New ASABE Standard Enables Uniformity in Baler Net Wrap

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has completed a new standard for net wrap used in baling hay. ASABE S532 APR2014, Net Wrap for Round Balers, standardizes knitted net wrap nomenclature and dimensional and packaging requirements.

Many manufacturers produce round baler net wrap, but the lack of standardized dimensional requirements contributes to incompatibility with baler wrapper systems. ASABE S532 APR2014 provides a tool for dimensional compatibility with all systems and promotes safe handling of net rolls. This standard is not intended to restrict manufacturers’ use of materials or manufacturing processes, but rather to provide dimensional compatibility with round balers.

ASABE maintains a separate standard for the specifications and performance of baling twine, ANSI/ASAE S315.4 DEC2011 Agricultural Baling Twine for Automatic Balers.

ASABE members with standards access and those with site-license privileges can access the full-text of the standard by electronic download at elibrary.asabe.org. Others can obtain a copy for a fee directly from the library or by contacting ASABE headquarters at martin@asabe.org.

Conformance to ASABE standards is voluntary, except where required by state, provincial, or other governmental requirements, and the documents are developed by consensus in accordance with procedures approved by the American National Standards Institute. For information on this or any other ASABE standard, contact Scott Cedarquist at cedarq@asabe.org.