How much does a bale of hay cost?

The Price of Hay Bales By Weight
Hay Quality Bale Type Average Price
Prime Large Square $216
Large Round $195
Grade 1 Small Square $229
Large Square $177

How much does a bag of hay cost?

From the hay market, square bales, on average, will cost you between $3 and $10 per bale, but some farmers prefer selling their hay per pound, in which case such a bale will be around 50 pounds.

How much does a load of hay cost?

The Internet Hay Exchange lists average prices of $121 a ton for grass hay and $165 for alfalfa. Save money by buying in bulk, as in a semi-truckload, or buying bales still in the field.

How much is a bale of hay 2020?

Small square bales averaged $4.60 a bale (range of $2.00 to $6.00). Large square bale straw averaged $64.00 per bale (a range of $40.00 to $90.00). Large round bale straw averaged $58.00 per bale (a range of $40.00 – $85.00). In Nebraska, hay sold steady, demand is light in 2020.

Is straw or hay cheaper?

Straw is far less expensive than hay in our area, selling for under $4/square bale. … Since hay is more nutritious but more expensive, we buy hay solely for the horses to eat. Since straw is cheaper, dried and therefore less likely to mold or attract moisture, we buy straw for the backyard chicken coop and nesting boxes.

How many square bales is an acre?

With an average bale weight of around 40 pounds (with our Abbriata small square baler or any of our mini round balers), that’s 100 bales to the acre for a first cutting.

How much is hay for cows?

Feeding hay to cattle is expensive. Recent analyses show that hay costs between $0.02 and $0.07 per pound of dry matter; usually more than double the cost for the same amount of nutrients from pasture. Hay is expensive because: It requires a large investment in equipment.

How big is a bale of hay?

Rectangle Bales
Size Dimension(L x H x W) Weight
2 stringed bale 36 inches x 19 inches x 16 inches 40 to 75 lbs.
3 stringed bale 44 inches x 22 inches x 15 inches 100 to 140 lbs.
Half ton 6 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft 1000 lbs.
1 Ton 8 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft 2000 lbs.

How much is an acre of hay worth?

He says it costs about $297 per acre to seed and prepare hay ground. “You are going to get more than three years out of that, but if we use three years, that’s about $100 per acre per year,” Brown says. “If you are getting $125 per ton for quality hay, you are going to see a profit of $51 per ton, or $204 per acre.

How many small bales of hay can you get from 10 acres?

I.e. 10 acres would make about 1,000 bales.

How much hay can 15 acres produce?

Member. Probably average 3000 (+/-) 40 pound bales, so 60 tons more or less! That would be a total for all cuttings taken.

Is it cheaper to buy hay or make it?

In most environments where forage production is based on natural rainfall, you can almost always buy hay cheaper than you can produce it. Most farmers and ranchers initially don’t believe this. … When full cost of production is accounted for, hay generally costs between $70 and $140/ton to produce.

How much hay will 100 acres produce?

At 65lbs per bale (which can vary significantly, but whatever), that’s about 77 bales. So for 100 acres that’s about 7700 bales or about 250 tons of dry hay.

How many acres do you need to grow hay?

You don’t need hundreds of acres to start out. In fact, with today’s equipment designed for small, hobby farms, you can grow and harvest on less than 10 acres. But, depending on your growing season, you’ll likely have to charge more per bale than a competitor farming 10 times that size.

What is the machine called that cuts hay?

tedder
A tedder (also called hay tedder) is a machine used in haymaking. It is used after cutting and before windrowing, and uses moving forks to aerate or “wuffle” the hay and thus speed up the process of hay-making. The use of a tedder allows the hay to dry (“cure”) better, which results in improved aroma and color.

When should I buy hay?

The most economical time to buy hay is in the summer, during and right after the growing season, because prices will go up later in the year, as the supply dwindles. But if you stock up on hay, you’ll need to store it carefully.

How much should I charge to cut hay?

A common rule of thumb is that it costs approximately $50 per ton to cut, rake, bale and stack hay at the edge of the field. That figure may be lower if doing lots of acres and it may be higher when doing small pieces.

What kind of mower do you use for hay?

Sickle Bar Mowers

Used for hay and general mowing, this piece of hay equipment has triangular blades that move back and forth and cut any vegetation in between. Sickle bar mowers are light and need less horsepower.

How do you bale hay by hand?

Why do you fluff hay?

Fluffing is best done in the opposite direction of the cut and is most useful for increasing hay’s drying rate after heavy rain. … It flips and fluffs the hay while keeping it piled up in the windrow, which results in a windrow that allows air to move through it for improved drying.

Can hay be too dry to bale?

While hay with exceptionally low moisture might not be at risk of growing mold and bacteria, that’s because much of that hay’s nutritional value is already gone. When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off.

How much does a hay mower cost?

For harvesting 4-foot-by-5-foot round bales, estimated new equipment costs are $25,000 for a rotary mower/conditioner, $5,500 for a 10-foot rake, $35,000 for the baler and $55,000 for an adequate-sized tractor.

What equipment do you need for hay?

Hay Equipment

A compact tractor is the staple of every operation, but mowers, conditioners, hay rakes, balers, and sometimes hay tedders and bale wrappers are also needed. Pay close attention to make sure your tractor has enough engine horsepower to meet the horsepower requirement for each implement.

How long does a bale of hay stay fresh?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

How long should hay sit before baling?

As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available.