Does custom haying pay off?

Super Steve · Jul 6, 2011

Just wondering if the math works out in the operators favour on custom haying?

Thinking of upgrading to some newer stuff and wondering if i can ofset some of the cost by doing custom work. Right now the only hay equipment id keep is our bar rake and 90hp tractor, thinking about getting a discbine, a bigger tractor and id love a big square baler but probably a decent round baler.

We have 60 acres of our own hay

whats the numbers people are charging for stuff vs the cost of the equipment?

VicS · Jul 6, 2011

There is a young man in our community who started farming with a rented combine, auger wagon, and tractor. Doing custom work. Now he has a new house big shop 3 semi's one new plus a shed full of John Deere;s. He is one tracked mind, work work work.25 hrs a day. He is farming over 3000 acres I think. So you can do it if you really want to!

tomNE · Jul 7, 2011

I did custom hay work. It works well on alfalfa if u can get the work. on grass hay; you need to charge about double of alfalfa. it's much harder on equipment. I also charged by the hour as some peoples acerage figures made very little common sense!
another tidbit i learned was keep your rates up and reward the quick payers (like 10days or less) with a 10% discount. this keeps your books current.

showcrop · Jul 7, 2011

I do custom hay for a fairly well off horse stable. For ten years or so after they bought the place it kept getting better because they had an excavation contractor come in repeatedly to add, enlarge and remove rocks from fields. They were also liming and fertilizing. The crop went from around 500 bales up to around1,000 but now it's on the other side because they don't get time to lime and fertilize and it's back down to around 500. I get paid by the bale so I am doing nearly the same work for half the pay. I will be going up significantly this year. I would advise charging by the hour or acre.

Eldo case · Jul 7, 2011

I have done it for 35 years and I don't think it does. You look at the cost of every thing and when you work it and get it paid for you need to up grade for more new stuff. The cycle don't stop. You just work for the bank. Then you have every one wanting their hay put up at the same time. Trying to work around the weather and season makes for hell. I find myself doing customer hay before mine allot of the time.

Does custom haying pay off?

Super Steve

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VicS

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tomNE

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showcrop

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Eldo case

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