Tama Assist The Smart Way to Store Your Round & Square Silage Bales
Flat end storage is ideal: When you’ve got the room, storing round silage bales standing on their flat ends in a single layer is best. It gives stability and reduces pressure on the bottom wrap.
Stacking if necessary (curved side pyramid): If you need to stack, place bales on their curved sides, building a pyramid. Use chocks or supports on the bottom outer bales to prevent slipping or rolling.
Height limits matter: Dense bales: up to three high acceptable. Soft or wetter crops (wrapped silage under ~35% dry matter): best to keep stacks to two high.
Interlocking pattern is safer: Stack square bales using a brick-like (interlocking) pattern so each bale helps tie in the one underneath. This improves stability.
Height rules: The maximum stack height for square bales should be no more than 1½ times the width of the base.
Safe handling when de-stacking: Always remove from the top first. Never pull out side or bottom bales before upper ones; that risks collapse. Use suitable mechanical handling equipment where possible; manual handling should follow good lifting technique.
These apply whether round or square, wrapping style, or baling system:
- Store on firm, level, well-drained ground. Soft or uneven ground can cause slippage or shifting.
- Choose stacking spots away from overhead power lines, public roads, or paths where falling bales could endanger people.
- When moving bales, use competent operators, properly maintained machinery, and plan routes carefully (e.g. avoid sharp turns, inclines, and obstructions).
- For both round & square bales, sheath spikes, trailers, or straps must be secure. Avoid overhanging loads.
Safe stacking is only part of the picture. The durability of the wrapping material is just as important. A stack that looks stable on day one can still lead to wasted silage if the wrap can’t cope with pressure, weather, or repeated handling.
NRF (Net Replacement Film): Often struggles under real farm conditions. Thinner film is prone to punctures from straw or stemmy crops, can slip on wetter bales, and doesn’t always stand up well to storage stresses. It’s a common misconception that NRF produces higher-quality silage, but this isn’t backed up by science.
Netwrap & Stretchfilm: Proven to hold bale shape, protect against weather, and preserve forage quality in storage. Netwrap in particular helps keep bales compact before wrapping, reducing air pockets and waste at feed-out.
EZ Web: Designed to overcome the limitations of both. Easier to remove than net, stronger under storage stress than NRF, and simpler to recycle because it goes straight in with stretchfilm. For farmers, that means less risk of damaged bales, less hassle when feeding, and less plastic waste.
Whether you’re stacking round bales on their ends, building safe pyramid stacks, or interlocking square bales, getting storage right makes a big difference, for both safety and feed quality. Pair that with the right wrapping solution, and your hard work in the field pays off all the way through to feeding.
With Tama Netwrap, Stretchfilm, and EZ Web, you’re giving your silage the best chance to keep its quality until the day it’s needed.
If you are still unsure of the best ways to store your bales for optimsed silage quality, contact the Tama Assist team who will be happy to advise you on the optimal storage practicies for your farm.