Thinking of giving away 12 acres of Meadow!

NewBeefFarmer

Hi Lads,

was thinking of giving 12 acres of meadow away for free in Mayo.
last year we got 70 bales of hay off it in june, and 84 bales of silage in Sept.
with the wet weather we had, i havent done anything about it yet.

got no fert or anything. . .. hadnt planned on having it as meadow.
had planned on cattle this year, but with prices and just not been ready for them, its gone in to meadow. . .

wonder should i just advertise it free, or sell it....

i want them to come in cut and what ever, but take it all away. .
not taking on the hassle of storing and selling bales next winter. . . land all plouged up. .etc. . .


what could i get for the 11-12 acres if i sold it, or should i offer it for free. .. . take it away etc. . .??

ps, .. i want to keep as much as the land clean,. . . i dont beleive in "just letting it go wild". ..

would love your thoughts!.. . . sell or giveaway?

Thanks
NBF

huey1975

dont give it away. its surely worth 5 euro a bale or 50-60 per acre.

Username John

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

Hi Lads,

was thinking of giving 12 acres of meadow away for free in Mayo.
last year we got 70 bales of hay off it in june, and 84 bales of silage in Sept.
with the wet weather we had, i havent done anything about it yet.

got no fert or anything. . .. hadnt planned on having it as meadow.
had planned on cattle this year, but with prices and just not been ready for them, its gone in to meadow. . .

wonder should i just advertise it free, or sell it....

i want them to come in cut and what ever, but take it all away. .
not taking on the hassle of storing and selling bales next winter. . . land all plouged up. .etc. . .


what could i get for the 11-12 acres if i sold it, or should i offer it for free. .. . take it away etc. . .??

ps, .. i want to keep as much as the land clean,. . . i dont beleive in "just letting it go wild". ..

would love your thoughts!.. . . sell or giveaway?

Thanks
NBF

As last poster said - sell it.

I had extra grass last year, similar situation as you - rough grass which had gone too strong, but had never received any fertiliser, so it was light enough in places, heavy in others. The arrangement was 5euro / bale, rather than a price per acre.

Best o luck.

rocky bilboa

sell it or wrap it yourself and sell bales

butt1

give it away

Say hello to my little friend

Are you north south east or west mayo. Pm me if you like

Birdnuts

There are a couple of Agri-environmental schemes that would pay you to manage it for the likes of breeding Corncrakes, Waders etc. - most of which involve simply cutting it once a year in late summer:) - Eg. http://www.npws.ie/farmerslandowners/schemes/corncrakegrantscheme/

LostCovey

Birdnuts wrote: »

There are a couple of Agri-environmental schemes that would pay you to manage it for the likes of breeding Corncrakes, Waders etc. - most of which involve simply cutting it once a year in late summer:) - Eg. http://www.npws.ie/farmerslandowners/schemes/corncrakegrantscheme/

This is a widely held misconception.

No they won't pay you to manage for breeding Corncrakes and waders unless these species are already there.

LostCovey

Birdnuts

LostCovey wrote: »

This is a widely held misconception.

No they won't pay you to manage for breeding Corncrakes and waders unless these species are already there.

LostCovey

And in the vicinity which might well be the case with our friend from Mayo - in any case there are a number of top-up options for farmers already in REPS/AEOS.

sh1tstirrer

rocky bilboa wrote: »

sell it or wrap it yourself and sell bales

I think that the op is trying to avoid that cost as he could end up not being able to sell the bales.

bob charles

Give it away for free on the condition that the person replaces the nutrient offtake that he is taking with the crop. Something like 100kgs of 0-7-30 per acre as payment. Then you wont be making the land poor and you will be getting something kinda reasonable

JohnBoy

bob charles wrote: »

Give it away for free on the condition that the person replaces the nutrient offtake that he is taking with the crop. Something like 100kgs of 0-7-30 per acre as payment. Then you wont be making the land poor and you will be getting something kinda reasonable

I'd say the same but opposite.

sell it for the value of the fert+spreading.

that way you know it's been done.

NewBeefFarmer

So, 500 to 600 for the meadows?
Not keeping bales to sell, only hassle.

JohnBoy

We boought CAN last week and I think it was 472 for 1.5t, which would give you 2.5 bags to the acre.

so yeah, I reckon 600, or 50 quid an acre covers you, and should be a bargain for whoever you give it to.

Belongamick

NewBeef,
If you are anywhere within 35 miles of central Mayo I have a decent man who will pay to bale and collect. It will not make you rich but it will keep the place tidy. If you are sorted this year, fair enough, then maybe something to think about next year.. All the best.

Eddy Hill

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

Hi Lads,

was thinking of giving 12 acres of meadow away for free in Mayo.
last year we got 70 bales of hay off it in june, and 84 bales of silage in Sept.
with the wet weather we had, i havent done anything about it yet.

got no fert or anything. . .. hadnt planned on having it as meadow.
had planned on cattle this year, but with prices and just not been ready for them, its gone in to meadow. . .

wonder should i just advertise it free, or sell it....

i want them to come in cut and what ever, but take it all away. .
not taking on the hassle of storing and selling bales next winter. . . land all plouged up. .etc. . .


what could i get for the 11-12 acres if i sold it, or should i offer it for free. .. . take it away etc. . .??

ps, .. i want to keep as much as the land clean,. . . i dont beleive in "just letting it go wild". ..

would love your thoughts!.. . . sell or giveaway?

Thanks
NBF

did you think of afforestation , native species if possible, good for the carbon thingy , get you a premium every now and then and in the end a standing timber crop for harvesting

other option- new Dept Ag scheme -for meadows --more money for you
more for biodiversity if your into that

other option there area lot of young farmers out there who cannot get enough grazing land -try your neighbours;) they could graze it for you