Good advice before harvest

To get a good hygienic quality of forage it is important to be thorough at harvest, handling and storage. Here are some good advice for harvest, handling and storage of wrapped forage:

• When raking the crop into swaths it is important to try to get as even and good shape of the swath as possible. A badly shaped swath gives an uneven density in the bales, which affects the function of the baler’s side tip but also the impact of the bale handler and storage.
• The bale wrapper has to be set right in order for the plastic film to be applied correctly. Incorrect setting of the wrapper or machinery gives a faulty film overlap on the bale.
• Check correct setting of the baler’s side tip. A faulty set side tip makes a hole in the plastic film when letting go of the bale.
• Think about where and how the bales are let go of. Letting go of wrapped bales on sharp stubbles can damage the bales underneath.
• Be careful when handling the bales. Unattentive handling with the bale handler implies great stress on the plastic film which gives bad density in the bales. Not handling the bales carefully can also give damages or that the bales rupture.
• Check the bale handler for damages that made sharp edges and such. Damages on the bale handler damage the plastic film on the bales.
• Store the bales properly, a gravelyard is an appropriate hardstand and cover the stacked bales with a net. Absent or no covering of the bales increases the risk of damages by cats, birds and other animals.

Sara Muhonen, AgrD

Reference:
©Trioplast. 2012. Balhandboken ISBN 978-91-637-1823-6 (in Swedish)