Making Money Selling Hay in Farming Simulator 20

Selling bales of hay and straw is a great way to make a steady profit in Farming Simulator 20. But maximizing your virtual hay selling operation takes the right equipment, workflow and strategy. In this expert guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to reap huge profits from hay on your farm.

Bales Bring Big Bucks

The key to making money with hay is baling it efficiently and selling it for top dollar at the right locations. Both square and round bales can be sold for decent prices:

• Grass bales: $200-250 each
• Hay bales: $250-300 each
• Straw bales: $200-250 each
• Silage bales: $180-220 each

With the default economy settings, a trailer load of 30 hay bales would earn around $9,000! Set up an automated baling operation and you can churn out loads of bales to sell continuously.

Pro Tip: Always check the bale prices under the “Prices” menu before harvesting. The economy fluctuates prices based on supply and demand.

Top Bales Sale Locations

The animal dealer barn offers the best bale prices on the map, with clear marked sale points to unload. Biogas plants also purchase bales for slightly lower rates. Sale points at these locations instantly convert unloaded bales into cash in your account.

For even more profits, consider transporting bales to sell points further away. Hauling bales from your farm all the way across the map before selling can maximize profits, but requires more time investment.

Efficient Loading and Transport

Loading bales efficiently is key to keeping your virtual hay business humming. Using a bale loader or grapple bucket, carefully load bales in a tight formation on the trailer to maximize each load. Make sure bales are secured properly before hitting the road.

While any trailer will work, low loading trailers with short ramps allow easiest on/off loading of bales. Dedicated bale trailers or flatbeds are ideal for efficient transport.

When selling bales, maneuver the trailer precisely into the marked unloading area. Switch to unloading mode and unload bales carefully in the sale point area. Once unloaded, bales will instantly disappear from the point and convert to cash.

Equipment Tips for Large Operations

Managing a large hay selling business requires the right equipment lineup. Here are some tips:

• Use a mower-conditioner for faster drying after cutting
• Invest in a high-capacity square baler for efficient baling
• Have a tractor with front loader ready to quickly transport bales
• Hire a worker to operate the baler to automate the process
• Add a second tractor with autoload trailer to haul loads nonstop

With the right equipment chain, you can continually produce and sell huge amounts of bales automatically.

Hay Harvesting Pro Tips

• Check weather forecasts – dry weather accelerates hay drying time before baling
• Windrow hay to maximize drying; use a mower-conditioner to speed up drying
• Monitor moisture level before baling; aim for 15-20% moisture content
• Store bales under cover to protect from weather and preserve feed value

Proper curing and storage results in higher quality bales that can demand top dollar at the sale points.

Maximizing Profits

So how much profit can you make from hay? Here‘s an example hay operation:

• 40 hectares harvested = 800 round bales at 500 kg each
• 400,000 kg of hay baled
• Bales sold for $250 each = $200,000 total revenue
• Cost per acre: $200 (seed, fertilizer, equipment operation)
• Total costs: 40 x $200 = $8,000
• Profit: $200,000 – $8,000 = $192,000

With the right acreage, equipment and workflow, your virtual hay selling empire can easily clear six figures!

Transition to Animal Operations

Once your farm is financially secure, consider expanding into animal operations like cows, sheep and chickens. While hay selling provides steady income, large livestock herds ultimately offer the biggest profits in late gameplay.

Slowly grow your herds while maintaining your hay production. You’ll have a built-in food supply and can boost profits by processing animal products like milk and eggs. Think big! With the right business strategy, you can turn your small starter farm into an agricultural empire.