Wrapping Hay Bales In Plastic

Wrapping plastic or a tarp around the hay bale will make the cover more secure and less likely to be affected by the wind.

Wrapping hay bales in plastic.

In this method the forage crop is cut sooner immediately baled and wrapped in plastic to ferment like silage. Pre tension the film to stretch 55 to 75 percent. Some of the inline systems require end caps or plastic hay bags to seal the ends of the lines. If the hay is in string tied bales and to be stored outside then a couple turns of plastic may be an economic advantage as long as the gain due to reduced storage losses outweighs the loss in increased expense.

Plastic wrap is most commonly used in high moisture baling. Select blown low density polyethylene film around 1 mil thick. Bales left unwrapped for more than 48 hours can reach internal temperatures over 130 degrees f. The finished bales look like giant white marshmallows.

These bales tend to have lower forage quality and greater mold throughout the bales. To protect hay from the elements farmers may choose to cover it with a tarp wrap it in a plastic sheet or secure a cap on top of it. For optimal preservation wrap bales within 24 hours of baling using 6 to 8 mil thick plastic. Single bale wrappers cost less than inline systems but they require more wrapping time and plastic film per bale.

Baleage can be made from 40 65 moisture forage while traditional hay is dried to 16 percent before it is baled.