Hay bob help :/

Dave W · Sep 24, 2017

butlerx09 said:
He charges about £8 an acre to rake up and £8 per bale Inc wrap, then hay is 4.60 a bale same as straw. But I hire a mower which costs me £100 which isn't bad then I spread it with our little pz haybob it has 2 rotors on then he comes with his bigger rake and has alot let rows. But I think if I can rake it myself I'm saving money which is the main thing have thought about a baler but they can be pricey so would a single rake be ok I've seen a couple on eBay for just over 1000 but I assumed a big single rake would do the same area as my little twin rake hence I thought I might need a twin rake but then there alot more money :/

The difference between a single rotor rake and a haybob is the rake takes the crop off to one side whereas a haybob only takes it to the middle.
The haybob 360 mentioned above pulls off to the side also.
If you've got time on your hands a single rake will do the same job as a twin rake.

The_Swede · Sep 24, 2017

butlerx09 said:
He charges about £8 an acre to rake up and £8 per bale Inc wrap, then hay is 4.60 a bale same as straw. But I hire a mower which costs me £100 which isn't bad then I spread it with our little pz haybob it has 2 rotors on then he comes with his bigger rake and has alot let rows. But I think if I can rake it myself I'm saving money which is the main thing have thought about a baler but they can be pricey so would a single rake be ok I've seen a couple on eBay for just over 1000 but I assumed a big single rake would do the same area as my little twin rake hence I thought I might need a twin rake but then there alot more money :/

At any sort of scale those prices look pretty hurtful to me. Depending on your location and presence of other contractors I'd be making some enquiries elsewhere....

butlerx09 · Sep 24, 2017

Jason said:
At any sort of scale those prices look pretty hurtful to me. Depending on your location and presence of other contractors I'd be making some enquiries elsewhere....

My dad used him all the time and since he passed away two years ago I've just stuck with the same contractors etc as it was easier and they were friends.

KB6930 · Sep 24, 2017

Raking at £8 an acre we really need to put the price up round here. It's £4 quid plus fuel and there's folk that will do it for £2 !!

sawdust · Sep 24, 2017

Dave W said:
Because it will take twice as long to bale if there is 3m in a swath rather than 6+m.
The actual width of the swath isn't the issue here. It's the number of swaths that is the problem

So less dense bales = more bales for contractor,

and if it's to suit contractor then it should be in the price of the baling not an added extra

only time it should be charged out separately is when requested to rake up by the farmer same as tedding, no contractor goes out tedding to speed up their operation

Derrick Hughes · Sep 24, 2017

keep the haybob for tedding and buy a single rotor rake

butlerx09 · Sep 24, 2017

Forage Trader said:
keep the haybob for tedding and buy a single rotor rake

That's what I was thinking just thought a twin would make bigger rows but if the same job can be done with a single rake then that's a much better option

juke · Sep 24, 2017

A single rotor rake does not make the same swath as a twin rotor no where near as good.
Class 2600 rake is the daddy for round balers to follow

Mursal · Sep 24, 2017

Its the contractor you need to change not your machinery.
As soon as you get sorted with a new rake, he'll have something else to whinge about, standard contractor BS.

butlerx09 · Sep 24, 2017

juke said:
A single rotor rake does not make the same swath as a twin rotor no where near as good.
Class 2600 rake is the daddy for round balers to follow

I would like a twin rotor but just looking online there about 5,000 used so would take 10 years before we start saving money where as a single rotor is 1,200 so after the second year we would start saving money

kmo · Sep 24, 2017

@butlerx09
With a single rotor you rake in from both sides the swath.

Phil P · Sep 24, 2017

What size bails? Hope they're not round at £4.60 a bail

We very often have to follow a haybob with our bigpack when contracting, just drive faster and weave a bit, it's not really a problem unless your fields are mega rough.
If he wants the job he'll bail whatever sort of swath you put it in and be thankful you gave him the job.
Remember the customer is always right

butlerx09 · Sep 24, 2017

The haylage is round and wrapped for £8 the hay and straw a big 6 stringed bales

Boohoo · Sep 24, 2017

kmo said:
@butlerx09
With a single rotor you rake in from both sides the swath.

