thinking of buying a baler/wrapper

lakill Farm

the ultimate kick in the balls when your contractor lets you down 3 days in a row and the weather changing. had been reliable up to this but 3 days and its the out the gate. and when I booked him on Tuesday he had no silage lined up to do for anyone.

considering maybe buying a baler and wrapper. Something simple and reliable. maybe a mower.alternative contractors are short on the ground.

at the minute making about 150/170 bales a year @€;9 a bale (mow/bale & wrap) . will be up to 250 in next 2 years, in addition 2 uncles both within 4 miles would be cutting another 400 bales between them so would get that work also.

don't want €30k worth of kit. But maybe spend 8-12k for baler and wrapper.

thoughts please

AP2014

lakill Farm wrote: »

the ultimate kick in the balls when your contractor lets you down 3 days in a row and the weather changing. had been reliable up to this but 3 days and its the out the gate. and when I booked him on Tuesday he had no silage lined up to do for anyone.

considering maybe buying a baler and wrapper. Something simple and reliable. maybe a mower.alternative contractors are short on the ground.

at the minute making about 150/170 bales a year @€;9 a bale (mow/bale & wrap) . will be up to 250 in next 2 years, in addition 2 uncles both within 4 miles would be cutting another 400 bales between them so would get that work also.

don't want €30k worth of kit. But maybe spend 8-12k for baler and wrapper.

thoughts please

Sleep on it, you are annoyed and its a pain in the ass you are let down but surely under 1000 bales a year ain't worth it to buy your own machinery. Factor in costs of running and maintaining it as well, doesn't seem to make economical sense.

Sam Kade

lakill Farm wrote: »

the ultimate kick in the balls when your contractor lets you down 3 days in a row and the weather changing. had been reliable up to this but 3 days and its the out the gate. and when I booked him on Tuesday he had no silage lined up to do for anyone.

considering maybe buying a baler and wrapper. Something simple and reliable. maybe a mower.alternative contractors are short on the ground.

at the minute making about 150/170 bales a year @€;9 a bale (mow/bale & wrap) . will be up to 250 in next 2 years, in addition 2 uncles both within 4 miles would be cutting another 400 bales between them so would get that work also.

don't want €30k worth of kit. But maybe spend 8-12k for baler and wrapper.

thoughts please

A tarrup bio baler would be ideal, baler and wrapper in one machine only one tractor needed for baling and wrapping You'd pick a good second hand for €16k.

Sam Kade

AP2014 wrote: »

Sleep on it, you are annoyed and its a pain in the ass you are let down but surely under 1000 bales a year ain't worth it to buy your own machinery. Factor in costs of running and maintaining it as well, doesn't seem to make economical sense.

Sure doesn't he have good job on the side

cute geoge

Local contractor does my 500 bales and its enough for me to cut ,turn out and draw them.
Have taught about buying baler and wrapper but i am stuck on my own and have enough hardship as it is
If you are baling you need at least another person and tractor for wrapping and drawing ,but your no. of bales look handy and if draw is close and uncle/father/son /wife going to give you a dig out ,GO for it.
You should be able to pick up a rp220 ,wide pickup and chopper for 5/6k .conor /mchale wrapper for 2/3k ,might be worth picking these up from local garage and they will set them up and get you started ,Other wise you better get friendly with local mechanic .
I bet you will get plenty of fustration in first year from blocking baler ,sagging bales up in wrapper ,but you will wise up quick and all the hardship will be worth it when you get your baling finished before the rain

AP2014

Sam Kade wrote: »

Sure doesn't he have good job on the side

And hopefully he can cook the books

lakill Farm

looked at bio baler :rolleyes:, have been thinking about this a while so not a sudden decision

in addition auld lad is mechanic by trade so that's advantage. and I know a lad who will mow for me. he cuts my hedges so that's a capital purchase saved.

Nekarsulm

Neighbour went Organic, just bought a new baler. 40% grant. ( although when he isn't allowed spread bag stuff, nor import pig Slurry, it would t be overworked on his own grass) He will probably go out contracting a bit.

GreaseGunner

A Welger RP220 with a low-ish bale count would be a sound investment I'd say you'd pick up a wrapper for small enough money then, even some of the more tired looking ones do the job every bit as good as newer ones

C0N0R

What profit does a contractor make on each bale? If your doing it to save money then I wouldn't be keen tbh but If your doing it for convenience then that's your own call. Do you have the free time within your accounting business? We're blessed here when it comes to contractor, guy that does our baling always has and works very hard to keep business so offers a great service.

tomwaterford

Buy an early fusion??
Could be surly got for a little above what your looking to spend

Markcheese

GreaseGunner wrote: »

A Welger RP220 with a low-ish bale count would be a sound investment I'd say you'd pick up a wrapper for small enough money then, even some of the more tired looking ones do the job every bit as good as newer ones

If you do get a wrapper - get one with a remote control - you can bring a trailer of bales to the yard -wrap them as you unload and stack at the same time - a small yard tractor will power the wrapper.
And just do the silage field by field - rather than trying to do it all in one hit-
50 or 60 bales a day is easy enough a couple of days/ evenings - trying to do 200 a go would be torture- and all your eggs wouldn't be in one basket - (weather or machine breaks)

Kevhog1988

Why did he let you down?
Seems strange to be 3 days late like if hes worked for you before.

