Bailing hay in your area

What was the going price for baling 1500 lb round bales in your area, twine wrapped. I know fuel prices are gonna make it more this year. Reason I ask, the guy that bales a lot of smaller fields, 30 acres more or less, of hay around here the past few years has spent the past several weeks, maybe a month, in the hospital with covid. Doesn't look like he is gonna make it. This past week, I've had several neighbors ask me to bale for them. He usually baled on shares. I don't need hay, but I do have a trailer I can haul it to the hay auction at the sale barn. Thanks guys.

Edited by 200Tom1 - 24 Mar 2022 at 9:30pm

Single windrow $15.

I make 4x5 bales that weigh average 800 lbs for grass. I get $8 for baleing. On custom work where I mow,rake and bale I charge $20 per bale if I don't haul.last year net wrap went from $200 a roll to $240! I haven't priced this year's.

i had about 5 acres of alfalfa i really didn't have time to mess with, called a neighbor that did hay around the area, struck up a deal with him to come cut/rake/bale the hay for half! he took his half of the bales when finished...then i get a bill in the mail for baling my half of the hay, so i sent him a bill back for the hay he took! never heard another peep out of him!

Double up the furrows and it's only half the trips to bale. With our baler it also seems to bale better with heavier furrows.

With a single windrow you have to drive like your drunk! Weave back and forth so that the hay feeds across the bale. If you drive straight in a single window you will make bales shaped like a football! 1st cutting I make single windows so that the hay drys better.2nd and 3rd I make double windows each window just touching the other so the hay feeds evenly and I can drive straight. A round baler bales better if you can keep it full.

Two windrows thrown together  make better bales.

Edited by Clay - 30 Mar 2022 at 10:10pm