Survey: silage plastic costs down but plastic bale netting price rises

First-cut silage crops are set to be harvested very early this season, with growth rates rocketing across the country.

Some farmers have already taken the opportunity to harvest strong covers of grass in an effort to maintain grazing quality for livestock in their rotations.

With baling about to kick off in earnest, the Irish Farmers Journal conducted a price survey to establish what the cost of silage wrap and bale netting is likely to be for this season’s harvest.

Agricultural merchants and co-operatives supplying silage plastic supplied the prices for the survey. The results are shown in Table 1.

While price is important, farmers should also take quality into account. To make a well-rounded purchasing decision, you should compare reel (roll) weights, the thickness of the plastic and quality before making a purchase.

Some plastic manufacturers claim that there can be huge variation in the quality of two different brands, less plastic being applied to bales where an inferior type of wrap is used.

Silage plastic rolls (1,500m x 0.75m)

The price for a single roll of silage plastic has reduced compared with 2018.

This year on average, a roll costs €81.75, compared with the 2018 average price of €83.75.

The highest price on average quoted to the Irish Farmers Journal was €84/roll in Connacht and the lowest was €80/roll found in Munster.

This season, farmers should expect to pay approximately €2 less for each roll purchased.

Plastic bale netting rolls (3,600m)

According to our survey, the price of netting has increased dramatically this year, with a national average of €192.25/roll. In 2018, the national average price was €180.75/roll.

On a region-by-region basis, Munster showed the lowest average price at €182/roll, while Ulster had the highest price of €202/roll.

The survey results would suggest that prices have increased by €11.50 on average for a roll of plastic bale netting this year.

Silage plastic pallet

Northern counties showed the best value when it came to buying in bulk. Prices in these counties were €3,100 on average for a pallet of 40 rolls, which works out at €77.50 each.

Connacht was the most expensive province on average for buying bulk at €3,240 per pallet, which works out at €81 per roll.

In 2018, prices ranged from €79 to €83. This year, farmers should expect to pay slightly less when buying, with the national average price at €79.40 per roll (in a pallet of 40).

Cost of film-on-film wrap

Film-on-film wrap has been quoted to the Irish Farmers Journal at a considerably lower price for the 2019 season in comparison with 2018.

Last year, farmers paid €220 to €235 per roll. This year, they can expect to pay on average price of €188.30 per roll. The Munster region had the lowest average price at €175 per roll.

Pink wrap cost

In general, the availability of pink wrap was very scarce nationwide, with only one Munster outlet having any in stock and quoted €85 per roll.