Conan Roland, a New Zealand-based contractor, has transformed the way he wraps his silage bales, opting to use Baletite, to meet customer demands for higher-quality forage and improved bale consistency.
Mr Roland runs a successful contracting business based in the Waikato region of New Zealand.
Having grown up on his parent’s dairy farm, the family still run 150 pedigree jerseys, but Mr Rolands has channelled his focus into contracting.
With 100 acres of his own land earmarked for grass silage, his operation specialises in silage contracting, from cultivations right through to forage harvesting.
He has seen an increase in demand in recent years due to the growing number of dairy enterprises in New Zealand.
"There’s a huge demand for offering a high-quality service when the dairy industry is going from strength to strength here," Mr Roland says.
Offering mowing, raking, baling, and clamping, Mr Roland can handle up to 6,000 bales even in a poorer growing season.
Motivation for change
Over the years, the customer demand for film-on-film bales became too large to ignore, which led Mr Roland to trialling various net replacement films (NRF), having understood its ability to optimise silage quality.
His decision to switch to Silotite’s NRF solution, Baletite, was driven by the need to improve the consistency and quality of the bales he produced.
“The demand from customers for film-on-film bales was clear,” he explains.
“They wanted a superior wrap that provided a better seal, particularly right up to the edges of the bale, to guarantee better quality silage.”
Silotite’ NRF solution, Baletite, offered high performance and consistent wrapping, and became the natural fit for the business, which relies on providing customers with the best possible product.
The transition to Baletite
Mr Roland’s machinery setup includes a Fendt Vario baler, equipped with a custom-built film-on-film system.
While New Zealanders often replace their balers every few years, it is also standard practice to maintain the same bale wrapper and fit it to multiple machines.
Having got on well with his Goweil wrapper, Mr Roland was determined to tweak the design of his baler to be able to deliver the film-on-film his customers demanded.
“I built my own system for film-on-film application because I wanted to ensure the wrap reached the edges of the bale properly,” Mr Roland says.
“My customers expect a perfectly shaped bale, and the consistency of the wrap is key to that.”
Customer feedback to NRF
The results of switching to Baletite have been overwhelmingly positive.
“From the moment I started using it, I noticed an improvement in the shape and quality of the bales,” Mr Roland says.
"Bales are more uniform and better sealed, which helps with storage and ultimately a consistently high feed quality throughout the winter.”
Feedback from his customers has mirrored his own experience. "Farmers have told me that they notice a difference in the quality of the silage, especially in how well the bales hold up during storage," he says.
“The wrap is more reliable, and the silage maintains its quality for a longer period.”
Consistency and performance of film and film
One of the standout features of Baletite for Mr Roland has been its consistent performance, day in and day out.
He was quick to highlight the ease of use, with no issues around the film ripping or failing to wrap evenly.
“The wrap doesn’t cause any issues with the rollers, and it consistently performs well, whether it’s a hot day or during periods of heavy use,” he explains.
“Other alternatives I’ve tried in the past have been more prone to issues with the rollers not performing as expected, but with Baletite, I haven’t had any of those issues.”
Why Baletite?
For Mr Roland, Baletite’s stiffer film was a key factor in its superior performance. Unlike alternatives, which rely on stretchable film likened to bale wrap, Baletite uses a ‘holding force’ technology that ensures the film holds its shape and doesn't shrink or stretch unevenly, which can compromise the quality of the bale.
“I’ve tried other makes based on price, but none of them have given me the same results,” he says.
“Baletite is just a different level of quality, particularly in the way it holds the bale shape, especially around the edges, where moisture can otherwise seep in."
Looking ahead
With the positive response from both Mr Roland and his customers, it's clear that Baletite has become an integral part of his silage operation.
As demand for high-quality silage continues to grow, he is confident that his decision to use Baletite has positioned him to meet customer demand more effectively.
"In the end, it's about delivering a product that helps farmers feed their herds in the best possible way," he concludes. "Baletite has helped me do that, and it’s now the only NRF I’ll use moving forward.”
