what to charge on haying?

redforlife · Jun 5, 2016

I recently mowed and raked some alfalfa for a neighbor. Somebody else is going to be hired for the baleing. My question is, how much to charge per acre for the mowing? And how much to charge per acre for the rakeing? I provided my labor, and furnished the equipment, and the fuel.

flying belgian · Jun 5, 2016

$65.00/hr.

redforlife · Jun 5, 2016

Do you know what that comes down to per acre? I got to charge by the acre. And I didn't really log my time on it.

flying belgian · Jun 5, 2016

To many variables to charge by the acre. Was it one 10 acre field or ten 1 acre fields? Is the neighbor across the road from you or 5 miles down the road? Was it a perfect rectangle field or 20 sides following along a stream? Was it clear alfalfa or lots of wire grass in it? Do you have a five and a half ft. disk mower or a 7' sickle mower? or a 9' haybine?
Try and remember about how many hours it took you and how many acres it is and do the math. Then next time tell him you are charging by the hour from the time you leave your place until the time you return. That is most fair for both parties. Tell him you will do the best job you can in the least amount of time but what ever it is, it is. If he asks why it cost more this time then last? Tell him it took longer. Just as simple as that. I've been doing it that way for years. Never any complaints.

redforlife · Jun 6, 2016

Well, it was just one field. Triangular. No terraces. It was just down the road from me. 9 foot sickle mower. And a single side delivery rake. Older tractors so it probly took longer than it should of just because of not having any faster gears. But I figured that was my problem because of just using what I had. Charging him by the acre will be OK with me, and fair to him.

craigco · Jun 7, 2016

Around here $25 to $45 an acre to cut around $10 to rake.

David G · Jun 7, 2016

No one pays per hour for field work around here, especially if equipment is out of date.

I pay by acre, with adjustments if needed.

dmiller · Jun 7, 2016

I calculate the time it takes me to travel to and from field (with each piece of equipment involved).

Then the time it takes to work the field for each task. (Implement width time MPH)/10 = acres per hour covered at 80% efficiency (this accounts for some stops, overlap etc.)

Then estimate your fuel/hr of use (can get a rough idea from tractordata.com). Include any extras such as baling twine if baling) This will give you a direct cost of doing the work. Add 20% to this to cover things like those hours towards the next oil change etc.

Decide what you want to make per hour for your time as an operator

I come up with $25 an acre to swath, $1 a bale for small squares, $10 a bale for 1,000lb rounds.
Depends a lot on how productive the ground is but it works out that on most places this is nearly the same as a 60/40 split (If I get the 60).

showcrop · Jun 8, 2016

I used to hay a farm charging by the bale. They put a lot of money into upgrading the fields, and I was making a lot of bales in not a lot of time. Then they stopped liming and fertilizing and over a few years it went to not a lot of bales in the same amount of time. I converted to charging for equipment time. I charged around $65.00/hr for mowing and baling and around 45 for tedding and raking. These are based on size and dollar value of equipment. You have a very good idea of your time involved. As has been said charging by the acre is going to have to vary a lot by what the ground is like. If you have to charge by the acre, figure your time first, then convert it to acreage.

GordoSD · Jun 10, 2016

Are you using a 16 foot NH swather at 20 acres per hour, or a Farmall M with a 7 foot sickle at 4 acres per hour? (non conditioned)?

Nick m · Jun 11, 2016

I charge the neighbors $30/acre to mow,ted,and rake, then $1/bale on top of that to square bale. I think it's a little on the cheap side. More of a favor than anything.

kyhayman · Jun 21, 2016

Anymore I charge $100 an hour for anything on tires and $125 for anything on tracks. Is it high, sure, probably 25% above going rate but we are booked solid custom work, excavating, and construction for 8 weeks out.

Just yesterday I told one of the guys who works for me and is always being a pest for a check on days other than pay day that I'm going to start charging $100 for check writing outside regular pay time as well.

RustyS · Jul 13, 2016

I agree with flying belgain. If your equipment is smaller you can drop your price per hour to reach a fair deal. We quote a price to the customer that we can come down on when we hand over a bill. If the hay is thicker and the field better than we thought the final price will go down.

Your equipment wears by the hour and money needs to be set aside for repair and replacement. I have been told that my prices are too high; usually by people that wont spend the money on the equipment or the effort to repair it. Your customer is paying you for a product and a portion of the repairs, maintenance, and storage of this equipment.

what to charge on haying?

redforlife

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flying belgian

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redforlife

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flying belgian

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redforlife

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craigco

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David G

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dmiller

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showcrop

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GordoSD

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Nick m

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kyhayman

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RustyS

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