Brown says using 2019 numbers, it costs about $400 an acre to plant corn on ground that may yield 150 bushels per acre. “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. “The potential is there to make some pretty good money on hay.”
How much does an acre of hay produce?
The average U.S. dry hay yield (all types) dropped from 2.52 tons per acre in 2016 to 2.44 tons per acre in 2017. For alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mixtures, the average yield declined from 3.45 tons per acre in 2016 to 3.32 tons per acre in 2017.
How much is hay worth?
The Price of Hay Bales By Weight
| Hay Quality | Bale Type | Maximum Price per Ton |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Large Square | $275 |
| Large Round | $210 | |
| Grade 2 | Large Square | $180 |
| Large Round | $155 |
How much hay can 15 acres produce?
Probably average 3000 (+/-) 40 pound bales, so 60 tons more or less!
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 many bales of hay can you get per acre?
100 bales
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 many times can you harvest hay in a year?
In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year. The first cutting generally has the largest yield.
Why do farmers leave rolls of hay in the field?
The reason they are in empty fields is that because of their good keeping qualities, you can bale them up and then just leave them where the baler spat them out until you need them – so reduces handling and storage.
How long is hay good for?
You can store hay indefinitely if the stack is managed correctly; although, in humid climates, using hay within three years of harvest is ideal. Hay growers need to bale it at correct moisture levels because if it’s baled too damp the hay will generate heat, which leads to molding.
How many cows can an acre support?
You may have heard a rule-of-thumb is that it takes 1.5 to 2 acres to feed a cow calf pair for 12 months. That means we should be able to have 10 to 13 cows. Let’s see how this rule-of-thumb holds up. It looks like our rule-of-thumb held up pretty good, 11 cows on 20 acres, is 1.8 acres per cow.
How much does it cost to start a hay farm?
You would also need to buy the seeds. We gauged it to be about $5,000 worth of seed for 50 acres. Sales The idea would be to sell the hay at around $4.50 per small square bale of hay. For good hay, this in’t unreasonable. Horse farmers are looking for good hay, and they’re willing to pay for it.
What makes a hay farm a good business?
A hay business depends on two things: cooperative weather and a reliable customer base. You can get by with fewer acres in a climate that grants you several cuttings per year, and an eager customer base guarantees fast-paced sales that can reduce or even eliminate your storage requirements.
How much hay can you cut per acre?
Your yield depends on the type of grass used, as well as soil and weather conditions. Typically, though, expect between one and two tons per acre per cutting.
How to make more money as a farmer?
The time and labor commitment for farming work makes it important to have someone to help take care of your children as you oversee the farm. To increase how much money farmers make, they can increase their production, qualify for government payments they’re eligible for, find off-farm income sources or seek managerial positions as farm managers.
