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Originally Posted by steff bugielski
I still think it would cost less than the price of hay around here.
steff
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That can be a dangerous assumption.
Making hay requires perfect timing. One needs to beat the weather, and getting the hay exactly dry enough. Alfalfa esp, bale it 2 hours early & it is too wet & spoils; bale it 2 hours late & the leaves are too dry & you leave all the protien in the field, only bale stems....
50 acres is quite a bit. Is this grass hay, and do you get 1, 2, or 3 cuttings a year from it? Typically grass hay will give you a heavy 1st cutting, and 1/2 - 3/4 as many bales in a second cutting.
Your issue will be timing. If all of you have real jobs, a bad week of rain can totally ruin your harvest. Be prepared for that reality.
Otherwise, many people just like to make their own hay. I can understand that.
You likely won't save anything, but you will enjoy....
Now, 50 acres of good hay is a lot - I get 50-80 bales an acre the first cutting, and 25-60 bales per acre the second cutting. Are you & your neighbor prepared to handle & store 3500 - 7000 bales in a summer?
It typically costs 50% of the crop in fuel, twine, & repairs. Add to that the labor & risk of a failed (rain/ drought) crop. Just for some thought.
--->Paul
