The economics of saving and selling turf

Espoo · 13-02-2012 10:48AM #1

Hi All
I'm new here so dont know how boards work yet. Was I suppose to start a new forum?
I'm interested in getting some figures off you. I used to do a lot of turf work years ago but got browned off of it! My Father has a bank of turf. When cut with the 7 sod machine there were 16 rows and I think about 160 yards long.
So what does it cost to cut this turf with the machine with the big saw yoke on it? How many bags of turf should I expect to get off it? What would it sell for per bag? Its good quality dark brown turf. Basically I want to see if its worth the effort? We have a little massey tractor so easy enough to transport it. We also have storage facilities. Is cost of turf going up now with price of oil?

Cheers

Rovi · 13-02-2012 11:22AM

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Moved to a new thread of its own.
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redzerologhlen · 13-02-2012 11:54AM

Espoo wrote: »

Hi All
I'm new here so dont know how boards work yet. Was I suppose to start a new forum?
I'm interested in getting some figures off you. I used to do a lot of turf work years ago but got browned off of it! My Father has a bank of turf. When cut with the 7 sod machine there were 16 rows and I think about 160 yards long.
So what does it cost to cut this turf with the machine with the big saw yoke on it? How many bags of turf should I expect to get off it? What would it sell for per bag? Its good quality dark brown turf. Basically I want to see if its worth the effort? We have a little massey tractor so easy enough to transport it. We also have storage facilities. Is cost of turf going up now with price of oil?

Cheers

I assume you mean a sausage machine. They are grand in some bog where the good stuff is at the surface but not in all. I think they go about 3 foot deep. If ye have a deep bog it's probably not the best to use cause the top foot will be sh**e and you will be mixing it with the good stuff. You would be throwing the top of it away if you were cutting with a hopper. Good black turf will make 3-4 euro a bag around here. It's good money but there's no guarantee of getting it and if the weather turns against you your workload could double. I tried it last year and didn't get it dry enough to sell so we kept it for ourselves. Taught I was going to make a quick buck but there is nothing easy about it.

MidlandsM · 13-02-2012 01:42PM

There's never been more turf in the country and every lad selling it, all to do with the idle hands in the economy and the black econmony too.

Espoo · 13-02-2012 03:19PM

Thanks Red
No I was talking about the machine with the long blade. I think they must be about 8ft long?? This turf wouldnt be the real black stuff. More dark brown. Its cut off a high bank. It wouldnt break up as quick as the black stuff. I know the black turf is better alright if you manage to save it.
Hard work for what you'd get back on it I guess. As mentioned everyone is getting in to it now.

moy83 · 13-02-2012 11:00PM

Is it long arm turf you are talking about ?

Espoo · 15-02-2012 07:25AM

Hello Moy
I dont know an awful lot about turf other than the hard work. Long arm is a term I havent heard before? This turf is square in cross section. Its cut with tractor and long blade and squeezed out to form a square shape. Then there is a wheel at the back of the machine marking the turf in to sod lenghts. Its about 15 years now since I was on the bog. Is turf still cut this way? How much is it to
cut per plot? and how much is a plot selling for in bags and/or trailer load.

Cheers

bigmcm · 26-02-2012 12:25PM

Iv been saving for the last few years. d lad who cuts it has a 6 row sausage machine. it's e25 for a hopper (about 100 yards long). you get about 70 to 80 bags from a hopper line. this year was poor drying. ill be keeping it all until next year for sale. can't beat may evenings up in the bog. i love it but it drives evryone i know mad.

The economics of saving and selling turf

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