I have about 10 acres of what was mostly hay field before I bought the place. When I bought it, the whole place had been cut to look like a golf course. The first year, I cut the whole shebang with a finishing mower, and because it was my first year with a tractor I actually enjoyed it. The second year, it began to get old, and a neighbor cut one field, maybe 3 acres, for hay and got six round bales. I was happy to get it cut and just let him have the hay. I don't even know what the main grass species is, much less the quality of the hay, but it looks pretty much like other hay fields in this area. This year, I'd really like to find someone to cut about 4 acres total for the hay, if it could be cut for the value of the hay. That is, I don't look to make money, but I don't want to pay to get it cut if the hay is worth enough to make it worthwhile. The neighbor who cut it last year is getting on in years and isn't interested. Is it likely I could find someone who would be interested in such a small acreage, even if the hay is free for the cutting?
This varies all over the place. Some people pay to have it cut, others get it cut for free, and still others get paid for the opportunity.
If it's good hay, around here , you'll either get it done for free or you could it advertise it as "standing hay for sale." Again, I'll qualify around here, anyone who pays to get their hay cut is being taken for a serious ride.
If the hay is decent, you woudn't have to pay to have it cut around here, either. If you have a use for some of it, you may find someone to cut it on shares, or to pay you a set price per bale.
Thanks guys. I have the name of a local who runs about 150 head of cattle and is said to be interested in small plots of hay. I'll see what deal he offers, but getting it cut free would be acceptable to me, at least this year. I'll try to learn a bit more about all this for next year. As to quality, I 'd eat it if I was a cow. [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
It's all going to depend on the quality. Grass hay is usually pretty cheap, $20-30 per bale. Figure it costs about $15/bale to bale hay yourself and unless the hay is pretty high quality it's much easier for somebody to just buy it rather than travel to cut it somewhere and then have to haul the bales etc. For 4 acres I don't know too many guys that would waste their time with it if it wasn't really close.
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I don't know too many guys that would waste their time with it if it wasn't really close.
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Thats the key.
If you were a ~mile away I would do it. Since I would not have to haul equipment, I could just drive over on the tractor.
That's what I'm looking at. The fellow I'm trying to get in touch with cuts hay at a neighbor's place just down the road, and he's not much farther away himself. On the other hand, this is probably a good hay year around here. At least it's a good hay year in my fields! If I can't find someone who will cut it as hay I may have to sell the individual shoots as lumber! [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
Where in middle Missouri are you? I am in north middle Missouri. 10 miles east of Macon. If you were within tractor driving distance I would jump on your hay field. I have been looking for up to 20 acres for hay local.
I'm just outside of Columbia, probably too far from you to make the small acreage worthwhile. I don't recall how many bales the fella got...10 to 15 maybe....but he's just down the road from me so it makes sense for him. I've only been through Macon a couple of times. That is on 63, isn't it, north of Moberly? You might try advertising that you'll cut small acreages for the hay, on shares perhaps. I bet the number of folks like us who have small acreage they'd like to get cut is increasing. Lots of folks buying their ten acres and then finding out just how much mowing that can be!
He was probably happy to have the extra hay this year with the hot and dry weather we had. I guess the second cuttings were pretty slim. Our place was only cut the one time.
Chuck
P.S. I read my earlier posts and see that he got 11 bales.
Yup, we're just east of macon,but you're right macon's north of moberly and south of kirksville.I planned to put an ad in the adfinder closer to spring. I used to live outside of fulton,and I worked in Columbia at MBS. As a matter of fact ,I'm going to Columbia in the morning to homedepot.
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