Tama Assist When Is the Best Time to Buy Netwrap, Twine and Silage Film?
Every baling season begins long before the first crop is picked up in the field. Choosing and purchasing your baling consumables (netwrap for round bales, twine for large square balers, and of course, silage stretch film) plays a key role in how smoothly the season runs.
Yet many purchases are still made at the last minute, when stocks are running low and the weather window has already arrived. Planning ahead not only helps secure your workload but can also make it easier to manage costs.
The baling season typically begins from late spring onwards, depending on region, crop type and weather conditions. Leaving it until the last moment to buy netwrap or check twine prices can quickly become a risk.
Planning ahead means first and foremost ensuring you have the right product at the right time. During peak season, availability can vary, particularly for certain specifications of large square baler twine or specific netwrap widths. Ordering early helps avoid shortages or having to settle for a substitute product, that often won’t perform as well as your preferred, tried and tested option.
It also brings peace of mind. With machinery prepared and consumables already in stock, you can focus on producing quality bales and managing changing weather conditions, rather than chasing deliveries.
Finally, buying in advance often gives you time to compare prices and options more carefully, without the pressure of work already underway.
Planning ahead doesn’t need to be complicated. A few practical steps can help you estimate your requirements accurately.
1. Estimate Your Expected Bale Numbers
Start by estimating how many bales you expect to produce; silage, hay or straw. From there, you can calculate your likely requirement for netwrap, baler twine or silage stretch film.
2. Review Previous Seasons
Look back at invoices or purchase records from previous years. How many rolls of netwrap did you use? How much twine or film? Real usage figures are often far more reliable than rough estimates.
3. Check Remaining Stocks
There are often a few rolls or reels left at the end of the season. Check their condition carefully, including storage conditions and packaging, and factor these into your calculations. This helps avoid over ordering, or underestimating what you need.
4. Allow for Changes in Your Operation
Any changes to acreage, cropping plans, or machinery can affect consumption. A new baler, additional contracting work, or different crops can all influence how much net, twine or film you’ll require.
The period from January through early spring is often the most practical time to place orders.
At this stage, dealers and agricultural merchants are planning their stock and placing orders with manufacturers. Supply chains tend to be smoother, and stocks are building rather than being depleted.
As a result, it’s usually easier to source the exact products you want, whether that’s a specific netwrap specification, baler twine type or silage film. Early in the year is also when promotional offers or seasonal pricing are most commonly available, before demand increases as the season approaches.
Comparing options at this stage allows you to secure the right products, often at better value, while ensuring you’re fully prepared for the season ahead.
Buying netwrap, twine and silage stretch film at the right time is a strategic decision. By planning ahead early in the year, you secure supply, choose the products best suited to your machinery, and keep better control of costs.
A successful season doesn’t depend on weather and machinery alone, it also starts with good preparation, and with consumables ready before the first swath is baled.
Still not sure what the best product is and when best to purchase it? Give the Tama team a call, we will be happy to discuss your requirements to ensure you are buying the right product at the right time.
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