If you were a silage contractor

[Sid]

No, the farmer is what is often the difference between susbsistence and bankrutpcy for said contractor. Contractor needs shiny new kit because he cant afford to break down because of all the work he has to cram in. Many canot be making a living , only lining the pockets of dealers and finance houses. Downward spiral I reckon

So who pays for the kit?
Where does the income come from?

TBH some contractors rates are too cheap(ie trailers and tractors), equipment is too expensive and farmers can't afford to pay a realistic rate.

 

[Henarar]

While making “HAY” and they are positively foaming at the mouth and in uncontrollable fits of rage.

Been baling hay and silage for customers since I was 13 and only twice had someone have a go for being late, first time I wasn't very old and Dad put them straight the next morning, second time I was a fair bit older and put them straight myself.

 

[ploughman1963]

So who pays for the kit?
Where does the income come from?

TBH some contractors rates are too cheap(ie trailers and tractors), equipment is too expensive and farmers can't afford to pay a realistic rate.

But you can afford poor quality silage and a consequent increase in feed bill? Few quid more per acre to get contractors at the time you want them sounds cheap compared to a big feed bill. You said above how important good silage is. Personally I’d say get someone in with wagons - get good silage made when you want and cheaper per acre as well - and a contractor making a living as well - what’s not to like

 

[Wellytrack]

Had a text on Sunday. “I’m going to mow Tuesday, is that ok”? Sure I replied.

Mowed on the Tuesday. Rain due today (Thursday) at 6 pm. I went and raked it yesterday afternoon. Roll on 24 hours from the raking to let the wet ground dry out plus a light wilt I turned up at 3.30 and by 5.30 12 acres looked like this.

It was very wet in places and the mower and rake had to be lifted out.

Oh and yea. That’s spots of rain on the windscreen.

I wonder how he would have faired out just dropping it Yesterday and then starting to call round

 

[Sid]

But you can afford poor quality silage and a consequent increase in feed bill? Few quid more per acre to get contractors at the time you want them sounds cheap compared to a big feed bill. You said above how important good silage is. Personally I’d say get someone in with wagons - get good silage made when you want and cheaper per acre as well - and a contractor making a living as well - what’s not to like

But you don't get them when you want them.
Because they get a bigger machine and take on more.

Local contractor has just bought a 2nd machine to catch up with back log.

Spare capacity is the key to any operation but it comes at a cost

 

[Skintagain]

Been baling hay and silage for customers since I was 13 and only twice had someone have a go for being late, first time I wasn't very old and Dad put them straight the next morning, second time I was a fair bit older and put them straight myself.

Pick reel up and do one

Had a text on Sunday. “I’m going to mow Tuesday, is that ok”? Sure I replied.

Mowed on the Tuesday. Rain due today (Thursday) at 6 pm. I went and raked it yesterday afternoon. Roll on 24 hours from the raking to let the wet ground dry out plus a light wilt I turned up at 3.30 and by 5.30 12 acres looked like this.

View attachment 963752

It was very wet in places and the mower and rake had to be lifted out.

View attachment 963753


Oh and yea. That’s spots of rain on the windscreen.

View attachment 963754


I wonder how he would have faired out just dropping it Yesterday and then starting to call round

Lets hope they pay up as efficiently

 

[Kevtherev]

Biggest problem with silage is everyone wants it done yesterday.
When I was growing up harvest went on most of the summer (or it seemed like)
Stopped for tea in field and the job was enjoyable.
Now it’s a self propelled with angry man in seat and a load of kids bouncing around in T7 NHs

 

[Wellytrack]

Biggest problem with silage is everyone wants it done yesterday.
When I was growing up harvest went on most of the summer (or it seemed like)
Stopped for tea in field and the job was enjoyable.
Now it’s a self propelled with angry man in seat and a load of kids bouncing around in T7 NHs

Silage here was just drudgery for my mother. Tea break at 11am, Lunch 1.30-2.30. Afternoon Break 5pm. Tea time 7.30. Supper 10pm.

All for 12 acres per day.

