The Cost of Haying

[@1046fireman]

This should be played in every high school to teach economics, math and just plain life.

[@brightlamp2549]

1046fireman also so people would appreciate how where their food comes from

[@brandeissports3436]

♥️ I really enjoyed this video. Childhood memories again, refreshed.

[@arielfernando3916]

I dont mean to be off topic but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my login password. I would love any tips you can offer me.

[@stanleyalessandro574]

@Ariel Fernando instablaster =)

[@arielfernando3916]

@Stanley Alessandro thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and im in the hacking process atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@fanfeck2844]

From a non farmer, non US perspective, this was really interesting

[@TheNefastor]

Agreed ! I may be a French engineer but I have to eat too. It's nice to know who makes it possible and how.

[@vrajananda]

@@TheNefastor Achète toi un 12 tonnes et achète le foin que tu revends et celui que tu gardes. C'est la meilleure opération, je l'ai faite. C'est entre 200 et 400 euros de bénéfice par voyage de 20 balles, environ 8 heures de boulot.

[@TheNefastor]

@@vrajananda thanks for the advice, but I already make more money than that working in a lab.

[@MrPicoli]

@@TheNefastor ma parole ! Y'a qu'des français dans l'coin !

[@TheNefastor]

@@MrPicoli France represent !!! I 😅

[@southstreetbarbecue7875]

As a barbecue guy, sometimes videos like this are handy to remind me of the total cost involved with getting quality beef for me to cook. Great video, very interesting and well-presented!

[@khakhashisam3761]

Drove through Wyoming a few years back and it was endless fields of hay. I had endless questions that you answered with this video. Thank you.

[@brentb5303]

One question. Was it windy when you were there? Pan handle Texas and Wyoming always seem to have the wind whipping when I'm in either. I'm just curious.

[@khakhashisam3761]

@@brentb5303 sorry don't remember the wind. Beautiful country is all I remember.

[@brentb5303]

@@khakhashisam3761 I was just wondering. I've been through there a handful of times and it was crazy windy. I've heard other truck drivers say the same thing.

[@peredavi]

2001 Monolithic Yes Wyoming is very windy. That’s why there are windmills. There is a lot more to Wyoming than what most people see on I-80 or I-15

[@patriciastaton6182]

Farmers are very important

[@joebonola7458]

I grew up working on a farm. I'm glad I was just a hired hand, and NOT an owner. It was a WONDERFUL time. You TRULY learn to appreciate Gods work.

[@stevep5408]

Thanks for letting us know you are a business man as well as a rancher and Steward of the land!

[@amarbaha]

I have an MBA and this guy has SOLID numbers and I swear knows more about BUSINESS and ECONOMICS than most financial people I know. He has EXPERIENCE and hands on operations. I learned a ton from this and his other videos. TYVM for this. If I could ask, do you know the economics of a wheat field?

[@Emperor9992001]

A lot of Ranchers are also Option Commodities Market experts and play the markets for their fuel, corn, and cattle.

[@V4zz33]

Thanks for all you farmers out there for your hard work!

[@anthonys.5653]

Not sure how I got here, but I really enjoyed the video. I also want to say that I respect and admire ALL the farmers/ranchers across this great country. Thank you for doing what you do to provide for us!

[@southerngrits920]

My grandfather died in 1959. He was a sharecropper in SC tobacco and cotton. He never owned a tractor only used horses and mules. I love watching farms and ranches. First time here. Daddy 92yrs old is blind. He went to war ww11 at 17. I use KZbin to tell him about how things are out on farms and ranches.

[@wranther]

Great informative video Mike! Much appreciation not only for the time to create and edit your programs, but also for the simplicity of factual costs that perhaps too many people are ignorant of. -Bob...

[@OurWyomingLife]

Well I try to keep it simple thank you for the recognition : - Mike

[@pwallace717]

I'm not sure how I backed into this video, but it's honestly one of the best-done costs of business videos I've ever seen. Nice to see someone finally put repair costs in at a realistic amount to the bottom line and not hopes of nothing breaking.

[@stuartkelly8708]

Red clover would help your yeild. it grows in dry harsh environments and is easy to grow. It's relatively cheap to try and once established its self seeding if you get the right variety. Also provides free nitrogen which is a bonus for the other grass.

[@jeramyascriven4517]

One of the biggest problems with buying hay is transferring weeds also. Good video!!

