TO GROW ALFALFA

Alfalfa is best cut when the plant's moisture is about 80% and best baled when at 17%. The plant needs to dry in the field before being baled. If moisture conditions are not right the plant can fall apart (leaf shatter) with a subsequent loss in value. If rained on while drying it needs to be turned. If rained on again the value of the crop can plummet. Weeds and other plants in the crop can also reduce the plant's value or make it unsaleable.

Farmers often lease fields and let other farmers conduct the harvest. Profit from a single cut of alfalfa varies incredibly according to variable production costs and current market price of alfalfa. At $100/acre average profit, a Utah 500-acre farm might clear $50,000 per cutting. Depending upon weather, elevation, and availability of irrigation water a Utah farm can expect two to four cuttings per year.

FARM EQUIPMENT COSTS

Equipment & Specifications		Typical Cost
Tractor - 150-200 HP		$200,000-250,000
Land Leveler		$5,000
Disc Mower Conditioner		$7,500
Wheel Rake		$15,000
Square Bailer, Large		$160,000
Boom Sprayer, Pull-behind		$7,000
Precision Seeder		$20,000
Front End Loader		$70,000
Bale Wagon		$50,000-$200,000
Sprinkler Irrigation System		$356,000
Tedder		$4,000
Tedder Harrow		$40,000

Equipment For a 500 Acre Patch of Alfalfa

Often there are several different harvest equipment types to choose from. There are also many sizes of the same equipment. The wider and faster the equipment the larger and more powerful the tractor needs to be.  The faster a field is cut, the more energy (diesel fuel) consumed. 

Simpler equipment is less prone to breakdown but is generally slower. More complicated equipment is faster but breakdowns can be more frequent, especially as the equipment ages. Tines bend, bearings wear out, metal fatigues.  

The value of farm equipment begins to depreciate upon purchase. This depreciation must be figured into the long term viability of the farming operation. Used equipment is often purchased but that comes with its own problems. Equipment can be leased.  All at a cost. An equipment breakdown during harvest can be disastrous; there is a lot of equipment to keep up and run. It is impossible not to consider what the very high price of farm equipment would produce if placed in a 4% CD instead of a machine. Prices above are ballpark.