The Double Chop could only take so much. The men driving could swallow more, tbh I think most of the half moons, broken glass and bent cribs was down to want of a nap from all the feeding

 

[hally]

Biggest problem with silage is everyone wants it done yesterday.
When I was growing up harvest went on most of the summer (or it seemed like)
Stopped for tea in field and the job was enjoyable.
Now it’s a self propelled with angry man in seat and a load of kids bouncing around in T7 NHs

Don’t miss pit silage tbh, found it very stressful dropping a years crop all at once with the weather around here, we have a steep farm track that caused fun and games for trailers to pass and our contractors idea of a wilt ( farm next to a ssi river) was the mower arriving 30minutes before the chopper. First grant handed out for roofing silage pits was taken and it’s now a cattle shed. Prefer being in control of my own destiny but appreciate it’s not for everyone.

 

[som farmer]

we did our h/rye and vetches this afternoon, usually mow/rake/pickup, our contractor organised a direct cut machine, we drove 1 trailor, he supplied 1, buck rake and chopper, 3 young lads, polite, professional, and good, checked every stage with us, really good, buck rake man stayed and helped sheet down, and politely refused to take a £10 note !
interestingly, we were told, his slew and digger work, over winter, paid for his silage kit, and only did silage because they enjoyed it ! The 'boss' would be nearer 25 than 30, haven't had the bill yet, job had to be done, to dense to mow and rake, so no choice, came off about 15 ton/acre, according to contractor, not so good as normal, the wet killed off patches.

 

[Shebb90]

What's people's thoughts at the moment wait let it dry a bit or go soon has? Also is there a silage 2021 thread?

 

[beefandsleep]

What's people's thoughts at the moment wait let it dry a bit or go soon has? Also is there a silage 2021 thread?

Depends on your ground. I’ve cut 100ac today, will pick up tomorrow. My main concern is slowing the grass down so it can be rolled properly. I expect some frayed tempers from boss contractor tomorrow at some point as he plans to go somewhere else after but I have given him fair warning that I won’t let them Chuck it in the pit as fast as they can.

 

[Winklepicker]

Know a man that goes out and starts mowin and then starts to ring the contractor, if he cant do it he rings the next man and so on, hes never been beat yet as its paid once its lifted and he always gets some1. I think hes not so far wrong as he gets it in when he wants it in and doesnt have to wait in a que

I’ve fallen foul of something like this today,
Silage contractor was booked to come mowing tomorrow and pickup on Monday, got a call this morning that another of his customers have started mowing (he mows as well as the contractor), so contractor has gone off with his mowers to him for a few days, won’t be with us til Monday mowing and pickup Wednesday.
Not the end of the world as weather is here for a few days but bloody irritating that someone can selfishly jump the queue.

 

[JeepJeep]

You do a job, you'd want paying within a couple of weeks a month of doing it. Do you have a charity number?

f**k waiting 12 months for the money and all that., I'd move mountains for the decent customers who pay promptly. Some Clown ringing round because he wants to go yesterday and you know is a slow payer wish him the best of luck and palm him off.... If he gets the job done the ones doing it will soon learn.

 

[Fendt516profi]

I’ve fallen foul of something like this today,
Silage contractor was booked to come mowing tomorrow and pickup on Monday, got a call this morning that another of his customers have started mowing (he mows as well as the contractor), so contractor has gone off with his mowers to him for a few days, won’t be with us til Monday mowing and pickup Wednesday.
Not the end of the world as weather is here for a few days but bloody irritating that someone can selfishly jump the queue.

Now you must get a different contractor to come tomorrow

 

[Skintagain]

Now you must get a different contractor to come tomorrow

I’d be having a good try

 

[jondear]

Had a text on Sunday. “I’m going to mow Tuesday, is that ok”? Sure I replied.

Mowed on the Tuesday. Rain due today (Thursday) at 6 pm. I went and raked it yesterday afternoon. Roll on 24 hours from the raking to let the wet ground dry out plus a light wilt I turned up at 3.30 and by 5.30 12 acres looked like this.

View attachment 963752

It was very wet in places and the mower and rake had to be lifted out.

View attachment 963753


Oh and yea. That’s spots of rain on the windscreen.

View attachment 963754


I wonder how he would have faired out just dropping it Yesterday and then starting to call round

Doesn't look like much there!

 

[Wellytrack]

No queue jumping with me, your in the order the phone rings. Doesn’t matter if such and such is next door to someone else ‘on the way’ half an hour will spin me back over again..

 

[Wellytrack]

Doesn't look like much there!

6 bales per acre.

 

[Sid]

No queue jumping with me, your in the order the phone rings. Doesn’t matter if such and such is next door to someone else ‘on the way’ half an hour will spin me back over again..

What happens if someone rings and says they have cut before the next in line?