How much do you have invested?

[RPW]

Curious as to how much you have invested in your hay production? I've got about 16 acres out of 38 dedicated to this endeaver. I don't expect to make much money but I'm getting ready to retire in a few years and want something to keep me busy. I'm mostly interested in keeping my pasture pups in hay and maybe sell a few on the side.

For myself I'm in my 2nd year of a 5 year breakeven plan.
In equipment: Vermeer 605C Round baler $1000.00
IH 16 Side Delivery Rake $250.00
JD-350 9' Sickle mower $975.00
JD 207 Seed drill $250.00
Homemade sprayer $900.00
Total purchased price $3375. After repairs (some minor, some major) using an average value found on Tractorhouse $8068.
Seed over 2 years ~ $3000. Other expenses (private applicator license etc.) ~ $500.

What's not included is land, tractor, buildings etc. as these items are for other things beside hay production.

Stress reliever, priceless

How do you fair? How long did it take to breakeven? Is it worth it to "you"?

Richard.

 

[bigbull338]

whew you got into hay baling cheap.567 rd baler $17000 like new hardly used WR20 rake $1500 6105D cab 4x4 baling tractor $56000.still need to buy the cutter.we bale 125acs.

 

[RPW]

Yeah I didn't figure the tractor because it's used for other things but that new as about $20k. It's a bit undersized for the baler but I'll just have to maker smaller bales. As I progress I plan on getting a larger tractor Got to get the house built first, momma said

 

[bigbull338]

yes its costly to get into hay baling.we took 12yrs off and had or hay custom baled.but then it was costing enough to pay for the equipment.so we went back to baling our on hay.

 

[Verticaltrx]

As far as the hay equipment itself, $1750.

NH 451 sickle bar mower, needed some minor work $750
NH 268 square baler, excellent shape, very little use and shed kept, purchased from a friend, $1000

NH 56 rake, free from my father, needed some work, nothing major
2 basket hay tedder, free, needed some welding.

Including repairs total of about $2000. Works good for about 20ac of hay per year.

 

[D7E]

For around 3000 bales of hay and straw per year

1996 case IH 3x3 square baler ...$22'000
1995 NH 650 round baler $4'000
NH basket rake $500
Vicon wheel rake $400
NH 495 12ft haybine $2750
NH 495 12ft haybine $2250
26 ft semi trailer on converter $4000
32 ft semi trailer on converter $4500

(ALL for sale except trailers) as we've quit hay and expanded grain last year

I never consider the tractors as they already exist for other farming operations !

 

[waddie62]

I have been replacing equipment since I started 4 years ago went from a David Bradly rake to a NH 55 400.00 this will be last year for it replaced a international 241 and a 2400 with a NH 848 3500.00 NH 488 1500.00 also rebuilding a krone am 242 1800.00 in it so far White 2-105 6500.00 ford 3910 5500.00 and I still need a tedder It cost a lot to bale hay you buy junk you spend more time working on it than baling hay I started that way but you do what you can do my cows and goats never went hungry 19000.00 over 4yrs

 

[Bigfoot62]

JD 5085M Cab MFWD FEL $54K (new)
NH TN70A MFWD FEL $31K (new)
JD 457 baler $10K (used)
Kuhn GMD600 mower $6K (used)
JD 265 mower $2.5K (used)
Sitrex 10-wheel V-rake $3K (used)
Hay King renovator plow $4K (new)

I did include my two larger tractors, because they were bought for hay production.
That does not count the land or the two hay barns. Also doesn't include the sprayers, pickup trucks, trailers, ATV's, etc., that are often used for maintenance or production.

You said,

For myself I'm in my 2nd year of a 5 year breakeven plan.

Not me. I'm in the 4th year of a 1000 year breakeven plan. :laughing:

 

[bigbull338]

bigfoot62 thats high for the 5085M but you did get a fel on it.thats $2000 less than what we gave for 6105D cab 4x4 set up for fel.we bought that tractor in feb of this year.

 

[Bigfoot62]

bigfoot62 thats high for the 5085M but you did get a fel on it.thats $2000 less than what we gave for 6105D cab 4x4 set up for fel.we bought that tractor in feb of this year.

Yessir. I know I could have bought a bigger tractor, but I went for a little "nicer" tractor with the extra features in a smaller package. I got a 16x16 trans, electro-hydraulic hitch, 540/540E PTO, etc., in the size that worked for me.