A new two-in-one sheet could help farmers save silage from spoilage on the top and shoulders of their clamp.
Combining a flexible underlayer with a thicker green-black top layer, the Synergy sheet was developed to create an improved oxygen barrier to enhance fermentation and prevent spoilage.
Lloyd Dawson, Visqueen sales director for the UK and Ireland, says it has become increasingly common for farmers to neglect proper sheeting of their clamp due to a lack of labour and time.
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) in the UK, cite average dry matter losses of 25% under commercial silage making conditions, which in round bale terms, equates to around 250 wrapped bales from every 1,000 otherwise lost due to ineffective sheeting.
He adds that without addressing the huge volume of silage lost each season to inefficient clamp management, farmers could continue to face huge financial losses. “With silage worth £60-70 per tonne this year, a 25% loss to spoilage in a 1,000-tonne clamp could mean a financial loss of up to £17,500,” he continues.
With high puncture and tear resistance, the single application is said to make sheeting the clamp up twice as fast. Both films are made from PE material and can be recycled together.
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