what to charge?

MARK ROBKE · May 30, 2015

I always bale my own hay,and,now days, I roll it all(almost). I have a possible job of square baling some first cutting for a new neighbor.It's right next door-no travel time,clean field,been mowed every year,but am unsure of a fair/going rate to charge.I would mow with disc mower,ted,rake, and square bale,dropped on the ground for him.What do those of you who do custom work usually charge?Thanks,Mark

Bruce from Can. · May 30, 2015

I do not do custom work but local rates for cutting with a disc mower are $20.00 per acre , small square bales, $1.00 each. May sound pricey but, can you do it for less and still make a buck?

ArleninOr · May 30, 2015

Mark, am on the west coast and we charge $3.00 per bale. Cut,ted, rake and bale laid on the ground. YMMV.

David G · May 30, 2015

Iowa State University publishes a document with typical pricing for each farm operation, your local university might publish one too.

gtractorfan · May 30, 2015

Back in the '60's we used to custom bale with the New Holland 68 for 10 cents a bale. Could get better than 200 bales per hour so that was "good money". Course everything is pretty much 10x more now.

sotxbill · May 30, 2015

Down here if good enough field, it's on halves... meaning there is lots of grass and more than 7 acres.. Small fields and thin growing fields are a custom quote.

JOCCO · May 30, 2015

Figure the going rate for square bales in your area. Let's say $4 if he is buying charge $2 -3 unless you do half's and you sell your share.

super99 · May 30, 2015

Don't know if this helps you or not. I paid a neighbor $1.50/bale to bale and load 2 loads of straw last summer. NW Illinois. Chris

flying belgian · May 30, 2015

I charge $65.00/hr.

showcrop · May 31, 2015

I used to put hay in for a horse stable. Starting out they had mediocre land, and I charged them by the bale accordingly. Then they reclaimed some ground, and had the same contractor dig up the rocks on the biggest field. I was putting in around 800 bales at that point. Then they stopped liming and fertilizing and the yield dropped way off. I switched over to charging for equipment time at that point, and didn't they whine! After two more years I pulled out.

MARK ROBKE · May 31, 2015

Thanks guys,for all your responses.I will give him a price based on your inputs and my thoughts.I was guesstimating his hay would cost him about $2.00 a bale depending on yield and time spent.Mark

what to charge?

MARK ROBKE

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Bruce from Can.

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ArleninOr

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David G

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gtractorfan

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sotxbill

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JOCCO

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super99

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flying belgian

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showcrop

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MARK ROBKE

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