Hay business for 2013

NY 986 · Dec 9, 2013

Just wondering what everybody's take was on 2013. Last year saw fantastic prices with the drought but it seems a lot of guys were receiving over 175 dollars a ton even on rounds this year. I ought to put down another 15 acres to the 10 I have in now. Doing much more would mean a serious upgrade to my equipment fleet. My haybine needs to be replace but I already know what I want to do there.

MSS3020 · Dec 9, 2013

I live in Nebraska. Put up 3200 sm. sq. this year. Have about 400 left in shed. good moisture this year for our area..

old · Dec 9, 2013

Been getting $35 per big round 6X6 bales in the 1500-2000lbs range. And before any body say it NO I will not take one to the scale to be 100% sure how heavy one it they vary from bale to bale

JD Farmer · Dec 9, 2013

I took a load of 14 to the hay auction last week and got 110.00 a ton. Worked out to 62.00 a bale. Most I have got this season for them compared to an average of over 80.00 a bale last year. Bales weighed 650# this year and only 600# last year. Mixed grass hay both years and 4x5 bales. I expect the prices to go down over the winter.

Formerly PaMike · Dec 9, 2013

Lanc County Pa- Yields were VERY good. Most of my dairy customers are buying. Had lots of corn and hay this year so they wont buy untill they have to. Probably spring time. Also, a couple locals sold their cows and are cash cropping and selling hay, so there is even less demand and more supply. Still a market to sell to the hobby guys that have a few cattle/sheep etc. There is also the horse market if you feel like dealing with those people. I have had an ade running in the paper for rye straw rounds at $140/ton, heifer hay rounds at $140/ton and high moisure round at $50/bale(4 1/2 x 4).No sales, and only 2 calls in three weeks....

DaninKansas · Dec 9, 2013

The field price was $5 to $6 a square bale in 2013 for me. The same hay in the same field was about the same price in 2012. The draught didn't really sink in until my hay was done in 2012 - it just didn't grow back at all after it was cut do to lack of moister.

The big difference was in the winter of 2012-2013 people finally realized how short they and everyone else was on hay and prices went through the roof.

I had a buyer this summer claim to have witnessed alfalfa small squares hit $19 a bale at auction in Clay Center KS last winter. I don't think that will happen this year.

Adirondack case guy · Dec 9, 2013

Been real fortunate here at Clinton Canp Farm, central NY. A BTO Corperate beef operation bought major acerages here raising multi breeds of beefers. They run rotational pastures, with suplimentat hay bales. They buy all of our clear Alfalfa hay. We cut and windrow it, they round bale it when it is 65% or less moisture, and load it onto semi's and take it to their yards where they wrap it for bailage. It leaves the field at $75 bucks a bale 2000# average bales.
Loren, the Acg.

GordoSD · Dec 9, 2013

25 acres or so?

Case Nutty 1660 · Dec 9, 2013

here in NE Wyoming I got 150.00 a ton and ended up with just a bit over 300 ton this year, if the prices remain here I could actually make some decent money, but with the last few years as bad as they was here it will take a while to come back even at these prices but I am very thankful for what I got
cnt

DoubleR · Dec 9, 2013

I went to the local hay auction today in mid Mi. just to see. Small sqs went for anywhere from 5 to 7 bucks a bale depending on size and quality of bale, whether it was first or second cutting.

David G · Dec 9, 2013

Got between 75 and 125 for 1800 pound big bales and 4.50 for small square.

Pretty happy with that.

Wheat Farmer · Dec 9, 2013

Hay was much better in the Upper Arkansas Valley, Salida CO. $10-$17 per smalls.

NEIADan · Dec 9, 2013

Here in NE Iowa we fought the wet weather till July so almost no dry hay put up till then. After that it got very dry and the hay just stopped growing. I don't know of much new seeding that was even baled after the oats were taken. Our recent on farm sales have been $185 for 1st cut rounds and $250-300 for big squares of 2nd and third cut. We seeded 95 acres this past year and have another 75 scheduled for next year. Doesn't leave much time to enjoy the summer. We already have offers of $150/ton for grinding hay for 2014. Looks like there will still be a market

tommy_harrell · Dec 9, 2013

Old, have you been calling in on KS95's country sale?

