Hay Wrap and Net Wrap Choices

The material you wrap around a round bale affects shape, weather protection and handling. Learn what differs between twine, net wrap and plastic film before you buy a roll.

Key points

Twine is low cost and works well for hay fed soon or stored inside.
Net wrap covers more surface and helps bales hold shape and shed water.
Plastic film seals bales for baleage and outdoor storage.
Always use materials approved for your baler.
Remove and dispose of net and film properly, and keep it out of pastures.

What are the main ways to wrap a round bale?

Round bales are commonly bound with twine, net wrap or plastic film wrap. Twine goes around the bale in spaced bands. Net wrap covers much more of the bale surface with a mesh. Plastic film is applied by a wrapper machine and seals the bale for fermenting silage or for better outdoor storage.

These can work together. Many producers net wrap in the baler and then plastic wrap with a separate machine for baleage. Your baler's manual lists which binding systems it supports.

A cow-calf rancher with a few hundred bales to put up and a homestead with a dozen bales will weigh these choices differently. The first cares about hours saved, and the second often cares about cost per roll and what is easy to find at the local store.

What are the pros and cons of twine?

Twine is simple, widely available and usually the lowest cost way to hold a bale. It suits operations that feed hay soon after baling or store inside. Twine bales tend to shed less and keep their shape less well in the weather.

It takes time to wrap, and bales can sag or lose shape. Twine type matters. Use only what your baler's manual approves, and store it dry and out of sun so it keeps its strength.

Twine bales are also easier to feed in some systems, because there is no net to cut off and haul away. Cutting twine off is still a chore, and loose bits of twine are a hazard to livestock if left lying around.

What does net wrap offer?

Net wrap covers more of the bale in a shorter time, which speeds up baling and keeps the bale tighter. Net generally helps bales shed water better and hold shape through handling and outdoor storage. Many producers find it reduces losses and ask extension for local guidance.

Net must be removed before feeding, and it can cause problems if animals eat it. Do not leave it in the field. Follow disposal rules in your area and ask your county extension office or waste authority.

Faster wrap time than twine
Better shape holding and water shedding when used correctly
Needs compatible baler and net roll holders
Remove all net before feeding, and dispose of it properly

When does plastic film make sense?

Plastic film wrap seals a bale to exclude air. It is used to make baleage, a fermented forage, and also to protect dry hay outside. It lets you bale at higher moisture than dry hay and can help when weather is uncertain.

Film requires a separate wrapper machine or a baler with wrapping built in, and it adds material and disposal needs. Check with your extension office on proper practices, and see the separate guides on bale wrappers and silage wrapping.

How does storage change the choice?

A barn lets you use cheaper twine with less loss. Outside storage on the ground, in rain and snow, is where net wrap or film matters more. Ground contact, drainage and stacking all change spoilage, no matter what the wrap is.

Your climate matters too. Ask local producers and the extension service what works in your region.

If you are not sure, wrap a handful of bales each way and compare them next winter. Write down how each stored and how much waste you found, and let that guide the next purchase.

What should you ask a supplier?

Ask whether the product is approved for your baler model and how long it can sit in storage. Ask about roll length, roll weight and handling. Ask about the supplier's return policy if it does not feed properly.

Buy from a source that can supply the same product again, because switching types mid-season can cause feeding and cutting problems.

Keep the supplier's label or product sheet. It lists how the product should be stored and what machine it is meant for, and it helps if something goes wrong.

How do you dispose of wrap responsibly?

Collect net and film promptly. Do not burn plastic or bury it unless your local rules allow it, and they often do not. Check with your county solid waste office, your state environmental agency or your extension office about recycling and disposal options.

Keep scraps out of pastures. Livestock can eat bits of net or film, and that can make them sick.

When to get help: Ask your dealer which binding materials your baler supports, your extension office about wrap and storage losses for your area, and your county solid waste office or state environmental agency about disposal rules.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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