pootleperkin
Well-Known Member
Finally managed to get ours dried and baled today (got soaked on Friday and we thought we were going to the loose the lot).
We are in Cumbria and have had a lot of rain recently, so we thought that was going to offset the early dry spell that saw slow growth.
Last year we got 320 bales from a 3 and a bit acre field - a fantastic yield.
Today we gathered in 148 off the same field.
Last year we sold some and made a profit over the hay field rental and what we would have paid for bought in hay, of around £250.
This year, with lowered yield, I reckon we have made a loss of around £360, though of course we have use of the extra acreage to graze for most of the year. We might also have to buy in some more in the spring, as we usually try and keep 200 for our three.
Just gives you a bit of an idea of what producers are up against this year - we have none to sell and our costs have raised a bit. I'm so pleased we got it dried out and could make hay as otherwise would have had to wrap it, which would have cost even more!
We are in Cumbria and have had a lot of rain recently, so we thought that was going to offset the early dry spell that saw slow growth.
Last year we got 320 bales from a 3 and a bit acre field - a fantastic yield.
Today we gathered in 148 off the same field.
Last year we sold some and made a profit over the hay field rental and what we would have paid for bought in hay, of around £250.
This year, with lowered yield, I reckon we have made a loss of around £360, though of course we have use of the extra acreage to graze for most of the year. We might also have to buy in some more in the spring, as we usually try and keep 200 for our three.
Just gives you a bit of an idea of what producers are up against this year - we have none to sell and our costs have raised a bit. I'm so pleased we got it dried out and could make hay as otherwise would have had to wrap it, which would have cost even more!