Haylage Warpper: Individual vs. Tube

[BondoBuilder]

Alright three more questions:

1) Is there a difference in black, white, and green plastic? Do they all achieve the same results?

2) Most wrappers go over the plastic two to three times. Is this necessary for fermentation, or is this just a cautionary procedure to avoid puncturing?

3) What individual bale wrappers to suggest? The McHale and Anderson models are NICE!: auto pick up and remote controls, but $20000 is a big chunk of change to throw down.

The Vermeer SW2500 is a decent machine for $6500 used, but you have to physically tie the plastic to the bale before beginning wrapping. Adding an auxiliary motor and hydraulic reservoir to this unit would eliminate the need for two tractors.

Then I found this model: Ag Wrap.

YouTube - Ag Wrap Bale Wrappers

You can wrap your bales as you move them off of the feild, eliminating hauling unwrapped bales to the wrapping/stacking area, or picking up (and possibly damaging) field wrapped bales. These units are $10000 new. Do you guys think a 75 hp tractor (MF 481) is heavy enough to handle this unit and a 4x5 bale while moving? Do you see any flaws?

 

[BondoBuilder]

One more thing!

Never been much a huge environmentalist, but does anyone recycle the plastic?

 

[sweettractors]

One more thing!

Never been much a huge environmentalist, but does anyone recycle the plastic?

That plastic is for me one of the disadvantages of ensiling hay. I hate to mess with that stuff in the winter. We do recycle ours. Ken Sweet

 

[BondoBuilder]

That plastic is for me one of the disadvantages of ensiling hay. I hate to mess with that stuff in the winter. We do recycle ours. Ken Sweet

Where?; Within your county?

 

[sweettractors]

Where?; Within your county?

Yes, The solid waste will take it and also a recycler in Horse Cave. Ken Sweet

 

[BondoBuilder]

Alright guys I have done a bunch of research and found the answers to some of my questions. These facts come from extension officials here in Kentucky and some local farmers. Thought I'd share just in case someone wants to know!

1) White plastic is used primarily for haylage. It resists the heat from the sun the best and allows the haylage to ferment without molding. Green plastics is used for dryer hay, as the darker color attracts more heat from the sun. More heat aids in the curing process. Black plastic is used on dry hay. This is hay that was and baled and allowed to sit outside and dry completely. White plastic also works well for this too, but black is cheaper.

Black plastic should not be on used high moisture haylage. The hay will absorb too much heat and mold, if not ignite a fire.

2) A good rule of thumb is 22 revolutions with a single wrapper. This way the hay is covered by two layers of plastic in all areas. This will prevent the chance of puncturing the wrapping and eliminate the miss of an overlapped seam.

3) As for the wrapper, to each his own. Paperwork is in process for a loan for the Ag Wrap model. Seems like a great machine! Can't wait to try it out.

 

[jnmcky]

White wrap has a UV protector so it doesn't break down in sunlight.
You can use green wrap if you store inside, but storage cost would be more than savings on wrap
Store 4X5 bales in ends, with an individual wrapper the ends have 6 layers while sides only have 2 (at 22 revs/bale).

 

[slowzuki]

I'm a little late but if you're selling the tube wrappers won't work for you. You will need a bale squeeze too so you don't break the plastic. Is your baler suitable for balage?

I personally don't like handling silage bales, they tear, are heavy and you have to deal with string or net wrap and plastic both.

You can recycle the plastic, many here burn it. Probably could recycle on farm somehow, all you need is a temp controlled pot to melt the poly in. With straw mixed in (the commercial stuff is cellulose reinforced) you could probably make some type of board or brick product.

 

[JasG]

You can recycle the plastic, many here burn it. Probably could recycle on farm somehow, all you need is a temp controlled pot to melt the poly in. With straw mixed in (the commercial stuff is cellulose reinforced) you could probably make some type of board or brick product.

New York outlawed open burning 2 years ago. You can only have a BBQ fire, or campfire and farmers can burn brush. Get caught burning trash or plastics and the fine for a 1st time can be $15000.00. I think other states in the North east US have all done this.