Silage film, netwrap set to cost more

SIGNIFICANT price increases are imminent for buyers of silage film and netwrap, as well as other plastics used on farms, such as land drainage pipes. Farmers have already been hit by fertiliser price increases, and agri-contractors are also likely to face higher diesel prices.

According to Sean O’Connor, commercial director of Irish Polythene Agri, polymer raw materials account for 70% of the manufacturing cost for silage film, and polymer prices are at their highest for 20 years and may remain so for the long term.

He said 2007 was a record year for balewrap sales, so there are no stocks available at 2007 prices.

The largest silage sheet (60 ft x 120 ft) is likely to be €25 dearer, adding only 5 cents to costs per tonne of silage. A standard roll of balewrap (750mm x 1500m) is expected to be €15 dearer, adding less than 50 cents to the cost of producing a bale of silage.

Irish Polythene Agri’s 10 point plan to help farmers optimise forage quality and minimise the impact of higher fertiliser, film, net and machinery costs include to cut the grass earlier and do a fast wilt so there are fewer bales, and quality is higher.