Cost to Bale Hay?

Traditional Farmer · Jul 10, 2018

Anyone figured what it costs them to make a bale of hay? Tractors,balers,rakes,fuel,etc etc not including the cost of the hay land as that varies widely just the mechanical end of things.

JD Seller · Jul 10, 2018

It depends on the hay yield but I used to figure $12-15 a bale. This is 5x6 bale.

Bruce from Can. · Jul 10, 2018

Local custom guys want $8-10.00 just to bale, four foot or five same price. Custom cutting runs $12?15 per acre. Too many variables to say exactly what it cost me to put up a bale. Just know the custom rates are going to cost more than doing hay my self.. timlyness of harvest has a value too

Buddy · Jul 10, 2018

Don't forget to figure in your time. I am so glad I stopped haying.

LAA · Jul 10, 2018

Out of pocket fuel and twine for 5X6 bales runs about $4.00 per bale. Baling is roughly 50% of the work my tractors do all year so prorated for upkeep and based on an average of 1200 bales per year add $1.50 per bale. Upkeep of hay equipment based on 1200 bales adds $2.00 per bale. 50% of insurance on tractors, equipment, barns and liability add $1.50 per bale. I don't figure my labor or depreciation. So $9.00 per bale is pretty close.

Tx Jim · Jul 10, 2018

One important thing to consider is if one can diagnose/repair equipment or have dealer repair most mechanical breakdowns.

My guess for cutting/raking/rd baling 4X5.5 bales is $12 per bale.

Bud Sather in MT · Jul 10, 2018

All things considered, if you do everything I put a figure of $40 per ton. Don't plan on wearing out my equipment for someone else benefit. Bud

Bruce from Can. · Jul 10, 2018

Just something to chew on, it cost me .85 cents a bale just to put on 3 wraps of net on each bale.. so if I made 50 bales per hour, and used $15.00 worth of diesel to do this, it would take just over $42 bucks in net wrap.

Andy Martin · Jul 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:01:53 07/10/18) Just something to chew on, it cost me .85 cents a bale just to put on 3 wraps of net on each bale.. so if I made 50 bales per hour, and used $15.00 worth of diesel to do this, it would take just over $42 bucks in net wrap.

That net wrap is not good to chew on.

We do pretty good with two wraps.

ptfarmer · Jul 10, 2018

2 wraps of net is all you should ever need. Around here to cut, rake, and bale its a $250 and up minimum depending on how many acres/bales per acre.

Tx Jim · Jul 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 10:01:53 07/10/18) Just something to chew on, it cost me .85 cents a bale just to put on 3 wraps of net on each bale.. so if I made 50 bales per hour, and used $15.00 worth of diesel to do this, it would take just over $42 bucks in net wrap.

Bruce
Are you sure your Kubota uses $15 of fuel per hr? My Kubota M7040 uses about $6 of fuel an hr pulling my JD 467 rd baler. My JD 4255 uses a little less than $8 of fuel per hr pulling my rd baler.

It cost me $1.06 per bale to apply 2 wraps of netwrap to Texas size(4X5.5) bales instead of those smaller Canadian bales. :wink: LOL.

Texasmark1 · Jul 11, 2018

Up here it's $25 on a 4x6 and I just bought 55 at $45 delivered.

Tx Jim · Jul 12, 2018

(quoted from post at 20:33:47 07/11/18) Up here it's $25 on a 4x6 and I just bought 55 at $45 delivered.

Did you have to borrow a tractor to unload 4X6 bales or could your Bransom handle the task? :lol:

Please check your email I sent you an email

Cost to Bale Hay?

Traditional Farmer

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JD Seller

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Bruce from Can.

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Buddy

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LAA

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Tx Jim

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Bud Sather in MT

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Bruce from Can.

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Andy Martin

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ptfarmer

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Tx Jim

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Texasmark1

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Tx Jim

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