While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an increased amount of white plastic bundles stacked in lines or piles along farm buildings or edges of farm fields. Sometimes referred to as "marshmallows" or "long white tubes", etc. these objects are increasing in farmer popularity and represent a changing trend in harvesting of farm livestock feeds.
The feeds stored in these units are of a high moisture quality, and would quickly mold and spoil within 48 hours if exposed to oxygen in the air. The air-tight capability of these plastics enable feed storage of wet hay bales, chopped hay silage, chopped corn silage, or high moisture corn grain for as long as two years. Silos have been doing the bulk of wet feed storage for nearly a century on some farms, but the new plastic technology offers some very palatable advantages to the livestock farmer. On the average, feeds stored in plastic are of a higher quality than their silo counterparts, due to plastic's ability to eliminate 99% of the air leaking into the storage area. Silos are exposed to the full area of feed on top, and to cracks and door leaks in the areas between damaged staves on the sides of the silo unit. A few silo companies have reduced air input by producing glass lined, air sealed units such as Harvestore and Sealstore, but such units are quite expensive to purchase.
Today's feed grade plastics offer sun-blocking technology, which can normally break down standard plastic covers in a few months' time. Feed grade plastics can resist the sun's rays for 12, 18, or 24 months, depending on the quality purchased.
One of the most recent additions to the farm feed storage is that of round bale wrap. Similar to common "shrink wrap" used in packaging goods worldwide, bale wrap is applied with a specialized piece of equipment called a "round bale wrapper", and produces the marshmallows often seen in farm fields. In-line wrappers are now available as well, that can wrap one round bale after another into a continuous long line.
Round bale wrapping is an important breakthrough to farmers in the fact that baling is a lower power requirement than chopping as silage, and offers the quickest way to remove feed from a field and stay ahead of the rainy weather. Instead of waiting another day or two for hay to get dry, it can be baled wet, and then wrapped. The ability of feed to ferment quickly and properly inside of plastic wrap is superb, adding to the popularity of the system.
As with any new technologies, there are drawbacks as well. Feed is often stored a considerable distance from the buildings, typically due to the desire to limit clutter around the house and barn area, or because of the speed and convenience of wrapping feed next to the field it was harvested in. During Pennsylvania winters it is sometimes difficult to get to the feed, requiring the clearing of snow from farm access lanes just to reach the feed, and then daily hauling what is needed to feed the animals. Mud in thawing fields also provides an obstacle in spring-time.
Plastic disposal also can pose a problem. Plastic remnants do not rot down for years, and must be gathered carefully, or they will be left to blow in the wind to neighboring properties. Burning is not recommended, because of the toxic gases produced when the plastic is burned. The best present option is to the garbage truck and then landfill. However, as plastic usage increases it may become viable to recycle this plastic through a community collection system. Some Lancaster farms are now part of such a program, where the plastic is collected and baled into large, 1,000 pound square bales, and then trucked to a recycling plant in the southern United States that can recycle ag plastic into a number of other products.
Tom Clouser http://www.clouserfarm.net
Tom Clouser is a 38 year old farmer in Madisonburg, PA. This article is a reproduction of his editorial in the monthly news publication of "Trees 'n' Turf", published by him and his father Ken. View their archives at http://www.clouserfarm.net
Do you like animals? Would you like to work for... Read More
Business card size works well for invitations to special events.What... Read More
Many small companies work very hard to get new accounts.... Read More
One thing I have noticed in my travels to different... Read More
Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform... Read More
What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More
If you own a Pressure Washing Company and wish to... Read More
If you are just starting your business, or if you... Read More
1. Have A Strong Constitution ? Justices deliver decisions by... Read More
Sometimes when you run a business you feel as lonely... Read More
If you are looking for a franchise opportunity, the choice... Read More
It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How... Read More
Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients.... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
I love work, I can watch it all day.I am... Read More
How often has someone thought of starting a business based... Read More
Franchising companies often use Business Broker to help attain sales... Read More
Ok, you have successfully accomplished your dream of being the... Read More
As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours;... Read More
The FTC- Mighty Federal Trade Commission has unilaterally decided to... Read More
Mobile detailers will find themselves with lots of competition even... Read More
We very much like what we see in Lubbock, TX... Read More
There are several well-known truck washes in the Great State... Read More
You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More
Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More
Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? As a... Read More
When small businesses fail, the wreckage is often assigned to... Read More
10 Best Practices to consider as your SBIR negotiations approach... Read More
It's just like a marriageTo expect a bank manager or... Read More
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR INTERN: Specify the number of hours the... Read More
Many government department heads are on the take. Oh they'll... Read More
Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement... Read More
(Although this article is geared towards small business owners, the... Read More
Now that you have invested your time, energy and money... Read More
We very much like what we see in Lubbock, TX... Read More
You're pretty proud of yourself! After all, only four months... Read More
If you are in the pressure washing business and are... Read More
You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem... Read More
Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business,... Read More
Many of us have noticed how some nearby communities seem... Read More
One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
You bet it's worth it. Publicity via news releases, along... Read More
One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is... Read More
Multimedia is everywhere on the Internet, whether in the form... Read More
If you own a Pressure Washing Company and wish to... Read More
One major issue not being addressed right now in the... Read More
A top executive called up me late in the night.... Read More
Cash is King... That is what everyone tells us and... Read More
If you run a pressure washing business it is a... Read More
As a teenager I worked for my father's small business.... Read More
Should your business have a toll free number for customers... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
The temporary staffing industry continues to expand, with yearly double-digit... Read More
You're a small business owner with a hot new product... Read More
Concrete cleaning can be a lucrative business to start. Here... Read More
What will your business look like a year from today?If... Read More
The day care industry is expanding. There are now more... Read More
There are several well-known truck washes in the Great State... Read More
Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do... Read More
Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State... Read More
If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard... Read More
If you are worried about how many different business cards... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
Great question!Freeing your time is an indisputably key element in... Read More
I ran a franchise company for many years, a car... Read More
Small Business |