Friend of mine is contracting with the two brothers.... I dont envy them... Everyone wants you in the same space if time abd then your a bollix if not there.

Id say be more ecenomical to just get more reliable contractor...

Farmer Pudsey

lakill Farm wrote: »

the ultimate kick in the balls when your contractor lets you down 3 days in a row and the weather changing. had been reliable up to this but 3 days and its the out the gate. and when I booked him on Tuesday he had no silage lined up to do for anyone.

considering maybe buying a baler and wrapper. Something simple and reliable. maybe a mower.alternative contractors are short on the ground.

at the minute making about 150/170 bales a year @€;9 a bale (mow/bale & wrap) . will be up to 250 in next 2 years, in addition 2 uncles both within 4 miles would be cutting another 400 bales between them so would get that work also.

don't want €30k worth of kit. But maybe spend 8-12k for baler and wrapper.

thoughts please

At 9/bale mow/bale/wrap he is very reasonable at 10 bales/acre that is 90 euro/acre before plastic about 120/acre including plastic. That is as cheap than pit silage. Even at 250/year you are planning to tie 12K up for 1.7K/year of turnover (I am allowing 2/bale for mowing). That is a 10-12 year payback period allowing for maintenance but not allowing for own labour.

You are turning into a small contractor Lakhill what with the slurry tanker early this year to bring the cheap pig slurry you won't have time to do Reggie accounts. He will be gone sharpish from you.

Did it occur to give the contractor an extra euro/bale and have him at your beck and call. I know we all think those lads on the balers are cleaning up. There are whizzing around in Landcruisers and there other half's in BMW's, Merc's and big Audi's

lakill Farm

theemigrant wrote: »

Why did he let you down?
Seems strange to be 3 days late like if hes worked for you before.

Friend of mine is contracting with the two brothers.... I dont envy them... Everyone wants you in the same space if time abd then your a bollix if not there.

Id say be more ecenomical to just get more reliable contractor...

I don't know why he let me down to be honest.

yes doing my baling 5 years here. does some digger work and slurry also. was paid already this year up to date for silage baled in early june

when I called Tuesday he had not 1 job booked in . and he is about 1 km up the road, thought the land is 8km up the road. but that wasn't an issue when I told him

lakill Farm

I was getting a good service. its down to convenience and will need to save me money also

profit per bale? costs €3.25 up

depends on variable and fixed running costs.

any one run, id be at 60 bales in a go. (6-8 acres)

Mow day1 lunch time (2 hours)
bale and wrap and stack following evening. take half day from office or do on Saturday/Sunday

C0N0R wrote: »

What profit does a contractor make on each bale? If your doing it to save money then I wouldn't be keen tbh but If your doing it for convenience then that's your own call. Do you have the free time within your accounting business? We're blessed here when it comes to contractor, guy that does our baling always has and works very hard to keep business so offers a great service.

Kevhog1988

lakill Farm wrote: »

I don't know why he let me down to be honest.

yes doing my baling 5 years here. does some digger work and slurry also. was paid already this year up to date for silage baled in early june

when I called Tuesday he had not 1 job booked in . and he is about 1 km up the road, thought the land is 8km up the road. but that wasn't an issue when I told him

Maybe like the others said hes too cheap with you and rather than put it up he goes to the stronger paying lads first. 9km is feck all to travel. maybe the extra euro per bale be an option but hard to get a lad like that back after him not turning up.

I used a young lad i knew to shoe all our horses at home cos i knew him from a child. Weent the same way that i got him lots of work... Got him doing cousins big showjumping yard (30 horses) etc. now too busy to come back to the small lads. So i found another reliable lad and put him onto all my contacts. Other lad regretting it now id say. Could be in our village for half a saturday and head home with 6/700 cash in arse pocket.

Kevhog1988

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Did it occur to give the contractor an extra euro/bale and have him at your beck and call. I know we all think those lads on the balers are cleaning up. There are whizzing around in Landcruisers and there other half's in BMW's, Merc's and big Audi's

Ive a friend at it... If you paid urself by the hour youd have a low profit margin. Only way to make money is serious hours

Pacoa

Been there, bought the t-shirt and sold the baler and wrapper afterwards. What size tractor have ya and how will you handle the bales?

yellow50HX

What have you got at present tractor wise? Have you a loader and bale handler? Bio balers are not a bad machine but are slower then a fusion. But are ideal for a one man job.

lakill Farm

mccormick cx 105 with loader and soft hands
tractor is 105hp turbo

poor farmer

Pacoa wrote: »

Been there, bought the t-shirt and sold the baler and wrapper afterwards. What size tractor have ya and how will you handle the bales?

