Market Research - Hay Drying Machine

I have a market research question for hay producers, particularly those raising hay for horses.  We have about 40 acres of alfalfa/orchard grass from which we bale about 10,000 small square bales a year for sale to people with horses (except any bad hay we round bale and feed to the cows).  

 

We have found that it is becoming increasingly difficult to dry alfalfa hay evenly while still maintaining color and keeping the leaves.  Usually, when the hay on top looks dry and ready to go, there is some higher moisture hay underneath that will be enough to make the bales, well, questionable.  Our typical process is to mow the hay in the morning (with a mower conditioner), ted the hay the next two mornings after the dew comes off, then rake the hay the next morning after the dew comes off, and bale it that evening so that we can just barely get done before the dew starts coming in.  Sometimes on baling day we will ted it in the morning and rake it in the afternoon if it we thought it wasn't going to be totally dry.  Maybe the weather changed or maybe I'm crazy, but it seems harder to dry the hay than it was 20 years ago.  

 

I'm wondering if anyone else is having this issue, note that we live in KY and have humid summer days and generally get a heavy dew at night.  Most of our customers are very against any type of preservative, such as proprionic acid or those other preservatives that use some type of active bacteria to prevent mold.

 

So the question:  If there were a machine that would dry small square bales from 30% moisture down to 15% in 12 seconds, would you be interested in purchasing it?  The machine could either hook to the back of the baler, or be pulled through the field to pick up the bales, dry them, and put them back down (or on a trailer, etc.).  For the sake of this research, let's just assume that such a machine exists and works as good as advertised.  The return on investment could be relatively high, given the improved hay quality (and higher sale prices).  The hay would be dry with more leaves, better color, and fresher smell.  It would be all natural, with no foreign substances being added to the bale, and the bale would not be heated over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  It may even save you a trip or two across the field with the tedder.  

 

How much would you be willing to pay for such a piece of equipment?  

Market Research - Hay Drying Machine