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 does hay yield per acre?
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.
How much hay can 15 acres produce?
Probably average 3000 (+/-) 40 pound bales, so 60 tons more or less! That would be a total for all cuttings taken.
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.
How much does it cost to farm 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.
How much money can you make per acre of alfalfa?
Over a three-year average, alfalfa returns a profit of $98.82/acre compared to a $44.77/acre return for corn and $39.68/acre for soybeans, Miller estimated using information from Midwestern farms compiled through the FINBIN database.
How much hay does a cow need in the winter?
Cows will voluntarily consume 2 percent of body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100 percent dry matter. If we assume that the hay is 92 percent dry matter or 8 percent moisture, then the cows will consume about 26 pounds per day on an “as-fed basis.”How many cows can you have per acre?
You should be able to keep between 0.5 and 1.1 cows per acre on average pasture. In general, rotational grazing may increase the cows-per-acre rate up to 30% compared to traditional grazing.
How many times a year can you harvest hay?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.
Article first time published onHow much does it cost to plant a hay field?
Costs generally are $200 to $300 per acre. Your cost for organic may be less but your expected yields will be alot less.
How much does a roll of hay sell for?
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.
How much does a bale of hay cost?
Hay QualityBale TypeMinimum Price Per TonGrade 1Small Square$160Large Square$85Large Round$65Grade 2Large Square$85
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 do I start a hay field?
For hay, mow the field with a rotary mower to remove problem plants by cutting them before they set viable seed. Till to control tenacious, perennial weeds, such as bedstraw, and then seed. The best time to seed is in May or in the first three weeks of August, when seed will survive and compete with weeds better.
How much does an acre of corn profit?
From 2013 to 2019, corn returns averaged $253 per acre, well below the 2019 projected return. The 2019 projected return is $89 per acre above the average 2013-2019 average return.
How much alfalfa will 10 acres produce?
The average total yield is 20-35 tons per hectare (or 8-14 tons per acre) per year (distributed in 5-6 cuts). Top yields (intensive farming) can exceed 40 tons per hectare or 16 tons per acre per year.
How many pounds to the acre Do you seed alfalfa?
Seeding rates should be between 12 and 15 pounds per acre. Prescribed seeding rates are designed to provide several times the seed needed to achieve optimal yield under ideal growing conditions.
Is alfalfa more profitable than corn?
As you can see below, using USDA & extension averages along with current market data, alfalfa may be up to $100 more profitable per acre than corn and even more so when compared to soybeans. Enter your own yield and related expenses to help determine your profitability.
What is standing hay worth per acre?
At the same time, though, realize the quality of first crop is usually slightly lower quality than that of second and third crop. So, if selling a single crop, price it according to both quality and quantity. Therefore, the price for this standing first crop could range anywhere between $46 and $68 per acre.
How many cattle do you need to make a living?
As a very rough estimate, anecdotal evidence suggests that around 70 dairy cattle or 150 beef cattle is enough to earn a full-time living from farming, although many farmers have several income streams and are not solely reliant on cows.
Can I raise a cow on 1 acre?
Yes you could raise a couple. There’s plenty of room on an acre you just have to provide food and water. Conventional wisdom suggests that one horse or cow would need 1.2 acres of good pasture and a mature bull or ox 1.5 acres. Short answer: Two to three, if you supplement the grazing with hay.
How many bales of hay does a cow need a day?
A 1200-pound cow, ready for processing, will require 36 pounds of forage per day based on the formula used here. Thirty-six pounds of hay is close to one small square bale of hay per day, taking into consideration some waste.
How much does 4x5 round bale weigh?
Bale Size (ft)Est. Bale Weight 2 (lb)Bale Weight After Storage Loss3 (lb)4×58007204×61,1531,0375×51,0009005×61,4411,297
Do cows need shelter in the winter?
Provide Proper Shelter Providing proper shelter for grazing cattle during cold weather is critical and can even reduce your feed costs, since chilled livestock will have increased energy requirements. … When you know there’s a winter storm coming, it’s best to keep cattle close to the barn or near a shelter.
What is the best hay to grow?
Alfalfa, clover and fescue grasses are popular hay types, as well as brome and timothy grasses. Oats and millet can also be useful for hay crops. The best hay to raise will depend not only on growing conditions, but also on the livestock that will eventually eat the hay and what their feed preferences may be.
How many times can you hay a field?
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.
Can you mow hay with dew on the grass?
Now as for nutrient value, the plants sugar content is highest at dusk but because of moisture we usually don’t want to cut hay at night. The best time is to start as soon as dew is off in the morning. … Don’t over work the hay, especially if it is alfalfa or clover. You lose leaf material.
How much is hay seed per acre?
Seeding Rate is 20 lbs per acre if using a seed drill to plant with in rows. If broadcasting seed by hand or with a broadcast spreader you will need 2 to 2.5 times more seed than the drill rate which is 40-50 lbs per acre.
How much does it cost to seed an acre of pasture?
In most cases, the cost to seed an acre of grass ranges from $3,500 to $6,400. Most seeds are sold to cover around 5,000 sq. ft. With that being said, an acre of grass is approximately 43,650 sq.
How fast does hay grow?
Grass will grow slightly faster in cooler weather than the legumes, such as alfalfa. Alfalfa grows best when the temperatures are hot. It typically takes approximately 60 days for new growth of alfalfa, 60 for mix hay, 60 for orchard grass, and 75-80 for timothy in Lincoln County.
