Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
Hay hauling and stacking Beta
Neighbors who can lift help load hay from the field or the seller, haul it home and stack it dry in the barn or loft.
- How often
- Seasonal
- Where the work happens
- Outdoors
- Who it suits
- Can suit a teen working alongside an adult
- Before you start
- Check local rules
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
Hay season means bales have to come off the field or out of a seller's barn, ride home on a truck or trailer, and get stacked neatly in a dry loft or under cover before the rain. Small square bales are loaded and stacked by hand; round bales are moved with a tractor.
Horse, goat and cattle owners who buy a winter's worth of hay at once, and small hay growers on cutting days, look for strong help, often on short notice when the weather is right.
When rain is on the way, a neighbor a few minutes down the road is the help that can actually get there in time, and a crew that has stacked together before works faster and safer.
Also called: hay hauling, hay stacking help, hay bale stacking, help hauling hay, square bale help, hay crew.
What's usually included
- Loading small square bales from the field, wagon or seller's barn
- Riding along or driving the truck and trailer, if agreed
- Unloading and stacking in the barn, loft or shed
- Stacking tight and off the ground, the way the owner likes
- Sweeping up loose hay when done
What to ask before you hire
- How many bales, about how heavy, and how far are they going?
- Who drives, and whose truck and trailer are used?
- Is the stacking on the ground or up in a loft, and is there a bale elevator or will bales be tossed by hand?
- What happens if rain cancels the day?
- Is there water, shade and a plan for breaks on a hot day?
Staying safe
- Stay clear of balers, tractors and bale elevators while they run, and never reach into moving parts to clear a jam.
- Build stacks square and stable, and don't climb a stack that shifts under you.
- Drink water often, rest in the shade, and watch each other for signs of heat illness.
- Strap loads down on trailers and stay within what the vehicle is rated to tow.
Local rules
Some states have rules about teens working around farm machinery and about hauling heavy loads on public roads, so check your local rules before you hire or offer this work.
Hay hauling and stacking by town
Questions people ask
Can a teenager help haul hay?
Plenty of teens learn to buck hay with a parent's OK and an adult running the job. Running machinery and driving should be left to adults.
What if the hay is damp?
Damp hay should not be stacked tight in a barn, since it can mold or even heat up enough to catch fire. Tell the owner if bales feel damp, warm or unusually heavy.
Do I need my own truck?
No. Many jobs only need strong hands, and the owner or seller brings the truck and trailer. If you have a truck and trailer, say so, since that's welcome on hay days.
How many people does a hay job need?
It depends on the bale count and how high the stack goes; often one person tosses, one or two stack, and someone drives. Need a crew on short notice? Post a Need on Papalocal with the bale count, the date and where the hay is.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- Bring gloves, long sleeves, boots and plenty of water; hay is scratchy and hay days are hot.
- Learn to build a stack that is stable and lets air move, and ask each owner how they want it.
- Price by the hour or by the bale after asking what hay crews in your area are paid, and set your own.
- Let hay growers and horse owners know you can come on short notice when the weather window opens; they remember who showed up.
- Hay comes back every cutting, so leave your contact with every farm you help.
