Cost of contractors

[Jdunn55]

So if I wanted contractors to come in next year and do the following work, how much would it likely cost me please

• 70 acres first cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 80 acres second cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 85 acres third cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 70 acres fourth cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 50 acres fifth cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • baling
  • wrapping
• umbilical slurry pre first cut and after each cut except fifth cut (so 375 acres worth probably 2500gallons ish per acre)
• 20 acres of hay
  • mowing
  • raking baling
  • carrying bales
• 30 acres of maize
  • spraying
  • dung spreading
  • ploughing
  • power harrowing
  • drilling
  • rolling
  • spraying
  • foraging, hauling and buckraking (wont be close to home)
  • direct drilling grass seed behind
• 10 acres of fodder beet
  • dung spreading
  • ploughing
  • power harrowing
  • drilling
  • rolling
• 20 acres of grass reseeding
  • spraying
  • ploughing
  • cultivating
  • drilling
  • rolling
• 50 acres of direct drilling into existing leys plus rolling

thanks

 

[vantage]

Just ask your local reputable contractor.

 

[lloyd]

1000,000 dollars.

 

[vantage]

1000,000 dollars.

Surely it was the $64,000 question?!

 

[Jdunn55]

Just ask your local reputable contractor.

Id have to ask about 12 different people as none of them do everything just want to compare it before I pull the trigger and spend money on machinery

 

[vantage]

Id have to ask about 12 different people as none of them do everything just want to compare it before I pull the trigger and spend money on machinery

What about labour, for me that would be number one?

 

[Jdunn55]

What about labour, for me that would be number one?

in terms of getting someone to drive the thing?

 

[CORNFLAKE]

Think twice about buying the machinery. You seem busy enough as it is. Concentrate on your core business if I was you.

 

[Headless chicken]

Id have to ask about 12 different people as none of them do everything just want to compare it before I pull the trigger and spend money on machinery

I’ll save you the hassle just pay the contractor bill.

 

[yin ewe]

Id have to ask about 12 different people as none of them do everything just want to compare it before I pull the trigger and spend money on machinery

Why would you spend the money on all that kit in one go? If you want to do some of the work yourself maybe start with a mower and tedder and get someone else to lift and buckrake etc.
Also wouldn't touch the umbilical set up, I got some spread in the spring 100,000g pumped straight from the store to ground around the yard for £450.

 

[rustyspring]

1st and 2nd cut (with forager) £60/ac all in except compactor which is an extra £4.50/ac. Slurry £1.40 M3 plus £50 hour for the stirrer.

 

[BRB John]

I suspect you'd be able to get 3 contractors to do all of that so why not just deal with 3 it's not that hard spread the work out...
I suspect you wouldn't have much left of £50k.

 

[upnortheast]

Just looked at a contractors bill , about £50 acre chopping silage + we put on 1 trailer.
Slurry pumping depends a lot on the farm layout, how much set up time & how much pumping.

Most important conversation with contractors. Can you come when I want you. No good hiring the hero who will do it for £10/ acre less if he turns up a week late for 1st cut & your ME has dropped from 12 to 11.

 

[upnortheast]

I suspect you wouldn't have much left of £50k.

Just looking at the s/h machinery flyer that comes with the Rickerby bill
£50k does go far buying machines these days

 

[DairyNerd]

For that amount of work I would just get them to do the bulk of it. You produce enough litres that you will get a better return on improving efficiencies on the cows.

 

[puppet]

There is a reason that no contractors have all the kit. You would be in an even worse place with metal depreciating in a shed.
As above, how much could you actually do yourself? 9 foot mower would cut it in a day, 4 rotor tedder to follow and second hand buckrake for £1000. That means you can time your silage for around £15k outlay with some decent kit.
As for the rest, a roller is cheap and not much to break down. Just pay for the rest

 

[Just because]

Lots of people can give you a price you want someone who can actually do the work when it needs doing. Paying a little extra is sometimes is alot cheaper

 

[Tubbylew]

 

[Bottom of the pile]

Contractors are cheap, just pay them and do your job

 

[Bottom of the pile]

So if I wanted contractors to come in next year and do the following work, how much would it likely cost me please

• 70 acres first cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 80 acres second cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 85 acres third cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 70 acres fourth cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • forage wagon
  • buckraking
• 50 acres fifth cut - all close to home (no road crossings)
  • mowing
  • raking
  • baling
  • wrapping
• umbilical slurry pre first cut and after each cut except fifth cut (so 375 acres worth probably 2500gallons ish per acre)
• 20 acres of hay
  • mowing
  • raking baling
  • carrying bales
• 30 acres of maize
  • spraying
  • dung spreading
  • ploughing
  • power harrowing
  • drilling
  • rolling
  • spraying
  • foraging, hauling and buckraking (wont be close to home)
  • direct drilling grass seed behind
• 10 acres of fodder beet
  • dung spreading
  • ploughing
  • power harrowing
  • drilling
  • rolling
• 20 acres of grass reseeding
  • spraying
  • ploughing
  • cultivating
  • drilling
  • rolling
• 50 acres of direct drilling into existing leys plus rolling

thanks

If you buy all that gear, then you will need to be a contractor to pay for it all