Similar story here .I have my own baler and I hire in a contractor to wrap.I am making 12-1500 bales per year .
Done some " back of fag box calculations " at best i might save €1 per bale .
Hardly worth the bother,one bad break-up and am loosing.
I am doing all my own repairs.

yellow50HX

If your serious about a one man job

http://www.donedeal.ie/balers-for-sale/taarup-bio-baler/9624235?offset=7

Otherwise your hiring in a wrapper and another tractor and needing another person

lakill Farm

the €9 is the price to everyone. never haggled as up to now I have been happy with service

lakill Farm

yellow50HX wrote: »

If your serious about a one man job

http://www.donedeal.ie/balers-for-sale/taarup-bio-baler/9624235?offset=7

Otherwise your hiring in a wrapper and another tractor and needing another person

operating baler and wrapper wount bother me

yellow50HX

lakill Farm wrote: »

operating baler and wrapper wount bother me

Chopping a changing is a pain in the hole. You must have plenty of time on your hand.

Pacoa

mccormick cx 105 with loader and soft hands
tractor is 105hp turbo

You should be fine with that, no need to upgrade which would only add further costs.

Kevhog1988

lakill Farm wrote: »

the €9 is the price to everyone. never haggled as up to now I have been happy with service

Hes a strange fecker so... Does be mad the notions some lads take

AP2014

lakill Farm wrote: »

the €9 is the price to everyone. never haggled as up to now I have been happy with service

Did ya ring him and ask him why he didn't show?

mf240

Just ring someone else next time.

Dont think it would pay you for that many bales. (But then im not an accoutant or anything)

lakill Farm

mf240 wrote: »

Just ring someone else next time.

Dont think it would pay you for that many bales. (But then im not an accoutant or anything)

I don't really want 10K worth of kit in the shed either, but then again its worth 1250 capital allowance per year

lakill Farm

theemigrant wrote: »

Hes a strange fecker so... Does be mad the notions some lads take

why is that strange?

€9 is the price

I called Tuesday morning.
called again Wednesday,

Twice on Thursday I met him in person.
text him Friday evening if it was going to be mowed or not

called me this morning at 10.40

mf240

lakill Farm wrote: »

I don't really want 10K worth of kit in the shed either, but then again its worth 1250 capital allowance per year

Dont forget your contractors bill is tax deductable also.

lakill Farm

mf240 wrote: »

Dont forget your contractors bill is tax deductable also.

ah come on :rolleyes:

mf240

lakill Farm wrote: »

ah come on :rolleyes:

Is that what you said to the contractor:D:D

lakill Farm

mf240 wrote: »

Is that what you said to the contractor:D:D

no, when he rang I told him I wasn't going ahead with it.

will try see can I get another contractor in for wed & thurs.

old contractor will get the message when the bales are stacked in my yard as he passes here 10 times a day at minimum

Kevhog1988

lakill Farm wrote: »

why is that strange?

€9 is the price

I called Tuesday morning.
called again Wednesday,

Twice on Thursday I met him in person.
text him Friday evening if it was going to be mowed or not

called me this morning at 10.40

Strange for not turning up... Im not getting hung up on the price... If hes 9 for everyone then thats not the reason. Thats what i meant that its strange the notions lads get to not turn up.

lakill Farm

theemigrant wrote: »

Strange for not turning up... Im not getting hung up on the price... If hes 9 for everyone then thats not the reason. Thats what i meant that its strange the notions lads get to not turn up.

ye same price. that's cut, bale and wrap (without plastic)

very stange. it would reck your head and plans. all grazing plan has to be redone now also

316

Doing baling for the uncles, fine paying job that will be.

Farmer Pudsey

Lakhill on them figures if a client came into office telling you he was thinking of buying a baling outfit what would you advice him.

lakill Farm

316 wrote: »

Doing baling for the uncles, fine paying job that will be.

no he would pay. went halves on grass once and he paid me straight away

Kevhog1988

316 wrote: »

Doing baling for the uncles, fine paying job that will be.

Very few lads would try screw there own like that surely?

lakill Farm

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Lakhill on them figures if a client came into office telling you he was thinking of buying a baling outfit what would you advice him.

I would say consider your options. does it make sence to there farm operation etc

After all there are many reason to make an investment

Farmer Pudsey

lakill Farm wrote: »

I would say consider your options. does it make sence to there farm operation etc

After all there are many reason to make an investment

Tell the truth and shame the devil as they said in the old day.;)

316

lakill Farm wrote: »

no he would pay. went halves on grass once and he paid me straight away

Drugs is a different thing altogether.

theemigrant wrote: »

Very few lads would try screw there own like that surely?

:pac:

Sam Kade

theemigrant wrote: »

Very few lads would try screw there own like that surely?

That word must be contagious even Kenny is using it now :mad:

AP2014

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Tell the truth and shame the devil as they said in the old day.;)

Talk to an accountant and he will tell ya the truth

Kevhog1988

Sam Kade wrote: »

That word must be contagious even Kenny is using it now :mad:

Whos kenny?

316

theemigrant wrote: »

Whos kenny?

A neighbour of Alice.

AP2014

theemigrant wrote: »

Whos kenny?

Our Queen...how long have ya left the country?

Sam Kade

theemigrant wrote: »

Whos kenny?

He's a fella with a mans and woman's first name