Are you searching for a solution to protect your hay? Breathable hay sleeves are a great option to use. It will eliminate the need for hay twine and protect your bales from moisture. These sleeves are also wonderful for protecting hay from pests and loss. Western Packaging, a wholesale agricultural company, is your trusted partner in supplying breathable hay sleeves. Our team of experienced professionals is always ready to assist you. We will help guide and lead you in the right direction for your needs.
Loose Hay Vs Baled And Wrapped
Hay sleeves are optimal for baling, transporting, and storing hay compared to loose hay. Loose hay can create hazardous and costly issues for farmers as it is more sensitive to light and moisture. That means your bales are at greater risk of fire and mold growth. Loose hay also contributes to waste of your hard-earned product and valuable storage space.
What Is A Hay Sleeve?
A hay sleeve is a plastic cover designed to protect the hay that farmers harvest. The hay that is harvested is not used right away; many times it is stored for many months before it is needed. By using a hay sleeve, you can protect it from outside elements and critters. And the process is simple. You just need to slide the sleeve over the bale, ensuring it covers the entire surface, and secure it with the provided ties.
They are made of a plastic material that helps to lock out moisture. These highly durable sleeves are also great for keeping pests from infesting and nesting in your hay. Hay sleeves are not just beneficial, they are a game-changer for farmers. There are dozens of reasons why they are highly recommended for use. These products ensure your product stays protected and preserved.
Hay Bales And Moisture
The risk of bale damage affecting your bottom line and efficiency can be significantly increased for balers living in high-humidity environments. Large round bales exposed to moisture can suffer significant losses due to:
- Pests
- Spoilage
- Water Infiltration
- And Disease Issues
Additionally, microbial activity is also a threat for balers who live in drier environments but still experience abundant rainfall. Humid or dry, breathable hay sleeves are valuable allies to have on your side when facing moisture concerns and battling the elements.
Spontaneous Combustion In Hay Bales
As ironic as it may sound, hay bales can spontaneously combust due to high moisture content. This occurs when the moisture content in the bales exceeds a certain threshold, triggering a chemical reaction that increases heat build-up. The best time to bale your hay is when the air’s moisture is neither too high nor too low. This will help prevent issues like leaf fraying and nutrient loss. Days that are mostly dry and sunny are perfect conditions for baling. With moisture build-up and spontaneous combustion now in mind, hay bales do seem to be something of a precautionary necessity. Don’t you think?
Keeping Your Bales High And Dry
Another way to help ensure the moisture content of your hay bales remains relatively low is to provide a barrier between the ground and your bales. Ground moisture accounts for a large percentage of hay loss – nearly half, in fact. Rock bases and wooden pallets are beneficial for helping keep your bales off the ground and relatively dry. This will help minimize losses due to moisture build-up and spoilage.
It Saves Money
Ruined hay means lost time, energy, and money for farmers. If you have hay stored out in the open without any protection over it, there is a major potential for it to be ruined. Not everyone has the opportunity or ability to store their hay in closed areas like a barn or warehouse. Breathable and durable hay sleeves help alleviate that issue.
For you to not lose money in ruined hay, you need hay sleeves. A hay sleeve provides the protection that it needs when you don’t have enclosed areas. Harvested hay is a means of livelihood for many farmers, so it is important to take the right precautions to protect it. After all, once you have put in all that hard work to harvest your hay, the last thing you want is to lose any of it.
Minimizing Product Loss
During normal storage longevity, hay bales left unprotected may lose up to 37 percent (nearly half!) of their product. With the use of breathable hay sleeves, you can significantly decrease this percentage. In fact, studies have shown that the loss percentage for wrapped bales is significantly lower, dropping to around 19 percent. Furthermore, bales wrapped and elevated to help decrease moisture experience losses of around 8 percent. These figures demonstrate the significant impact of breathable hay sleeves on reducing hay loss.
No Need For Hay Twine
Hay twine is used to hold the hay together and avoid loss. If you move your hay bales, twine is known not fully to protect from loss. You are going to lose hay in the process of moving it when using twine. This will happen whether you are hauling your unwrapped and unprotected bales to the barn or someplace farther away.
Harvesting, storing, and transporting hay requires a significant investment of time, equipment, and money. A hay sleeve will prevent you from having as much hay lost in the process of moving it from place to place. The coverage is broader across the hay and doesn’t leave room for loss. This saves you money and reduces waste, contributing to a more sustainable farming practice. Breathable hay sleeves are the answer to less financial loss due to ruined or lost hay.
It Improves The Freshness of The Hay
When adequately protected, the hay will stay fresh for a more extended period. There isn’t any way of denying the constantly rising cost of hay production. It makes it even more important for you to find ways to preserve it for longer periods of time and reduce the amount of waste.
The best solution is to use breathable hay sleeves in addition to elevating them off the ground. This is going to ensure that the moisture doesn’t have a chance of getting in. There is still a small percentage of waste that can happen, but that is true with any method you use. Breathable hay sleeves will leave you with the least amount of waste possible.
They Are Affordable
The whole reason you are looking into hay sleeves is to find something that will help you lose less money. It’s not just about finding the most effective way but also the most affordable. Hay sleeves are not just an affordable option. They are a smart investment that can save you from potential losses in the long run.
You don’t want to purchase the cheapest upfront product; instead, you want something that is going to protect you in the long run. Hay twine and other products may be more affordable to purchase initially, but how much loss are you enduring? With hay sleeves, you may spend a little more money upfront, but you will be left with less hay loss in the long run.
Western Packaging Can Help
Contact Western Packaging to help you find the hay sleeves that you need. Our team of knowledgeable employees can help you with all of your quality packaging needs. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to ask. It is our pleasure to help you.
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