The perils of selling hay

Be careful with that moldy hay. That's how Warfarin was discovered!

The mold produces a micotoxin that causes internal bleeding in mammals. Bunch of cows died from it in Wisconsin and researchers traced it to a mold from damp hay. They then realized this would be a great toxin for killing rats!

Maybe sign a bill of sale stating that they will pick up their hay within 24 hours, or some stated time frame, and if not they forfeit their rights.

Your old man is a good guy, who has no trouble sleeping at night- but these folks really took advantage of that!

Thanks for all the good suggestions. Just a couple of things to make it a bit clearer. The buyers had paid up front for the hay so it was a real surprise that they didn't pick it up right away. I sure don't have any money to toss away like that.
We don't have a hay barn so we really couldn't store any hay. And DH is still recovering from a broken back and the surgery that put him back together so he tries to avoid doing any 'extra' work (he has enough to do with building stuff!) Anyway, we now have some shelters that we can use for the few bales we are keeping for the duckhouse.
We had another buyer who did pick up hay this week while it was being baled and they are 'happy campers' as are we. Very likely we'll deal with them again next year.
All in all, it was a learning experience for us and together with all your great input, we will be better prepared for next year.
And yep, DH is a good guy

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His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. ~Gene Hill~

Magnolia Tx They are going for $4-6 per bale and they empty multiple 18 wheelers every weekend. People lined up. They keep them covered so they are fresh/dry.

Hey Runestone, let me just add that, if you go up in price I'd wager that you will have zero problems. People who buy for even $2-3 in the field are easier to deal with than $1 type folks. It's just generally true.

The cheapast I ever sold hay in the field was $1.75 a bale, and that was in 1993. We quit squares then. Too much work, hard to find help, and as you know, it nearly always is threatening to rain. My last straw was when I came out of the loft in our oak barn and found a helper kid smoking a cigarette in the barn.

The guy across from me (rich man) one year square baled his hay straw and used leased gathering equipment. That was a trip to watch! The truck rolls along, the bales get picked up in a chute, assembled into a square, then set by an arm as the next stack on the trailer.

Check it out...

http://www.ridzonfarms.com/

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Jim Steele
Sweetpea Farms
"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Robert Gates