Market for unfertilized hay?

IHMAN1 · Mar 30, 2017

Hey all, just wondering if there is a market for unfertilized hay? I have probably around 20 acres of mainly fescue that I have been working to reclaim as a pasture or hayfield. After I have it all cleared of saplings and small trees I need to know if anybody would cut and bale it for free or maybe leave me a 1/4. I always heard that hay of any kind beats snowballs but not sure how true that is.

M5farms · Mar 30, 2017

ask around you might be surprised what you find. I picked up a field last yr off of facebook a little rank but ok , Its fair quality but it fed well and I was able to help a friend out in GA from the drought last yr.

Texasmark · Mar 30, 2017

Depends on conditions. If hay is scarce great market. If not, buyers are picky. Usually best time to get a sale is right after baling. The longer is sits in YOUR field, the harder to rid yourself of it. If any goat breeders around might see if you can get them interested. Otherwise you would do yourself a favor by shredding it and then rolling it into your soil for humus and nutrients contained therein returned to your field for your next crop to use. Wayyyyy more returns in that as compared to nickel dime prices somebody might give you for it, or letting it rot in the bale at the corner of your field.

zzvyb6 · Mar 30, 2017

That's all I sell and I'm about to run out with a list of customers who want it but won't have enough for. Same acreage. The key is to keep your prices fair, get some long term customers with older horses (10 - 15 y.o.). I joke that I sell baled weeds.

I take a later first cutting (mid July) when I know I have 3 - 4 days of drying. The crisp hay bales nicely. I use a stack wagon to pick it up and customer help to take it away and/or help put it in the mow. This way it stays dry, green tasty and smells wonderful. $2.50 a bale, $2.00 if you help. $4.00 if I have to deliver it.

No fertilizer. Tractor and equipment is paid for, just diesel. As far as I'm concerned, it's free money. I use an accountant to run my taxes on the 'farm'. A few bucks for occasional parts. This year's expense is a brand new Miller 211 for farm repairs. County keeps my tax status as agricultural.

Well worth it IMHO. Once you get a Vet doctor to comment on how good your grass hay is for somebody's horse, the stuff flies out of the barn. BTW, a primo 2nd cutting can be done Septemberish and a few top quality bales for the very old horse with poor teeth can pull $4.00 a bale

joeu235 · Mar 30, 2017

Craigslist add for Goat hay

Egon · Mar 30, 2017

Check out the assimilated nutrient's of fertilized versus non fertilized crop's

kthompson · Apr 5, 2017

I thought had replied her a few days back but either forgot to hit post of memory issue. Check and see what you would need to do for it to be organic and think you may find a market for that.

Rara Avis · Apr 7, 2017

IHMAN1 said:
Hey all, just wondering if there is a market for unfertilized hay? I have probably around 20 acres of mainly fescue that I have been working to reclaim as a pasture or hayfield. After I have it all cleared of saplings and small trees I need to know if anybody would cut and bale it for free or maybe leave me a 1/4. I always heard that hay of any kind beats snowballs but not sure how true that is.

Your 2nd and 3rd cuts of the season off that field will be more valuable...