[@changvue83]

Love watching your videos it show so much about ranching and where you're food come from thank you and the hard working farmers out there for the food we eat every day

[@Homesteadyshow]

Mike, awesome video. I have thought about doing our own from time to time, numbers never seem to make it worth it when I do the math. I’d love to have you on our podcast sometime to talk beef, hay and ranching. Last guest was ask tractor mike, had a great show, let me know if you’d like to come on an episode!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you, sure thing. Just contact me at mail@ourwyominglife and we can set something up. Thanks - Mike

[@Homesteadyshow]

Will do Mike!

[@Homesteadyshow]

Will do Mike!

[@intheshell35ify]

I was going to take the plunge and buy the equipment but I think you may have just talked me down off the ledge. I guess I'll keep paying the hay man his steak tax albeit with a much better attitude. Thanks for taking the time to help a rookie.

[@derfvader6951]

unless you are going to run the machines all summer have it done. Especially in wetter areas than the one discussed here. tools not being used accumulate rust and rust makes things not work right and break.

[@Zorn101]

Thank you for keeping us feed!

[@alnwick00]

I live in a cul-de-sac and am not a farmer but I found this interesting information. Thanks.

[@rickj1983]

From a non-farmer, US perspective, this was very interesting. Learn something new everyday.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Rick -Mike

[@rickj1983]

@@OurWyomingLife My oldest son lives in Gillette as ATC. Wyoming has some beautiful country. I always wondered (I'm strange I know) what it cost to farm and ranch.

[@gsp2west]

Hey Mike. Add in the cost of picking those bales up in the field and transporting them back to the farm and stacking them. Great job..

[@OurWyomingLife]

For sure. !!! Thanks -Mike

[@davegrier523]

If you ever get tired of ranching you could read the nightly news. You have a voice and speaking manner as easy on the ears as any.

[@conorogrady7940]

In Ireland our crops would yield about 10 bales to the acre with 2 to 4 cuttings a year and a Bale of hay would sell for €25

[@OurWyomingLife]

Its all about supply and demand, I would love some 25$ hay Thanks - Mike

[@bigdave461]

Ya send me some 25 dollar hay to please

[@jhb61249]

I come from a line of agriculture families; cotton, soybeans, cattle, pigs, chickens, fruit, nuts and veggies! I began my life on the farm, but after college, I worked for state agriculture as research biologist for tobacco, soybeans and turf grass. Then I be can an architect and master planner for our US forces. This world and our life here is very complicated and multifaceted. We all need each other and we all affect each other. Good planning , intelligent use of resources, and fair and reasonable practices of spending, consumption and contribution must be carefully balanced and respectfully attended. Thanks Mike for your well thought out and hard labored efforts and contributions to our country and universe.

[@gitucha]

Why am i sooo addicted to this channel hahaha. Los Angeles living but i love the farming life. Good job and keep it up.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Hey there. We were in LA just a few weeks ago. I think I was the only guy in 100 miles walking around with a cowboy hat on. Thanks for watching - Mike

[@gitucha]

@@OurWyomingLife Hey Mike, i really admire the farming lifestyle and your videos are very educational and soon i will begin my farming life. Thanks for all you doing on your page.....plus I've really wanted to visit wyoming after watching my favorite show LONGMIRE.

[@billyblackmon4796]

amazing command of the business, never says uh or hesitates. earrings seem odd. he is just extraordinary with fast and concise command of his subject. he is the best speaker at clear fast information i have ever seen

[@InternetBizUni]

Great video man. We got 20 bales per acre of hay in Ireland this year but you have a lot more acres. Crazy difference! Keep these amazing videos coming 👍

[@daveno8432]

yea but what are the size of the bails? round bails weigh in a lot higher than small 100-200lb square bails. I know LMAO i used to have to buck them up into the hay loft by hand when i was growing up.

[@fanfeck2844]

InternetBizUni , we’ve got a good climate for grass growth, wet and warm

[@InternetBizUni]

Ya I am talking about round bales. We have a similar John Deere belt baker to the one used in this video but the biggest problem that we have is getting a dry week in June or July to do the hay because a lot of rain falls in Ireland all summer long. It’s great to see how the land is farmed in different parts of the world.

