With the agricultural sector set to enter a promising maize harvesting season, Berry Global’s high-performance agricultural stretch wraps and sheets are helping farmers to optimise protection of their high value crops.
With over 40 years of experience in silage protection solutions, Berry specialises in dedicated films for maize and total mix ration (TMR) crops, whether they are baled or clamped. In both cases, crops are at risk of spoilage due to oxygen ingress, which can be costly. By selecting a high-performance crop protection solution, farmers can minimise spoilage, and protect their return on investment.
“Maize has grown well this year through mainland Europe and the United Kingdom, due to the mix of sun and rain, so farmers are expecting a bumper harvest,” said Lloyd Dawson, Sales Director of Berry Global. “However, this can be compromised if baled or clamped maize silage is not well protected.”
For baled maize – popular across Central Europe, South Africa, and South America – Berry recommends its range of Baletite® wide roll baler films, which are pre-oriented and therefore stiffer. The films stiffness means that bales are less prone to expansion, and therefore less likely to let in oxygen, which can cause spoilage. Likewise, with a higher holding force than conventional baler films, Baletite can better withstand handling. It also benefits from easy opening and can be recycled with outer layer films like SilotitePro® silage film.
Additionally, when combined with a SilotitePro silage film, which offers longer reel lengths and a thinner, yet stronger profiles*, farmers can reduce their use of plastic and minimise reel change-over times, improving efficiency and environmental footprint. For added sustainability benefits, SilotitePro1800 is available with 25% post-consumer recycled plastic content (PCR). Backed by RecyClass certification, the SilotitePro1800 Sustane® 23 μm film (with 25% PCR) offers an environmental load reduction of ±24% less than standard 25 μm Silotite film (with 0% PCR) ^. SilotitePro1800 Sustane has been certified by RecyClass, offering users full traceability of recycled content in terms of chains of custody.
When it comes to clamp maize, more commonly used across the UK and parts of the Asia Pacific region, it is typically exposed to greater risk of spoilage compared to baled silage due to the length of time it can take time to fill the clamps large surface area, allowing oxygen to penetrate the clamp. It is therefore even more important to provide effective protection.
Investment in economic solutions like Clingseal vacuum sheets can considerably reduce spoilage. This flexible sheet sits directly beneath the traditional, heavier top sheet – clinging to the surface of the silage and forming to the contours of the clamp surface, reducing oxygen pockets. Clingseal sheets also tuck down the sides of the clamp to ensure a better air seal.
“We’ve found from talking to farmers that, by better protecting silage that would have likely been lost, they’ve more than covered the cost of Clingseal,” confirmed Dawson.
For the final top sheet, Visqueen® Agri-S offers a strong, tough surface with high impact and puncture resistance – recognising that the surface may be walked on, potentially causing damage. Visqueen Agri-S sheets also include UV inhibitors, providing essential protection from sunlight, helping to deliver all-season protection. The sheets are centre folded for easier application and are packaged in a PE sleeve which can be recycled along with the film itself.