Tommy

Formerly PaMike · Dec 9, 2013

Wow thats really good. Especially up in hay country where you guys are. You dont need it for the cows? We are lucky to get $70/bale after its wrapped and sitting in a stack. How big are your bales?

old · Dec 9, 2013

No have not used that radio ad site in years and also not been using the 103.7 in years. In the past I would but have to listened to either or called in to either in a very long time

tommy_harrell · Dec 9, 2013

Recently someone was advertising a similar size and price. Figured I would ask.

Tommy

old · Dec 9, 2013

Been selling to a guy who has off and on got bales from me in the past. Most years I do not even try to sell till Jan or Feb so as to get a better price but this year figured why not sell now. Ya I could have held out and got $50 a bale or more but this way he keeps coming back. In the years past I used those radio stations to find dead tractors and that is how and why I have to many tractors now. So I guess your in this area also then??

larryanderson · Dec 9, 2013

I had 265 acres of hay and sell everything by the ton in large squares or netwrapped rounds all stored inside a large hoop building.1st and 2nd cutting were good third hurt by no rain and we grazed some of 4th or left as it was just too thin to warrant the cost.We sell the top dairy quality for around $250 and grass around $200.Probably as good as $4.30 corn but takes more work.Everything related to row crop is around 30ft+ where hay is about 14ft at a time.

kyhayman · Dec 9, 2013

Hardest year I've ever had making good hay. Plenty of rain, 1 day too early, all season. Ended up with 3368 rounds about half worth selling and inside stored. Fall cut squares were very nice quality, good yields, just ran out of sunshine in October. Ended up with a shade over 5000. I did manage to buy some good inside rounds in season worth the money.

There is definitely a price break, everything I've seen inside stored priced under 30 is sold, everything over that is moving but slow. Outside stored there's a tug of war between people wanting to pay 12.00 a roll and people wanting to sell at 25.00. So far the buyers are ruling.

I'm moving around 100 rolls a week, maybe a few more than that some weeks. Just about where I want to be. Priced the same for the last 3 years on rounds and for the last 5 on squares. Twine tied inside 4x5's 45.00, net wrapped, 55.00. Squares with alfalfa for 6.50 an without 5.00.

DeltaRed · Dec 9, 2013

Here in WesternColorado,hay was'short' because of the drought.Then the late summer monsoon hit with a vengance.Not much good hay here,lots of rain damaged here,Hay prices seem to be falling.I havent sold any hay in months.

Tx Jim · Dec 10, 2013

I've been selling 4X5.5 netwrapped 900-1000 # fertilized Coastal from $60-$90 per bale depending on the quality/color of the hay.

Bret4207 · Dec 10, 2013

As far as production, it was horrible up here this year. The only guys doing well were those making haylage, either in silos or wrapped. Dry hay was real tough to get this year due to wet weather. Worst year I've ever had, just terrible. I'm way short, gonna have to buy some.

cannonball · Dec 10, 2013

you must have left out something...2000 divided by 650...I see 3 bales per ton..110 divided by 3

JD Farmer · Dec 10, 2013

Ya, lol.....was 210 a ton darn CRS!

chevytaHOE5674 · Dec 10, 2013

Had a great crop of hay this season, it was wet early in the summer but by August it dried out and we were able to get hay made.

As far as selling everybody UP here had a decent season and nothing is really moving. Last year I could have sold 10x more hay than I had, this year I haven't sold a single bale. But with our winter starting early and cold (already have 2 feet of snow on the ground with more everyday and temps below zero), I have a feeling that come March people are going to be scrambling for any hay they can get.

tommy_harrell · Dec 16, 2013

Northern miller county

johndeerefan · Dec 17, 2013

Here's an internet hay exchange site. You can view your state to see what the going rates are.

http://www.hayexchange.com/tools/ave_price_calc.php

Hay business for 2013

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