{"id":349,"date":"2026-05-07T06:18:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T06:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hay-balers.com\/?p=349"},"modified":"2026-05-07T06:28:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T06:28:26","slug":"net-wrap-vs-twine-round-baler-tying-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hay-balers.com\/uk\/application\/net-wrap-vs-twine-round-baler-tying-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Net Wrap vs. Twine Tying System: Which One Should Your Baler Have?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Few choices on a round baler get debated more than the tying system. The net wrap vs. twine<\/strong> question affects how fast you bale, how the bales hold up in storage, what your customers think of the finished product, and exactly how much you pay per bale at the end of the year. The right choice is not always the same for every operation \u2014 but the math behind it is surprisingly clear once you lay it out.<\/p>\n

\"net-wrap-vs-twine-round-baler-tying-system\"<\/p>\n

Quick verdict:<\/strong> Net wrap is faster, gentler on leaves, prettier on the wagon, and protects against outdoor storage losses. Twine is roughly half the cost per bale and is mechanically simpler \u2014 perfect for small operations, baleage you will unwrap quickly, and bales going straight inside.<\/div>\n

1. The Mechanics: How Each System Secures a Bale<\/h2>\n

Twine<\/h3>\n

Twine is a poly or sisal cord fed from a spool. After the bale reaches its set diameter, the chamber spins the bale while a twine arm wraps cord around the cylinder. A typical bale needs 20\u201330 revolutions<\/strong> of twine to be fully secured.<\/p>\n

Net wrap<\/h3>\n

Net wrap is a knitted polyethylene mesh fed across the entire width of the chamber. Because the net covers the bale in a single sheet, only 2\u20134 revolutions<\/strong> are needed before the wrap is cut and the bale is ejected. The net effectively encases the cylinder rather than tying it.<\/p>\n

2. The Numbers Every Operator Should Know<\/h2>\n

Wisconsin agricultural research and ASABE field studies have repeatedly measured the same outcomes:<\/p>\n

A round baler set up for net wrap produces about 32% more bales per hour than the same baler running twine.<\/div>\n
Wrapping crop loss is roughly 1.0% (net) vs 2.9% (twine) \u2014 a real difference in leaf retention for alfalfa and high-protein hay.<\/div>\n
Outdoor storage dry-matter losses are about 7.3% (net) vs 11.3% (twine) \u2014 though inside storage beats both.<\/div>\n

3. Side-by-Side Comparison<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Factor<\/th>\nTwine<\/th>\nNet wrap<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Wraps per bale<\/td>\n20\u201330 revolutions<\/td>\n2\u20134 revolutions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost per bale (typical)<\/td>\n~$0.50<\/td>\n~$1.00<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bales per hour<\/td>\nBaseline<\/td>\n+30% faster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leaf loss in chamber<\/td>\nHigher<\/td>\nLower<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Outdoor storage loss<\/td>\n~11% DM<\/td>\n~7% DM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bale shape retention<\/td>\nAdequate<\/td>\nExcellent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Removal in winter<\/td>\nEasy<\/td>\nHarder when frozen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Initial baler cost<\/td>\nLower<\/td>\nHigher (mechanism + monitor)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best for<\/td>\nSmall acreage, baleage, indoor storage<\/td>\nCommercial production, sale, outdoor stacks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

4. Where Net Wrap Genuinely Wins<\/h2>\n

Speed during a weather window<\/h3>\n

Hay baling is often a race against rain. Saving 30% of baling time can be the difference between getting the crop into the barn and losing it. For custom operators who bill by the bale, net wrap is essentially mandatory \u2014 more bales per hour means more revenue per day.<\/p>\n

Leaf retention on premium hay<\/h3>\n

Fewer revolutions in the chamber means less leaf shatter. For dairy alfalfa, horse hay, and any premium-priced hay where leaf-to-stem ratio is the visible quality marker, net wrap pays its premium back in the per-bale price.<\/p>\n

Outdoor storage<\/h3>\n

Net wrap forms a tighter, more uniform shell that sheds water better than twine bands. Field studies show net-wrapped bales lose roughly one-third less dry matter outdoors than twine-wrapped bales. (That said, no wrap substitutes for proper inside storage \u2014 both options lose far more dry matter outside than in.)<\/p>\n

Curb appeal<\/h3>\n

Bales going to a livestock auction, a feed dealer, or a roadside customer simply look more professional in net. It is a small thing that closes sales.<\/p>\n

5. Where Twine Still Makes Sense<\/h2>\n

Smaller operations and mini balers<\/h3>\n

For most compact-tractor producers, twine systems are mechanically simpler, cheaper to service, and produce bales that are easy to open. A small farmer baling 5\u201320 acres is rarely throughput-limited, so the speed advantage of net wrap matters less. A reliable twine-equipped 9YG-1.0 round baler machine<\/a> is often the most cost-effective choice for small acreage where every dollar of consumable matters.<\/p>\n

Baleage and silage<\/h3>\n

For high-moisture forage that will be wrapped in plastic film immediately after baling, the in-baler tying system is mostly cosmetic \u2014 the plastic wrap does the real work. Twine is fine, simple, and cheap.<\/p>\n

Operations that feed their own livestock<\/h3>\n

If you are feeding bales out within months and never selling, the marginal benefit of net wrap is small. Twine is fine, and the savings add up.<\/p>\n

Cold-climate winter feeding<\/h3>\n

Frozen net wrap is genuinely difficult to remove. Twine, especially when cut with a knife, comes off easier. Operators in northern climates often deliberately keep a twine baler in the fleet for winter-feed bales.<\/p>\n

6. Real Cost Per Bale Over a Season<\/h2>\n

Run a 1,000-bale season:<\/p>\n