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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

What is the best way to start selling square bales

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Willy S

01-25-2005 19:31:18




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I have started putting up square bales of hay and had some luck selling it. It is good bermuda grass hay,but I read where people are growing several hundred acres of hay and selling it. Where do they get their start in the market? Besides just advertising in farm magazines ,what would be other methods to show the market what kind of hay that I have and meet the people so they will know that I am honest. Thanks for any help.

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luther

01-28-2005 21:37:00




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
Willy, I'm not sure of your location, but if you have bermuda grass of any quality it should be worth 100/ton easily, don't be compelled by those articles you read and see about those hi-producing farms, remember, they had too start somewhere also, there is a market out there to start with, bermuda is a top seller. Good luck!! I got lucky and got hooked in with a horse shoe-er , he hooked me up with a few customers and it grew from there. Now selling 10000 plus!

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RickL

01-27-2005 05:44:34




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
Word of mouth is your best seller!!!!!
happy return customers and it will sell itself.
BE HONEST
You will have to have several different types also to make really work
straight grass
grass mix
straight alfalfa
alfalfa mix etc
also remember the customer is always right regardless in whats right for the animal. Here is another big one EYE APPEAL and your farmstead appearence,first impressions are very important sales tools
At present now the only advertise I do is my new website www.ricksales.com and lettering on my delivery vehicle. loading service,delivery,storing,prebookings,these can also become hugh factors in your hay business. Small bales are best sellers
large rounds are tougher,don't do unless rained on stuff
large squares so far I can't give them away.

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PaMike

01-27-2005 09:27:00




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to RickL, 01-27-2005 05:44:34  
Its amazing how different things are in different areas. In my area small squares still sell well, but the big squares have really taken off. People would much rather have them over rounds. But I am in a big dairy area, so alot of people pull cakes off the bale to feed heifers. I talked to a guy last week that sells a fair amount of hay. He said he can barely give away inline wrapped bales, and it was nice stuff...Go figure.

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kyhayman

01-26-2005 18:01:23




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
Most people I know with large production (me included) started small and grew with the market. I used to bale 5 or 6 acres of alfalfa. Tried newspapers, hay brokers, selling at a wholesale to the co-op, hay auctions, putting hay out by the road. Then did lots of custom work. First year I sold out in December and people were still calling. Kept expanding as long as I sold out and people were still calling. Gradually increased production to match market. After about 10 years I began producing abouve what I projected to sell out of knowing I might have some carry over. Thats when my business took off. Tried to never flood the market and never ever discounted (if I do my customers will wait for the sale). I peaked at 10,000 squares, if I dont ship a lot I cant sell that much locally so I cut back to 8000. Top out, peak production with the land I have would be around 86,000 squares. With the decline in dairy around here I cant sell that much. Price of fuel sets the US hay price. There are hay surplus areas of the continent. Western Canada can produce hay that most of us only dream of. Its shipping that premium hay that is expensive, not the hay itself. Build your local market first, most hay is not shipped long distances except in the very top of the line protein market (alfalfa). 600 miles 1 way with a load of 600 bales will stick $2 a bale in freight on the load. Nationally we are not seeing a lot of growth in hay eating livestock numbers. Dairy numbers are dropping like a stone in a lot of areas (we lose 1 a day here in KY), big horse farms are pretty constant, small 1-2 horse hobby farms are growing but they cant take a semi load (they want a pickup load). I tried to always make sure I kept enough mouths around that at worst any excess I had could be fed in 2 years.

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Missouri Boy

01-26-2005 14:39:26




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
In Missouri we have a hay directory which I believe is compiled by the University Extension Service. Check with your county agent.



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Dave H (MI)

01-26-2005 10:17:04




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
It's like any other business, Willy. Research your market and come up with a strategy. I do a relatively small quantity of hay compared to many people. I looked around and figured out that there were not many cattle in my area so no round bales. Round bales to hard to handle anyhow and the return on investment was lower. Saw a lot of horses around the area, so I did a flier and stuck them on their mailbox flags. Ran an ad in the local paper. Put a sign down by the road. Put several hundred bales on wagons and waited nearly dying of fright everytime it clouded up because I have no good inside storage for hay and what I did have I was scared to put the hay in there for fear of a fire. Inside of two days trucks and trailers started to show up. I sold 20 here and 40 there and 200 around the corner.
Before I knew it they were all gone. A day later it started raining and lasted a week. Most of those people come back and bought more but I still have to advertise. May sound silly, but I take a lot of pride in a bale of my hay. Everytime I cut strings in the dead of winter and smell that fresh green smell it pleases me greatly. Anyhow, that's how we do it.

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James in NC

01-26-2005 07:48:42




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
Put an ad in your local paper.



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tugboat tim

01-26-2005 00:10:56




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to Willy S, 01-25-2005 19:31:18  
Well I hear lotsa people complain there is no money to be had at hay auctions I would agree to some extent. You are going to get market price on what your hay is worth. I think if you have any hay auctions remotely close I would take some there because it will give you a chance to compare your hay to others mutch better than yours and mutch worse but you should learn what folks are lookin for and what their willin to pay there's a lot that can be learned there give it a chance. good luck tugboat tim

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Ken Macfarlane

01-26-2005 10:06:35




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 Re: What is the best way to start selling square b in reply to tugboat tim, 01-26-2005 00:10:56  
What market are you targeting? High quality hay tested etc?

We have had luck by getting our name in at riding stables and boarding places. If you have good quality hay people will notice there and find out your name.

This year was cheating a bit as there is a hay shortage up here and people are desparate. Try local hobby farm magazines and events.

Large rounds are a different type of sale, you almost have to have a network of people you know to sell them.

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