1. Your hay ground
2. Each way you could sell it
Bale weight, baling cost, selling cost and the price a buyer pays per bale. Leave a channel at its defaults if you do not sell that way; compare the others.
Small squares
Large squares
Round bales
Change the numbers or load the example, then click Compare the channels.
Result
| Channel | Tons sold | $/ton | Break-even $/ton | Break-even $/bale | Net | Net/acre |
|---|
Best channel: net if yield and price move (rows yield, columns price)
| Yield | Price −20% | Price as entered | Price +20% |
|---|
How the numbers work, and what they leave out
- Tons sold = acres × tons per acre × (1 − storage loss − the channel's extra loss).
- Price per ton = price per bale ÷ (bale weight ÷ 2,000). Total cost = growing cost × acres + (making + baling cost) × tons produced + selling cost × tons sold.
- Break-even per ton = total cost ÷ tons sold. Net = bales sold × price per bale − total cost.
- Not modelled: hay quality or relative feed value, moisture discounts, equipment purchase or depreciation beyond the costs you enter, taxes, price changes through the season and buyer credit risk.
Common questions
How do I price hay per bale or per ton?
Convert everything to dollars per ton: price per bale divided by bale weight in tons. A 55 lb small square at $8 is about $291 a ton; a 1,000 lb round bale at $95 is $190 a ton. Then compare against your break-even per ton, which is all your growing, making, baling and selling cost spread over the tons you actually sell.
Which sells for more, small squares, large squares or round bales?
Small squares usually bring the most per ton but cost the most to bale and sell. Round bales are cheapest to make but lose more to weather. Enter your own bale weights, costs and local prices; the tool ranks the channels by net dollars and per acre.
What is my break-even price for hay?
Total cost divided by tons sold. Growing cost per acre times acres, plus making and baling cost on every ton produced, plus selling cost on every ton sold, divided by the tons left after storage loss.
How does storage loss change the answer?
Hay lost to weather or spoilage was paid for but cannot be sold. Round bales stored outside lose more than barn-stored squares, so the tool adds a channel-specific loss on top of your base loss.
Where do the prices come from?
From you. The tool ships no hay price report or market data. Use your own sales, a state hay report or what buyers offer. The example values are made up.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser tab and nothing is sent anywhere. There are no accounts.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is arithmetic on numbers you enter. Check tax treatment of hay sales with a tax adviser.