[@I-am-back-again]

That was a heavy crop, or was it two or three cuts, Im in Ireland too and on my brothers farm he got 13 round bales on the first cut per acre. Not fully sure what diameter they are but I would guess there are close to 4'8" or so and the same width. I was astounded by the little size of the windrows in this video, the lack of rain must make a big difference. Link to picture I took of hay windrows on my brothers land i.postimg.cc/PqJS1gzV/Ready-of-baling.jpg

[@racay9082]

From a non farmer in New Jersey. Thanks for sharing such eye opening information.

[@palana8870]

Hey! I remember when you posted that first video on Reddit, I've been following you since day one. I remember when you guys were only getting 60 views for video. Haven't seen any of your videos in a while, but this one popped up in my feed and glad to see your channels doing well.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much. :) I hope you are back for a bit -Mike

[@karipalsson9856]

We here in Iceland have about 50 bulls 60 yearcows few horses so last year we made 1600 round bales. (sold 400) we also paid 10.000 dollars for plastic wrap this year

[@HimejiEndless]

Great voice & delivery! Randomly popped up on my feed so i thought id learn something new!

[@Troche571]

I love this, and just like you had pointed out the voice and delivery was spot on. Not only was I glued to the phone, and subbed but dam sign this Man up to his own show.

[@adventurerhoades]

New property owner here a drop in the bucket 133 acres. I just started a channel as well, outdoors and travel. Now I am not a farmer but, truly respect farmers. All the cost just doing small food plots for deer gives me just a glimmer how hard you work everyday.

[@danielginther4879]

Very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@munirislam2164]

So nicely described. What a gentleman he is. So glad to learn so many things. Thank you from Canada.

[@jayhay1237]

Great video, very informative. We have a lot in common here in eastern Oregon. I am "lucky" enough to have irrigation - usually. We can produce a lot more, but our costs are much higher. (Mostly due to the costs of constantly Irrigating.) My favorite alfalfa seed comes from Wyoming.

[@nathanrobinson7715]

Thank you for not only being a farmer and sacrifices that come with that but then to discuss the financial side of it.

[@corvuscrow5485]

Business opportunity in Wyoming. Custom Cutter. 🤔

[@southstreetbarbecue7875]

I had the same thought, but then I remembered I have no experience or knowledge of that field. And I'm lazy.

[@corvuscrow5485]

well then you definitely won't be the one...

[@100mphFastball]

There's probably no custom cutters because there's no profit in it at the end of the day.

[@alech3814]

​@@100mphFastball Exactly & is going to occur roughly one season of the year...

[@spike.strat1318]

Biggest problem is the time sensitivity, If i’m not mistaken it has to be done in a certain window.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Erin and you are doing all the right things to prosper. As youths my brother and I were volunteered by my grandfather to help on a cousin's farm where we learned about hard work. God bless you.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks for sharing that memory- Mike

[@cong6417]

Informative video, Mike! Much respect to you and the good folks in Wyoming for the work you guys are doing. Take care and God bless!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks for watching Cong Nghe- Mike

[@williamj.stilianessis1851]

Mike, you are clearly a man of great faith. One harvest per year would scare me to death. We are almost always going to get two good hay cuts and some years, three. We'll be making 1400 lb bales too and the wrap won't cut it here. Too wet. We need to use the wrap to keep things dry and fresh throughout the winter. Feeding numbers are roughly the same though. Good luck with the 2019 harvest. Hope you are one bale too many when the grass starts to grow again. All the best this winter.

[@Kusunoky]

I dont even own a house lol but I love farming life. Thank you sir for the service and this great information

[@patrickmorris3721]

I’m from Ireland 🇮🇪 cutting hay this year from 45 acres 635 bales. It was a good year for hay this year. Good video on the cost. 👍

[@guineapigzed]

Patrick Morris round the size of his?

[@ozarkhayandcattle5799]

Add $2.00 every time the baler door opens for baler depreciation. Like the videos!

[@teddymuckey9585]

Hi Mike, Lived in Gillette from 1965 to 67. Mother's family is still there ! The rockpile was our home before it was a museum. Trailer House.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Great video Mike....folks don't understand that there is a huge cost associate with bailing, growing and storing hay. Farming is expensive....wish I could send you some hay from our farm buddy.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Josh- Mike

[@Tonetwisters]

... Not to mention ... a LOT of work. Good grief they have a lot to do ...

[@robertleigh559]

I know nothing about hay or farming and i stumbled on this series. It is absolutely fascinating and beautifully expounded.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you very much Robert and thanks for watching - Mike

[@stewpidaso26]

you should rotationally graze your cattle to improve your land. you would grow more per acre.

