Compostable Bale Wrap Breaks Down Naturally

Compostable Bale Wrap Breaks Down Naturally “After a cold and frustrating February 2015 day of cutting and removing twine from my round bales and bale processing equipment, I had had enough and decided there must be a better way,” says Alberta rancher Austin Ruud. After seven years of research, development and testing, Ruud finalized Nature’s Net Wrap, the world’s first certified compostable baler wrap. Plastic twine and net wrap contribute to over 2 million tons of waste each year, most of which is burned or sent to landfills. Some remain on cropland, where they get caught in seeding and tillage equipment, disrupting cropping operations. Occasionally, they’re even ingested by cattle and wildlife, causing negative health consequences. Ruud’s innovative wrap is made from a proprietary blend of plant-based biopolymers. It’s strong enough to handle over 2,000 lb. bales but is fully compostable, broken down by soil microorganisms and enzymes. “I designed it so UV rays and rain have minimal impact on its degradation while on a bale, remaining intact for over two years, but it breaks down rapidly when removed and composted,” Ruud explains. The amount of wrap needed is similar to that of plastic, about 2 1/4 turns for hay and 3 1/4 turns for straw. If bales are used within a year, they can be stacked in the typical pyramid shape. However, Ruud recommends mushroom stacking if they’re to be stored longer so the net wrap doesn’t touch the ground. The wrap is available in widths of 48, 51, 64 and 67 in., and lengths of 4,000 and 5,000 ft. Balers may require minor adjustments, but no modifications are necessary. “Just pile it, compost it in a manure pack, leave it, and spread it later,” Ruud says. “Our on-farm studies have shown that after 6 mos. in manure packs, our wrap was either gone or simply crumbled in our hands.” Nature’s Net Wrap is certified as compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), which requires that a product be 90% disintegrated within 12 weeks in commercial composting conditions. “Our wrap was 99.9% disintegrated under their conditions,” Ruud says. Nature’s Net Wrap costs about $1.25 to $1.50 more per bale than plastic net wrap. It’s available across North America at Case and New Holland dealerships. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nature’s Net Wrap (ph 855-638-9727; info@naturesnetwrap.com; www.naturesnetwrap.com).

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