Look at value and not just price for your netwrap, stretchfilm and baler wrap this season

"All crop packaging products will cost more in 2008 - but remember that quality counts for more than just price when you are protecting your valuable crop," points out Graham Robson, Technical Manager of UAT Ltd. "The best quality netwrap, stretchfilm and baler twine are all made from virgin polymers, with no recycled raw materials used, hence the price of oil has a direct impact on the cost of the finished product."

So, how can growers reduce the effect of the inevitable and keep control of their crop packaging costs? The main advice from Mr Robson is to be careful what you buy and who from: "If the product you are offered is cheap, ask yourself why it is out of line with the market, as all manufacturers are faced with the same cost pressures. For a start, check that a length of a roll of netwrap is fully stated and is not a +/- tolerance or, even worse, just an indication."

"Also, some producers still only offer the older type of 3000m netwrap, which will appear cheaper on a roll per roll comparison, but will not give the benefits of the more advanced 4200m netwrap which is 40% longer and also reduces farm waste by cutting down the number of rolls required to achieve the same bale count."