[@jeramyascriven4517]

Im sure they do with graze grass that thin but it still wont matter much in winter with a foot of snow on the ground

[@stewpidaso26]

they can graze through a foot of snow as long as its fairly fluffy. its ice you have to worry about. mine did fine until we got rain during the day, froze, snowed, then it warmed up and melted some of it and froze again. after it thawed enough they were back out on pasture.

[@jeramyascriven4517]

@@stewpidaso26that may work for a cow calf but any feeder cattle it's extra work they have to do to find forage is wasted energy which means more time before you can send them to market

[@stewpidaso26]

so youre telling me a cow that has to produce milk for a calf and enough energy for herself would do fine but a feeder wouldn't? yeah, ok. how much overhead are you spending to feed that feeder in the winter time? youre spending more out of your own pocket to provide a bed and breakfast than you would having to wait to send them to market, that's if the going rate is good.

[@jeramyascriven4517]

@@stewpidaso26 you have to look at the nutrition requirements for what your doing a cow with calf only has to maintain not to mention the calf can forage on it's own early on. Where as a feeder your trying to fatten up as quick as possible to keep meat quality the long it takes the tougher it gets the harder they have to work to put on that weight takes away from the bottom line or you have to have increased land to finish on which where I'm from in PA and the land of taxes isn't as good an option.

[@botfoblhrp]

I was partners in goats at one point. Drought devastated the situation, to the tune of $300.00 per ton. It took 3 bales every two weeks , and tractor was getting a overhaul (approx $9,000.00). Two more years of drought and a dissolved partnership and walked away in the hole at $24,000.00 . once my credit for cash left , the other party decided "hey this to expensive" and finally thinned the herd extensively. Good to see something explaining how expensive this lifestyle really is.

[@rrobertomondo5173]

Mike, your videos are always super intersting. This information is not readily available to most of us. Thank you so much.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks for watching R Robertomondo- Mike

[@jwjco]

Hi Mike and Erin , keep on rolling them bales .I'm just heading out to hook up the haybine and start cutting today . Hope all is going good , take care

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Jay! - Mike

[@19movement85]

This video was recommended by youtube. Definitely didn't disappoint. You got yourself a new subscriber. Btw, I am a landscaper, not a farmer. Keep up the great content!!

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Jack. Glad you found us and thanks for watching -Mike

[@shockingguy]

Yeah most people don’t realize all the back office costs of what things really cost. Thank you so much for sharing this and I will share it now with my world. This is a great education for those that don’t understand how farmwife works.

[@tomrobertson3236]

You've got me looking at fields counting the bales as I drive by. Makes me aware how hard you've got it

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thanks Tom - Mike

[@MrBrandpeto]

Me too. Although I'm counting heavily irrigated fields along the Colorado river in arizona. They produce all year long here

[@inso5078]

Just one harvest a year? Wow. I am a farmer from Poland and we do the haying two to three times a year. We also grow some lucerne which regrows up to 5-6 times a year! And on dry years we still have problems feeding the cows during winters.

[@Noddy-qt6ol]

Fantastic . Thank you for the excellent explanation.

[@alan2982]

very good job describing costs and operations that go into baling a bale of hay here in kansas we are in prairre hay season and your costs are very close to ours

[@forrestanderson2652]

I appreciate what you do, grew up ranching and farming in South Texas. Understand the struggles, and the rewards of the lifestyle. God Bless you and your family, good quality video, good narrative. Keep up the good work.

[@gordonanderson9988]

hi forrest any irish in that surname im anderson too ,,,lol

[@februaryninth3304]

Farming in Scotland is easy, 8 months of cold, snow and ice, then finally 4 months of sunny rainy days with morning fog, alas plenty of hay, the bulls can eat as much as they want, I subbed and our respect from the mountains of Scotland.

[@someonethinking4237]

I say to my kid- you can learn math, business and life from a farmer. Kudos to all smart farmers

[@oBseSsIoNPC]

wow, that is soooo little grass. Even your windrows are tiny. I am impressed you are making all this work. You have to account for every cent indeed. Thanks for sharing

[@stevebennett9839]

It amazes me how far we've come technologically in just a half century or so. They couldn't handle that much hay without power equipment.

