Tama Assist Specialist Baling Work That’s Worth Considering
While most baling jobs still focus on producing straw, hay and silage bales, more farms and contractors are taking on niche baling work. These smaller or seasonal jobs might not fill the yard, but they can yield good returns, especially if the machinery and raw material are available and you are looking to get more value out of it.
You may benefit from offering a wider range of services and baled products. Whether it involves feed handling, supplying the pet trade, or managing crop by-products, there are profitable ways to diversify your baling offerings.
Some farms and anaerobic digestion (AD) plants are now using stationary baling systems to handle chopped forage such as grass silage, maize or beet pulp. In these setups, material is brought in, passed along a conveyor into the baling chamber, and compressed to the required density.
Once the bale has been formed, it’s secured with netwrap or a baling solution like eco-friendly Tama’s EZ Web. At the wrapping table stretchfilm is applied for airtight storage of baled silage. Although the process differs a little from field baling, the final specifications are similar: consistent bale shape, secure tying, and minimal air ingress. Tama offers netwrap across three performance tiers: standard bale netwrap options like CoverNet Preferred 3000m for reliable durability, mid-tier products with edge-to-edge coverage for improved protection, and premium solutions such as super-strong TamaNet+ ROYAL for maximum efficiency in demanding conditions.
Farmers Weekly has reported a steady rise in demand for small hay and straw bales as more people keep smaller pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Smaller bales can also optimise feed storage and facilitate easier handling and sale, while shredding and repacking straw as pet bedding may add value to existing forage.
Medium-to-fine baler twine suits lighter bales. For example, eco-friendly TamaCycle Twine reduces the use of new plastic.
The equine market may offer another opportunity. The British Horse Society, highlighting forage shortages after the driest spring in 50 years, is advising horse owners to become more selective. Producing smaller bales, which are easier to handle and top-quality, de-dusted hay, may further diversify your baling portfolio.
Choose efficient netwrap, such as TamaNet+ ROYAL, which uses only 2.5 wraps per bale, reducing plastic waste.
Recent research investigated the baling of pruning residues from fruit orchards and using them as biomass. In one study, the wood waste from pruning yielded about 0.69 tonnes of dry matter/ha per year when collected and baled.
The bales had a heating value comparable to standard wood biomass, making them suitable for energy use. Baling these could yield a clean, transportable package that can be sold as biomass fuel.
If you are thinking about taking on specialist baling work, Tama UK is here to advise you on the right netwrap or baler twine for the job and offer ongoing support for your niche baling market. Simply contact the Tama Assist team for more information.