[arborexplora]

Hello,

I sold some hay to a local lady some time back as she feared her field wouldn't get cut. On Sunday at lunch time she called in a panic. A contractor did cut her field and had turned it twice and it was dry and ready for baling but the contractors baler had apparently broken and rain was forecast. So I did the neighbourly thing, rowed it up, baled it, stacked it and helped load the horse box. The field was a little over an acre and she got 117 bales. She said she would pay the going rate but neither of us know what it is. I don't what to to over charge (she said she would find out what her contractor was going to charge). By the time I drove there with the acrobat turned it then returned with the baler and baled it I was out of the house about 4 hours. I was thinking around 75p per bale would be about right. Any thoughts?

Thanks Richard

[robert waddell]

they used to publish in the farmers weekly a contractors guide price for all services to agriculture
but i think at your price there will a Que forming to get your services

[lachlanandmarcus]

Apparently the average cost (not charge for, actual cost) of doing a small bale incl all the fuel, baler twine, depreciation etc is about £1.50 a bale. So if you subtract the proportion of the process which the contractor did it will give you a rough guide. If you are turning and baling I wouldnt think the cost (let alone profit) would be less than £1 esp as you helped load it as well. Any profit (if you wanted to charge any) would be on top of that.
As a comparison the bare cost (again not incl profit) of doing a big bale is around £2-3 (more cost efficient and using net wrap not baler twines). Again not incl profit and probably not too much contrib to depreciation of the machinery there.
Hope this helps!

[SallyintNorth]

As you did it as a neighbourly thing and don't plan to make a living out of doing it, I guess you don't necessarily want to charge commercial rates, just enough to not be taken for granted / a mug?

For odd jobs, our contractor charges £18/hour plus fuel (he fills up with our diesel on leaving.)

Or, if she is agreeable and it would be useful to you, you could take a 'cut' of the crop, say 30 bales (1/4.)

But I doubt if she'd have a problem with £1/bale if you want to charge her that much.

Personally, this year, I'd take the hay if I could, otherwise maybe ask for a round £100.

[arborexplora]

Hi thanks for the replies.

We have agreed on a price which I am happy with. It is less than many of you indicated but more than her contractor said he would charge. He quoted £5 an acre to row up and 43p per bale, bringing it to around £55.

43p per bale seemed a little too cheap especially considering the acreage, it might be more appropriate when baling 10+ acres.

[Castle Farm]

It's a £1 a bale around here and you turn it yourself.