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A general rule is that the more layers and the better the film quality, the smaller is the risk of air entering the bale and allowing moulds to develop. Dow and its partners are engaged in educating farmers and contractors on the benefits of increased film layers and use of top quality films and that trying to save costs by using fewer layers and cheaper films can undermine silage quality and jeopardize the efforts of a whole season. This is definitely a market where the use of poor quality materials is a false economy. A quality film also brings benefits for contractors and farmers during the bale wrapping process because there are fewer stoppages resulting from tears, inconsistent stretch or jamming of the equipment and ensure long-term performance in conserving valuable forage. Dow's annual bale wrap survey shows a positive trend in the use of six and eight layers of quality film, and a decrease in the number of respondents using four layers for all their bales. In 2005, 68 per cent of producers used four layers for at least some of their baling, 72 per cent used six layers and 25 per cent used eight layers. Looking specifically at haylage, more than half used six layers, with 13 per cent using four layers and 17 per cent wrapping bales with eight layers. |
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