How bale netwrap technology reduces crop losses in unreliable weather

Crop harvest timing and ideal baling weather have always been a juggling act and, for UK farmers, a stressful time. Unpredictable weather makes baling and securing forage as hay or silage more difficult. When cut forage isn’t baled and wrapped quickly, quality deteriorates fast. That’s where netwrap plays a bigger role in ensuring final hay and silage quality.

Essentially, bale netwrap helps reduce crop losses by sealing bales quickly and effectively. It keeps the bale’s structure intact and limits moisture getting in, which helps protect against mould and breakdown. It also secures the bale for long-term storage. When profit margins are already thin, limiting crop failure at the storage stage can make a real difference.

Bale netwrap is made from high-density polyethene (HDPE) – a strong, lightweight material that’s designed to withstand the pressure of dense round bales. During extrusion, the plastic is aligned in a single direction (the machine direction), which increases strength where it’s needed most: around the bale’s circumference.

For UK farmers working with variable weather conditions, the quality of that bale netwrap can have a knock-on effect on baling efficiency and forage quality. Better wrap holds tighter. That means fewer unravelled bales in storage and better forage quality.

Not all netting wrap performs the same, though. Products vary by resin quality, weight and strength. Some wraps use heavier plastic to achieve durability, but that also means bulkier rolls that slow down fieldwork. More recently, bale netting wrap manufacturers like Tama have developed lighter, stronger netwrap using updated resins and production methods. Tama’s mesh lock technology eliminates the risk of netwrap laddering, ensuring the netwrap remains intact during transport and storage.