Probblems with Bale wrap

Forkdriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
This year our haylage looked lovely, got dry wrapped and stacked. Now finding the bales have let in the wet, and there are many areas with fungus growing out. Our neighbors have similar problems.
I don't know which wrap was used, as it was done by contractor.
We need quality for the equines, but some is too poor for the cattle.
No problems last year using the same man and equipment.
Has anyone else had problems, and do you blame the wrap, the wrapper or what?
 
Count the number of layers of wrap used, because of the price increase in wrap he may of put less on to maintain his margin rather than putting his prices up.
 

Forkdriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
Count the number of layers of wrap used, because of the price increase in wrap he may of put less on to maintain his margin rather than putting his prices up.
That's what I suspected but his own were the same, and he told me that the machine set up hadn't been changed.
How many layers do you recommend?
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
This year our haylage looked lovely, got dry wrapped and stacked. Now finding the bales have let in the wet, and there are many areas with fungus growing out. Our neighbors have similar problems.
I don't know which wrap was used, as it was done by contractor.
We need quality for the equines, but some is too poor for the cattle.
No problems last year using the same man and equipment.
Has anyone else had problems, and do you blame the wrap, the wrapper or what?
Where did u get wrap?
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Usually the grass quality and/or weather the dictates quality/mold etc regardless of the layers of wrap as long as the standard 4 or 6 has been applied. If the grass is old stalky stuff it will puncture wrap though.
 

Forkdriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
We have 4 wraps.
Ours is old pasture, so pretty soft, but with weather we were late getting it made, so a bit stalky. Wrap came from the local ag merchants, small independent. It was supposed to be best quality. I am starting to think too little wrap is main culprit. We patched those bales that looked damaged as they were stacked.
Not many small stones apart from one area of the field.

There are a number of other farms with problems , some worse, which made me wonder about the wrap.

Too late to do anything about it, but I don't want to repeat the problem in future so will specify 6 wraps next time. Experience gained just after you need it, but lesson learnt.

Thanks for replies.
 

Forkdriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
Its wrapped in the field. I would prefer to have it wrapped at the stack, as we used to have when we were back in Lincolnshire, and our contractor had big machinery and plenty of labour. His machines would not be able to access our farm without losing a few vital bits on the way.
Time is of the essence here in Wales, we need to get it wrapped before it rains, again.
 
Where to start.
Too little wrap
Poor quality wrap (which I'd doubt)
Bales rolling off the wrapper onto stones coarse stubble.
Coarse grass like Timothy (or docks) piercing the wrap
A sharp price of steel on the bale handler
Someone on the handler squeezing bales too hard
Stones raked up in the grass
Only thing to add to this list. We had a lot of bother this time when it was red hot to wrap them. Wrap breaking and it looking very thin and doing more bales as it was actually thin. Left some and wrapped at night
 

Moors Lad

Member
Location
N Yorks
We try for "nearly hay" for sheep (this year thanks to the forecast at the time it`s damper than we like, but at least it`s useable, not sh*te!) and over the years we`ve learnt that the drier it is the more layers needed to avoid mould or white "sugary" bits. I`d rather spend a bit more money on wrap than waste time pulling off mouldy bits to avoid sheep eating it. The drier it is the less bales there are to wrap (and pay for!!) so that helps offset the extra cost of wrap.
You`ve certainly got my sympathy - it`s expensive to produce and then it`s heart-breaking when you think you`ve got something good and it turns out rubbish. I`d say you`ve been very lucky to "get away with it" in the past - an expensive lesson this year though!
There`s also far less risk of damaging a bale when handling/stacking when it`s got 8 layers on it..... Biggest problem I see next year will be the price of a) fertiliser and b) wrap. :(
If you`ve 8 layers on and it`s been stored well any left over will still be OK the following autumn too!
 

Forkdriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
Lots to think about here. We have enough acres to mow a bit more for lower yields if the fertilizer is too dear, and we have the muck that went on the haylage fields this backend, so hopefully that will have put a bit back.
I think my farmer friend who does the wrapping will go into meltdown at the thought of 8 layers. If it works though its well worth it. I hate the job of dismantling the shite to get at what is usable behind it. It tweaks the Scottish portion of my heritage. Also, my ears may get a bit of a rest if it all turns out well next time.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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