[@OurWyomingLife]

That sure is the truth, thanks - Mike

[@williamdecamp7343]

Have you ever considered intense rotational grazing?

[@ronnierivera3991]

Have you tried Swanson ag net wrap? I used only Vermeer wrap until a guy told me about this wrap, I haven’t had problems with it in my baler. I myself do custom baling. I have talked to a couple of other custom bakers that run John Deere balers and they like the Swanson wrap also. Just a thought.

[@mexicanframboy]

2nd on Swanson ag run it on my jd569 and never had a problem and its cheaper then Deere we do about 2k bales a year

[@highcountryprecision4639]

Around here we used to run larger wheel rakes, covers the same ground per pass but delivers one way which in that dry land hay you'll cut your baler passes in half and build a better bale. JD net wrap has engineered stretch and clings much better to the bale, you could save some and go to 64 in instead of Cover Edge but the Cover Edge tucks the edges nice though.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Yup. Thanks for watching -Mike

[@stacyeandrew2]

Definitely showed that y’all are the heart of America. I can’t even imagine. Thank you!!

[@danielraczka1296]

I used to spend my summers on a Dairy farm in Sherman NY, that farm was run by my father's best friend, Dick Greiner. He is one of the hardest work men on this planet and the most intelligent man I ever met ( I've met many thousands of men by the way) When I first met him he was doing one armed pull ups like it was nothing! Dick is the closets person in personality and intelligence to Abraham Lincoln that ever lived, no higher compliment available. Great video will subscribe!

[@thef8ofman984]

Thanks for all the hard work and sacrifice so we can have food on the table!!

[@hlfpsttomorrow93]

Man. After watching your videos it gave me an even deeper appreciation than what I already had for what you do. I’d love to do something along those lines but it’s just not a realistic path for me to take in life. Between my brand bias (champagne tastes on a pbr wallet) and my stubborn ways it wouldn’t be possible for me. Thank you for what you do!

[@TheNefastor]

"Cylinders of wintertime happiness" 😁 lovely !

[@KG-du5rr]

*for the cows

[@CharlesLScofieldJr]

Just finished watching a video on the " Stoney Ridge Farmer" channel. He was baling hay with a John Deer tractor/John Deer 385 Baler combo. To make a long story short he had a bearing failure on the bailer, it overheated and ignited the bail inside. Luckily he was able to eject the bail and the bailer didn't actually catch fire. I learned one important thing. It would be very important to have a working fire extinguisher(s) mounted on the tractor and maybe even one or two mounted on the bailer. He had to drive back to his garage to get an extinguisher only to find out it didn't work. So he had to call the fire department out to put the burning bail out.

[@Absaalookemensch]

We got 2-3 cuttings per season in Arkansas.

[@fk319fk]

I am in rural northern PA. I have neighbors that hay. I think one a bail for about $75 for 750 lb. He is the one that tries to get 3 cuttings per year, I think he is successful more than he is not. Another does a single cut, but the cattle graze either before or after, depending on the field. One thing my first neighbor mentioned, that you did not, is the specific time you hay. Most people know you that when you hay, you try to have a week of good weather, mostly do dry out the ground and allow the hay to hit a certain moisture percentage. What is not as well know, is you want the nutrient content of the hay as high as possible. This means that you have to wait for the seeds to develop, but not to the point where they are ready to fall off the grass. He also wraps in plastic and marks each bail by which field and which cutting. This tells him the type of hay and the status of each bail. The cows will then get a particular bail depending on the time of year and the closeness to being sold. (I am glad I am in IT, we do not get too many days where there is a foot of snow in my office.)

[@RobertJones-ey9qz]

Wow! You only get one cutting a year? Where I live in NE Indiana, they usually get three, occasionally four cuttings a year. Now I see why that hail storm was so devastating for you. Good luck to you this winter.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you Robert - Mike

[@popquizzz]

At 9:28 Was that Bugs running across the field or Wiley?

[@shopshop-lx9hj]

first time watcher of your channel. Great video. Amazing that wrapping costs more then fuel!

[@jaygoble8434]

If you think farming is for the simple and uneducated, this video should set you straight! Thanks to all the farmers for your passion and work to keep the world fed.