That isn't the best way to row up for a round baler with a single rotor rake, leaving 2 narrow rows side by side is better

H200GT · Sep 24, 2017

Often there is talk on here about contractors being too cheap, yet on this thread we are trying to knock the price down?

Lets not forget a half decent 100hp tractor and twin rotor rake will be the thick end of £50k plus, and you need fuel and an operator on top.

At £8 an acre its at the top end of rates, but is not extortionate. There are a few of important factors that are unknown.

Is it all one cut, or multiple visits?
Field size - make a huge difference in time taken to rake
Location, - all fields in one lot, or do you have to travel between them

IMO the above 3 factors are what can make turn a profitable job into a loss maker.

Goweresque · Sep 24, 2017

butlerx09 said:
I would like a twin rotor but just looking online there about 5,000 used so would take 10 years before we start saving money where as a single rotor is 1,200 so after the second year we would start saving money

The best way to save money is get a more honest contractor. The one you have is bleeding you dry. Here's the NAAC schedule of contracting charges, they are what they consider contractors should be charging, market rates are invariably lower as there's always someone who undercuts the market:

http://www.naac.co.uk/userfiles/files/Final NAAC Contracting charges 2017(2).pdf

Round baling 4' bales should be £2.60 each in hay, so he's overcharging you by £2/bale. The wrap and bale at £8 it not so bad, still top end though.

Goweresque · Sep 24, 2017

H200GT said:
Often there is talk on here about contractors being too cheap, yet on this thread we are trying to knock the price down?

Lets not forget a half decent 100hp tractor and twin rotor rake will be the thick end of £50k plus, and you need fuel and an operator on top.

At £8 an acre its at the top end of rates, but is not extortionate. There are a few of important factors that are unknown.

Is it all one cut, or multiple visits?
Field size - make a huge difference in time taken to rake
Location, - all fields in one lot, or do you have to travel between them

IMO the above 3 factors are what can make turn a profitable job into a loss maker.

The OP mows the grass, and teds it with his haybob. So all the contractor has to do is turn up with a rake, baler and wrapper, do the job, done. One hit.

Phil P · Sep 24, 2017

H200GT said:
Often there is talk on here about contractors being too cheap, yet on this thread we are trying to knock the price down?

Lets not forget a half decent 100hp tractor and twin rotor rake will be the thick end of £50k plus, and you need fuel and an operator on top.

At £8 an acre its at the top end of rates, but is not extortionate. There are a few of important factors that are unknown.

Is it all one cut, or multiple visits?
Field size - make a huge difference in time taken to rake
Location, - all fields in one lot, or do you have to travel between them

IMO the above 3 factors are what can make turn a profitable job into a loss maker.

It's not what he's charging it's the fact he's insisting on raking it after it's been put into swathes all ready by the op instead of just getting on with the job of bailing it!

Red Fred · Sep 24, 2017

butlerx09 said:
I would like a twin rotor but just looking online there about 5,000 used so would take 10 years before we start saving money where as a single rotor is 1,200 so after the second year we would start saving money

You also need a bigger tractor for a twin rotor We just leave the rake attached to the B250 all summer and it does an hour or two when needed.
It is worth making sure the rake is compatible with your mower size, then if you want to bale silage in a wet year you can easily do 4 rows into 1 or whatever rather than 3 and a bit.

.

Tim G · Sep 24, 2017

Every time I read a thread like this I come to the conclusion that round baling contractors are a bunch of whinging pansies. It starts of with them moaning about haybobs, then single rotor rakes aren't good enough either,it has to be a twin. We have only ever made hay and silage here with a haybob and when we used a contractor to bale I asked him about haybobs after reading previous comments on here, he had no problem following it, just a case of setting the gate rights and being far enough in front of him. I find big fluffy rows make a bale too quick and less dense.

Hay bob help :/

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