I got into cattle because of baling hay. I was custom baling any small patches I could find. Any with too many weeds or that got wet I would put in my barn. So I would wind up with a barn full of poor hay. I started marketing that through cattle.
As others have said you can pay your expenses. You also can get a good Section 179 deduction against your earned income from your job. Talk to your tax guy.
20 acres is not enough to keep your equipment running well. But once you've got everything you need you can custom bale for others either on shares or for cash.
Handling small square bales is becoming very difficult as you can't hire help anymore most places. I have a NH bale wagon which picks them up and stacks them in the barn so I can still do square bales. Roeder Implements in Seneca KS (on Nebraska line) sell refurbished and used bale wagons at attractive prices.
You didn't say where in Texas. There's a lot of different climates. Assuming you're not irrigating and in a dry area raising prairie grass you cut one time per year and may get one ton per acre. At 30 small square bales per ton and 20 acres you're looking at 600 bales which may sell for $3,000 gross income. If you are real efficient you might put $2,400 in you pocket. $200/month does not pay a big of equipment loan. If you can find nine neighbors with 20 acres each you're looking at $30,000. And you can meet your wife again come fall.
Round bales are easier but you make less money and are competing against more people.
Doing small square bales in fields from 3a to 10 ac I would average 700 bales per week working alone after downtime and weather had their impact.
There is some money to be made but you have to line up work, outsmart the weather, make your own repairs, market your hay, placate irate owners and customers, and keep your records carefully for taxes.
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Today's Featured Article - Listening to Your Tractor - by Curtis Von Fange. Years ago there was a TV show about a talking car. Unless you are from another planet, physically or otherwise, I don’t think our internal combustion buddies will talk and tell us their problems. But, on the other hand, there is a secret language that our mechanical companions readily do speak. It is an interesting form of communication that involves all the senses of the listener. In this series we are going to investigate and learn the basic rudimentary skills of understanding this lingo.
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