[@Deke1]

Informative breakdown Mike on the costs of hay, thanks

[@OurWyomingLife]

Thank you for watching - Mike

[@luke8210]

I used to work on a farm. My last season was a hot one. 9 months of alfalfa....it was alot of early days and late nights. 7 days a week. Alot of times we slept in tractors waiting for the moisture content to come up. I was also the farm mechanic. Season ended and cotton was already being picked. Some of the best and worst times I ever had working, were on that farm. Best of luck boys.

[@alexsc01]

Great video! Interesting to compare costs of making hay in Lapland Finland.

[@kayrico8367]

I have always respected farmers and ranchers for making my life easier. I've even visited Joel Salatin's farm in Virginia, but this video goes far more into the details of what its like than some of Joel's videos. Very informative and l appreciate my steak a little bit more now. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@jfkjr.isstilldead9634]

Wow...that’s a thin crop. Obviously a fine line between profit and loss.

[@Eddiedoherty22]

Ha ha brilliant

[@vrajananda]

It is all about. And finally what's the cost of a meat pound? It takes time and blood of the farmer.

[@alexmachin8202]

JFK Jr. Is Still Dead 6:05 look at that shit😂😂😭

[@hairymanonetwo]

Lack of fertilizer is the main issue !

[@jfkjr.isstilldead9634]

Irv Farmer ...I’d say moisture

[@juantransportador]

HELLO, from chihuahua mexico, yes it is a state in Mexico, border with Texas, I grew up in the ranching, milking and irrigation system, corn and hay, a real man and woman are from the country, in the cities we became a disposable item, scared of losing the job and insecure human beings.

[@geraldfelthammer]

That is a great video! I don’t even farm.

[@talonpilot]

Very honest and informative video. Thanks for your time!

[@texasmarshal4423]

Get a copy of Jim Gerrish's book, "Kick The Hay Habit". It'll help you a lot. And you forgot to add in fertilizer cost.

[@OurWyomingLife]

Already have it. Thanks. -Mike

[@DualsportDisport]

Great videos from your farm. It has really helped me these last weeks learn about the farming business and cattle particularly. Thank you a bunch! I can't wait to start my own

[@super6954]

Thanks for the video, at least you are being realistic or out of the denial stage of what a bale costs to make. I was hog farming here in Canada straw was costing $15 plus for me to buy the straw at $5.50 in the row bale it and haul it home. I needed around a 1000 bales a year I was doing 4500 hogs a year at $16 out the door custom feeding, they provided food in the deal. you can do the math on how many hogs to pay that without the other costs. Like what seemed to be a 500-$1000 entry fee to the Agco or CNH parts counter every time something needed fixing that I repaired being a mechanic to, then i'd payed myself and other running costs. The money for replacement or update bigger equipment wasn't ever going to be there as they wouldn't pay me more per animal. I quit but said i'd still custom bale straw from my sources if guys wanted it for cattle. These goofs think $15 a bales being ripped off. The big problem now is with modern combines and choppers they dust the straw so some you can't bale and you can't see it chopped . Guys figure out the fertilizer cost putting it back and not having to harrow after that they didn't think of before to. Free or cheap straw plus baling costs of $5 is a thing of the past here and bad weather makes demand higher to I struggled some years to get enough. I've already seen $40 CAN a bale wheat straw before harvest advertised last week that will never sell here, Hays starting at $120 now it got to $160 when it was short last year, everybody was out and there is no reserves this year. Some of these guys still need a reality check on the costs and is it worth farming still. I'm not sitting on my tractor baling on 36ft swaths at an average of 10 KPH through the night and working during the day for less than $10 a bale, last year I had 3 days in a row for a few weeks with 9 hours sleep total, that was just plain crazy . Take care.

[@barryblu_space-bar3x]

Just watching your videos for the past two weeks has shown me that we shouldn't be only thanking military servicemen and women for their services, we should definitely be thanking the farmers and ranchers who continue to put food on all of our tables despite the fact it takes a little bit off of yours. Now I understand that line John Dutton said to his cattle "the things we do to keep you fed". I hope I'm not the first one to say it but I will go ahead and say, thank you for your service.

[@calumanderson5617]

Great video Mike 👍and I agree with you 101%. In my case making hay with worn out equipment which can be a gamble if it decides to brake and keeping an eye on the clouds are my main stress and sometimes wonder would it be easier just to buy in the bales from time to time. Especially the costs of brake downs if not careful could cost way more than the machine is worth.

