The Hay Tarp, while not the most recent invention, is still head and shoulders above the common plastic tarp. Yes those are cheaper, and appear to be pretty much exactly the same, but would we be writing a blog about it if it were? Probably not!
The General
Why are we looking at hay tarps? There’s no point in rolling (or … squaring?) a bale of hay to just let it all go to waste, and on the off chance that you don’t have barn space for hay you’re going to have to find a decent way to keep it protected. Using a Hay Tarp to cover bales lets you:
Set Up a Storage Site Anywhere
The biggest advantage of using a tarp to cover bails (apart from how quick and easy it is) is the ability to simply cover a bale where it lays. Assuming you make your bales where you intend on storing them, there is little to no transportation involved. This also lets you use up any extra space you have around your property – simply pile your bales, cover, and let the storage season begin.
Reduce Weathering/Rain Exposure
As with all things left to the great outdoors, wind, rain, and just average sunlight will begin to break down a bail that is exposed to the elements. That’s probably why it’s called “weathering,” come to think of it. Rain on bales keeps them from properly drying out for storage, causing bacterial growth and mustiness that can lead to respiratory problems in livestock. Wind and rain can cause simple wear on your bale, gradually whittling away at your overall stored amount.
The Specifics
So far all of this sounds good, but doesn’t really sound all that different from a regular tarp, does it? This is where the Hay Tarp begins to excel over the standard plastic pull over:
UV Resistance
Anything left outside is going to weather; it’s a fact of life. The question is whether you want to use your tarp once and toss it out, or reuse it time and again. Celina’s Hay Tarps are made from materials that boast UV resistance, meaning that as they sit out in the sun day after day they are better able to resist the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays which commonly break down plastics and PVC.
Breathability
The other added benefit of specifically designed tarps is the breathability of the fabric. As your bales sit, they need to have moisture leave in order to keep them from growing mold or mildew. Tarps that let moisture evaporate through the fabric increase bale drying. While all of this is happening, the fabric is also non-porous enough to keep any excess water, say from rain, from leaking in and re-wetting the bales every time a storm rolls through.
Hay Tarps from Celina Industries are available in many sizes depending on the amount and orientation of bales that you have. Visit the product pages here for our sizes and prices; if you click on a product and find the “Literature” tab, you can access our Hay Bale Calculator to see what size of tarp you’re going to need. As always, feel free to call us at 888-986-2026 or use our website chat system (located in the lower right corner of the page) if you have any questions about these or any other Celina products.