WE are trying to find the best way to store 800 pound round bales outside. We make stacks that have two bales on the botom and one on the top. WE have used tarps from the local farm store before and theydid not stay on very well and only lasted one year. Has anyone used the tarps that have the pocket that you put the pipe in to help hold the tarp down? I cant find much on the internetabout them i did find them in the Farmtek catalog but the price seems a little high. Does anyone know a place that sells them also?
Visqueen would last one year at least, and is not real expensive. A good hold down would be an old tire or even a stick of firewood tied to each end of a red plastic baler twine and draped over the bales at every crack between the bales.
Another idea is those metal tent stakes... 4/$1.97 at Wal-mart. Do you have an "Ollie's" in your area... they have very good prices on tarps there.
We use to use those plastic sleeves for the round bales. On the average we could get 3-4 years out of them. Now we don't bother with covering them and have very little waste from them even though the are in the weather. We do store the square bales in the barn.
Go with the plastic sleeves and they will be fine. Like was said they can be used 3-4 years no problem. mikell
