New hay farm

[Phillip w]

I rely heavily on the NOAA weather report and read the forecast discussion. It takes a while to learn the jargon but really helps in my opinion. But also helps to get a feel for how conservative different weather reports are. If the local DA on TV says 50%, it's probably not going to rain. If NOAA says 50% chances, get out the rubber boots.

National Weather Service Text Product Display

I don't have access to noaa weather radio. I rely heavily on the tv, a weather channel app on my phone and the normal radio. One thing that helps is to study and know the weather patterns for you area. For eample in ne kansas a southeast wind generally means moisture is coming. A southwest light wind usually a warm up and fair weather. A strong southwest wind will many times blow up a thunderstorm late afternoon or early evening. A snow over the 4 corners region tends to put ne kansas in the bullseye. Winds switch to nw after snow usually means it is going to get really cold, maybe 0 degrees. It helps to have an idea of the weather patterns in your area rather than just listen to a guy wearing a suit on tv. If you know the weather patterns, then the weatherman just sort of confirms your suspicions.

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

Do your research on the right equipment. Here is a good starting point for educating yourself:

Tractor Tools Direct | Buyer’s Guide

A big decision here is whether you want inexpensive, old, used equipment that will require a lot of repair and upkeep, or whether you want to spend more money, buy new, and have fewer machine problems. Also, your tractor is plenty big for compact hay equipment, and for only 5 acres or so, you can save a lot of money by buying a mini round baler instead of a square baler.

 

[fishheadbob]

I have less tractor than You and still get the job done easily. I run a vintage NH 479 mower ($2,000), a really vintage JD 14T baler ($500) a NH 55 rake ($600) and a NH 1012 stackwagon ($2300). Wear and tear parts come from Rural King or TSC or the JD dealer or ebay.

Lot more fun if you have help from customers, neighbors, or teenagers. I get $3 - $4 per bale depending on delivery or help. Put up 600 - 700 bales per year. do the math.. Run it as a 'business' for tax reasons. I sell out every year. Most customers have been with me for 20 years or more. Buy tools, welder(s), air compressors, you name it, to support the farm. The only skill you need is to read the weather. Just about all weather forecasts are entertainment value, not hay production value.

Best approach would be to tag along with a small, local hay producer to see what is involved. High value if you have animals of your own to feed.

I did something similar for a few decades and was happy as a clam when I sold the baler, rake, mower, elevator and related stuff. If you do some math on zzyb6's numbers 700 bales x $3 gives a gross of just over $2000. Start figuring your time spent maintaining and repairing older stuff because there's a good axiom about older equipment: "If you use it, it will break." Add in the cost of a storage facility to put up your hay until your customers want it. Teenagers expect to get paid for the hard labor, but don't pay them until all the hay is put up because once they get paid they'll realize there's easier ways to make low wages and won't return. If they don't return figure out your physical cost for unloading and stacking a few hundred square bales on your own.
Agriculture is a tough racket, you really have to love it and I do, but there are easier ways to earn a few dollars. I have a neighbor pushing 80 who still puts up 2000 or 3000 bales of hay annually with help from a 40 year old son. His business model is to sell a full kicker wagon of 130 square bales to his regulars. They drive it home, unload and get the wagon back by 10 A.M.. An older IH574, a JD 24T, an ancient self propelled NH haybine, and a bunch of sturdy wagons has to have added up but he has amortized most of that stuff over the last 40 years.