Sisal twine $$$$$$

draftx · Mar 29, 2015

Our TSC has not gotten their supply of twine yet. Selling last years 9000 sisal for square balers $59.00. Its all I have ever used. Wanting to try and see if plastic will work in it. I would appreciate any education on plastic , good brands, weights, etc. Thanks

rrlund · Mar 29, 2015

Better figure the extra added cost of plastic twine in the bearings that you'll ruin with that stuff laying around for the next 100 years.

RayP(MI) · Mar 29, 2015

Some balers like plastic some don't. If yours doesn't you can go to great efforts to make it work. Plastic is a no-no here as animals get wrapped in it, leading to injury. Also gets into wool and is almost impossible to get it out. As careful as I am with stray tines, I still find myself picking up loose ones constantly. Like rrlund says plastic will get into and destroy bearings on all kinds of machines. Renters used plastic when my dad was alive. Took me years to recover and clear all the loose twines on the farm. If you store hay properly, sisal should do you fine.

Scott 730 · Mar 29, 2015

There hasn't been a baler or manure spreader on my ground for 20 years and I still get plastic twine in the field cultivator.

Bill VA · Mar 29, 2015

I saw this price increase coming. I cleaned out what was left of the JD dealer's 9000 sisal - 6 bales at $40 each. I was glad to get it. Next year, I might change to plastic if the prices stay high.

old · Mar 29, 2015

A lot depends on the baler. Some do not mind the switch some you have to buy a few new parts to do it so you have to fill in the gap as to what you have for use to know if it is a big deal or not

Bret4207 · Mar 30, 2015

I went to plastic some years back when I couldn't get good sisal. I see no reason to go back to sisal. Yes, you di have to do more housecleaning and pick up after yourself. But I've never, ever left so much around that any animal could possibly get caught and die in it. Yes, it can get tangled around axles and ruin a bearing,but so can wire and lot of other stuff. We are not spit and polish here at all, but if I can get by with plastic I'd think anyone can. I know my old 68 NH baler works great with plastic and I never adjusted or changed a thing to run plastic.

OTOH, if you are one of those people who throws whole bales with the twine on to his livestock, plastic is likely a bad choice.

showcrop · Mar 31, 2015

I have cleaned out barns or spread manure from people who throw twine in with manure, I keep after it but I don't go back to places that don't keep their manure clean, LOL. I think that I have found maybe two lengths of twine in my own hayfields in the twenty or so years that I have been using plastic. You don't throw trash on your lawn do you? Plastic will work in any properly adjusted knotters. It will behave you to go through your knotters according to the manual anyway.

RickB · Mar 31, 2015

"You don't throw trash on your lawn do you? "
Awesome post. Couldn't have said it better. My parents taught me to pick up after myself, and anyone I supervised learned to do the same in short order. Having plastic twine all over the farm is NOT a given, only if it is allowed.

Sisal twine $$$$$$

draftx

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rrlund

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RayP(MI)

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Scott 730

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Bill VA

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old

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Bret4207

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showcrop

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RickB

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