A true story: A friend of mine, who is a large hay producer, rented the land surrounding the local airport (430 acres) this spring. This was old hay/pastureland full of thistles, absinthe, yarrow, etc.
He brought in a custom breaking outfit that plowed and then rototilled. This cost $100/acre. He said he had to work it 4 more times (disk and harrow).
Because it was around the airport he had to plant canola. Roundup ready. So canola this year and underseeded to hay on canola next year.
He is paying $50/acre/year on the first two years and $85/acre/year on the next three.(bid on this by tender)
Now I thought this was a pretty pricey proposition, but it is good flat land and he does pretty good selling hay for export to Japan and the Florida racetracks. He has his own hay plant that compresses the large square bales.
I saw him in late July and asked how the haying was going....he said I'm still trying to find the right tree to hang myself from!
He brought in a custom breaking outfit that plowed and then rototilled. This cost $100/acre. He said he had to work it 4 more times (disk and harrow).
Because it was around the airport he had to plant canola. Roundup ready. So canola this year and underseeded to hay on canola next year.
He is paying $50/acre/year on the first two years and $85/acre/year on the next three.(bid on this by tender)
Now I thought this was a pretty pricey proposition, but it is good flat land and he does pretty good selling hay for export to Japan and the Florida racetracks. He has his own hay plant that compresses the large square bales.
I saw him in late July and asked how the haying was going....he said I'm still trying to find the right tree to hang myself from!
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