At Conway Feed, alfalfa hay is available for $10-13.50 and Bermuda grass hay for $15. From the hay market, square bales, on average, will cost you between $3 and $10 per bale, but some farmers prefer selling their hay per pound, in which case such a bale will be around 50 pounds.

How much does a square bale of alfalfa hay cost?

At Conway Feed, alfalfa hay is available for $10-13.50 and Bermuda grass hay for $15. From the hay market, square bales, on average, will cost you between $3 and $10 per bale, but some farmers prefer selling their hay per pound, in which case such a bale will be around 50 pounds.

What is the current price for a bale of hay?

Hay QualityBale TypeAverage PricePrimeLarge Square$216Large Round$195Grade 1Small Square$229Large Square$177

What is the average cost of alfalfa hay?

The average price for alfalfa hay (all qualities) essentially hovered in the $170 to $180 per ton range for month after month. That situation rapidly changed during 2021 when average alfalfa hay prices soared from $171 per ton in January to $213 in October.

How much does a 1200 lb bale of hay cost?

As you can see, the cost or value of the primary nutrients in a typical bermudagrass round bale is $20.30. If you add to this the cost of baling, about $15 per round bale, then your cost for a 1,200-pound round bale is now $35.30.

How many square bales is an acre?

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 money can you make off an acre of hay?

“You are going to get more than three years out of that, but if we use three years, that’s about $100 per acre per year,” Brown says. “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 a bale of alfalfa weigh?

A 4’x4′ round bale of legumes like alfalfa weighs about 600 lbs (272 kg). A 4’x5′ bale weighs 950 lbs (430 kg). A 5’x5′ bale weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg) and a 5’x6′ bale weighs 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Grass bales, like timothy, weigh 20% less than alfalfa bales.

How much does a pound of alfalfa cost?

Alfalfa seed prices range from $1 to $3 per pound.

How big is a bale of hay?

SizeDimension(L x H x W)Weight2 stringed bale36 inches x 19 inches x 16 inches40 to 75 lbs.3 stringed bale44 inches x 22 inches x 15 inches100 to 140 lbs.Half ton6 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft1000 lbs.1 Ton8 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft2000 lbs.

Article first time published on

Why is hay so expensive?

Drought, excessive rain and a late spring hay harvest are causing prices to rise on hay. The weather last year, over the winter of 2018-2019, and the wet end of winter this year are causing hay prices to soar, according to several sources.

How much is a bail of straw?

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 hay does a horse eat per month?

Q: How many bales of hay does a horse eat per month? A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).

How many bales of alfalfa can you get per acre?

1st of all how are you seeding? How many lbs of alfalfa per acre, then we may be able to give you a more accurate response. 100 50 lbs bales about @ acre would be a good average on 1st cut, but depending on seeding, soil and fertilization could be up to 150 bales.

Is alfalfa hay profitable?

Alfalfa farmers are on their second hay cutting in California’s Central Valley. … Alfalfa hay fields are cut from four to ten times a season, averaging about seven tons per acre per year. It’s a profitable crop these days, with prices for high quality hay frequently reaching $250/ton.

How much money do alfalfa farmers make?

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 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 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 many acres do you need to grow hay?

Let’s estimate about 2.5 tons per acre… That seems to be about average in the US. 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 years does alfalfa last?

Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.

What does it cost to plant an acre of alfalfa?

Alfalfa has to be planted at around 25 pounds per acre if I remember correctly. A 50 pound bag of seed is around $200 last I heard a few years back, so $100 an acre just for seed. Probably $120-150 per acre including tillage costs.

What is a 3 string bale of hay?

The dimension of a small bale held together by three strings is approximately 16” high x 22” wide x 44” long (406.4 mm high x 558.8 mm wide x 1117.6 mm long) and usually weighs 100lbs. … A small, square bale with these dimensions will feed one horse for a week if fed twice a day.

How big is an alfalfa hay bale?

are 15 in x 22 in x 44 in, weighing about 120 – 140 pounds. Cattle ranches use large round bales, typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter and weighing from 1000 to 2000 lb.

How big is a 2 string hay bale?

Small Hay Bales More common, though, are two-string bales which usually measure around 14” high x 18” wide x 35” long and weigh 50-60 lbs. Achieving desired dimensions can be achieved by adjusting the settings on one’s square baler equipment.

What's the difference between straw and hay?

Hay is a crop that is grown and harvested as a feed crop for cattle, horses and other farm animals. Straw on the other hand is a byproduct of a grain crop; in our area it’s usually usually wheat straw that we see. … Straw on the other hand, is much better for use as a garden mulch.

Why is alfalfa hay so expensive?

Alfalfa hay, in particular, has become more expensive. Because of greater pressure for land use, the amount of land devoted to alfalfa has declined by nearly 4 million acres since 1995. Not surprisingly, as alfalfa supplies have become tighter, its cost has risen by nearly 50 percent in the last 20 years.

What is the most expensive hay?

Dairy hay is the most expensive hay. It is bright green and leafy. Its protein levels range anywhere from 22 to 26 percent.

How much does a bale of cotton sell for?

In general terms, cotton costs about 75 cents per pound, or $360 for a standard sized bale.

How much does a 50 lb bale of straw cost?

This item Standlee Hay Company CER Straw Bale, 50 lbGrandpa’s Best Timothy Hay BalePrice$5026$22.99$22.99Sold ByEsbenshades Garden CenterAmazon.comItem Dimensions24 x 12 x 16 inches14 x 6 x 14 inchesItem Weight50.00 lbs10.00 lbs

Is straw cheaper than hay?

Straw is far less expensive than hay in our area, selling for under $4/square bale. … Since hay is more nutritious but more expensive, we buy hay solely for the horses to eat. Since straw is cheaper, dried and therefore less likely to mold or attract moisture, we buy straw for the backyard chicken coop and nesting boxes.

How long does a bale of hay last one horse?

In general, a standard 40 lb. square bale of hay lasts one horse for about 3.5 days. But many factors such as age, workload, type of hay, and access to pasture grass affect how much they eat. I find most horses eat between 10-15 pounds of hay each day.