If I was haying for cattle rounds would be my only consideration...
Not viable if you are marketing to horse folk...

 

[Ken]

After years of having unreliable folks cut my hay, I just bought my own baler. Still gathering the other equipment.

Economically sound decision, maybe not so much....

Satisfying? OH YES!!!

A week ago was in Angora Ind. The farm store was selling 50 lb. bale for 11 Bucks.
Good hay is selling for 60 a large roll type bale and so depending on your need . So if have the hay land and time do your own if only small amounts maybe to feed a rabbit purchase in smaller amounts.
ken

 

[kensnelling]

Welcome from Oklahoma.

Ken

 

[Briana03]

Welcome to TBN

I moved your thread to the Haying Forum.