How much straw to the acre?

[HomeFarmer]

Good Morning All !

First post on the forum so please go gentle !

I'm helping my son (11yrs old) with a home schooling project. He has to create a business plan to set up his dream business. To which he has decided to become a farm contractor has he is tractors mad ! He has emailed various dealers to get some prices on machinery. Thanks to those who have replied. One offered him a deal on a new big baler so now we have to work out the cost of running that. He has gotten prices of string etc but what we cant find out is how many bales you get off a field. The dealer has told us the average weight we would expect per bale. I have tried googling and there doesn't seem to be to much information.

How many tonnes to the acre of straw do you get?

Winter Wheat
Winter Barley
Spring Barley

I know there will be a variation I am guessing due to season, weather and location but a few "average" answers would help us out a lot.

Many Thanks

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Pretty much all contractors would charge a rate per bale.
However rule of thumb in my experience of winter barley straw is between four and six bales per acre, the bales in this case being 120x70x240cm quadrant size, six string bales.
Three bales per tonne.
I buy it per bale “in the swath” then get a contractor to bale it.
A guide to the contract charge per bale can be found somewhere on the inter web, probably the NAAC website (National Association of Agricultural Contractors).
Ps if his business plan shows him making any money, he’s probably got the costings wrong!

 

[7610 super q]

Spring barley, I've had 3 x 200kg bales / acre, also had 7 x 200kg bales acre. Depends on many factors.

 

[Vader]

This year none if heatwave continues.

 

[fieldfarmer]

Winter Wheat = 1.5 to 2.5 tons to the acre.
Winter Barley = 1.5 to 2 tons to the acre.
Spring Barley = 1 to 1.25 tons to the acre.
Baling charge only here for 80 x 90 size bales £3.50 to £4.00 per bale depending on size of job and traveling distance and no job less than £100 invoiced.

 

[e3120]

The above is in line with my experience, ww definitely has most scope for variation.

Well done on a good maths/business/life skills lesson. I hope that your dealers recognise this as time well invested.

 

[Zippy768]

Tough project for an 11 year old. You working him hard with the Home Schooling

 

[HomeFarmer]

The above is in line with my experience, ww definitely has most scope for variation.

Well done on a good maths/business/life skills lesson. I hope that your dealers recognise this as time well invested.

They couldn't have been more helpful, everyone he emailed replied with information. Thanks for your help

 

[HomeFarmer]

Tough project for an 11 year old. You working him hard with the Home Schooling

He is tractor mad and loves maths so he is in his element. Didn't think it would get involved but he is driving it now me