[@OurWyomingLife]

It is a careful balance, thanks - MIke

[@georgedoorley5628]

nothing as bad as a baler that fucks up just as u have the first row picked and the clouds are gathering .......i hire a baler for the hay that i make away from the home place , i find its less stressfull to pay up and look happy ,,,, he makes bales like bricks also .....

[@gordonanderson9988]

hi there you might be a distant realitve of mine ///

[@gordonanderson9988]

im in northwest ireland plenty rain dark clouds ,,no heatwave up this part similar weather to norway ,,we on west atlantic coast plenty growth grass grows well ,,,

[@larrylund2682]

Took me back to 9th grade ag class. 6 foot mower, 6 foot side delivery rake, An 8N ford tractor and a kid who works for food, room and board. Custom baler @ 11 cents per bale. Boy on the rack gets a penny a bale from the owner of the baler. That is how farm boys and girls grew big and strong. Over in Minnesota we got 3 crops per year most of the time. That 3rd one was always a little sparse. Our hay was alfalfa. We also chopped about 10 acres per year of corn for silage. Our farm never had more than 80 head of cattle. It was good hard work. We kept the herd to a size to fit our farm. Probably the best management move a rancher can make.

[@ladypilliwick8179]

First. People have to understand your not in the cattle business. .your in the grass business. ..... you can always sell the cattle and just do hay In Texas we get 3 cuttings of hay.... but we feed in summer and winter... I just keep my herd size small Normally don't have to buy hay... But my ranch is paid for. That's a big difference You guys look like ya got it down. Nice video

[@WarReport.]

Owning the land no mortgage thats a huge fixed cost gone.

[@washedupwarvet2027]

@@WarReport. they inherited the land, equipment, everything. Like you said, it makes a huge difference. I love the show.

[@loganpollock1689]

My sister and her husband were ranchers in Montana before they retired and sold their ranch. Having been an Ohioan all my life it looks like a hard land to love. They sold their ten acre farm in Washington state and bought 2600 acres about fifty miles south of Butte Montana. 1100 acres was arable if irrigated. For the first couple of years they bought hay for the winter then it was obvious that they needed to raise a lot more cattle so they had to buy irrigation equipment and haying equipment. They had to use machinery like yours because the yield per acre for hay is much less then here in Ohio. They had to pay a truck driver to take their cows to Nebraska to get a higher auction price. Half the years they barely broke even. It really burns my nuts to hear politicians like Bloomberg talk about how farming is so easy.

[@Wireman68]

A reminder that "flyover America" is the best part of America.

[@alaskansummertime]

I did hay when I was a kid 30 years ago. Its honestly a ton of work anyway you cut it. I'm amazed anyone bothers with it.

[@Sethdominus777]

Farmers aren't respected enough... Someday we regret this

[@RamonGonzalez-ju7py]

I enjoyed the way you broke it down splendid way of presenting information. I agree this should be presented to school kids so that they get an idea of what it takes to produce the food they enjoy.

[@warrencorcoran9824]

Incredible oration of video, great professional sound. Get yourself an agent

[@kenarnold9132]

FYI...his previous job was a radio station DJ. And yes, he has a great voice for it!

[@dukeman7595]

But the loud background music ruins the video.

[@kylekbelt]

Hi Mike, have you thought about buying a pull-type haybine? You probably know this but it’ll cut and crimp the hay and lay them into swaths which will keep you from having to rake the hay and that’ll keep leaves on the alfalfa. And having the hay crimped will dry and condition the hay as well. We do that on my in-laws’ operation here in southern Alberta which has the same climate as Wyoming. This year has been so dry that we’re having to buy bales and we sadly might have to sell some cows in the fall. But that’s ranching.

[@cairnsjen]

Here in WA it's so wet...everything is haylage. Opposite issues here with too much rain. The kids like to say the farmers are growing marshmallows.

[@backyardportageegomez4061]

Nice video bro! My great great great grandfather Abraham Clark harvested wheat in the Monticello Valley California in the mid to late 1800’s. He owned and farmed 10,000 acres in the middle and upper end of the valley. 3000 acres of wheat averaging 20 bushel per acre. He used five headers of six horses each they cut a swath 12 feet wide one straw burning engine and a large number of header wagons he used a 40 inch pit separator . To handle all the machinery and take care of the wheat required 60 head of horses or mules and 30 men and 30,000 sacks in which to place the grain. He kept 180 heard of Cattle 800 head a Hogg’s and 3000 sheep on his farm