6 Best Sisal Baling Twines For Premium That Old Farmers Swear By

We’ve all been there: you’re on the last pass of the field, the sun is setting, and you hear the dreaded snap followed by the sound of your baler spitting out a loose, mangled mess. A broken bale isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s lost time, wasted hay, and pure frustration. Choosing the right baling twine is one of the cheapest forms of insurance you can buy for your haying season.

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Why Natural Sisal Twine Still Reigns Supreme

In a world of synthetic everything, natural sisal still has a firm grip on the hay field for good reason. Unlike plastic twine that has to be painstakingly removed before feeding and can get tangled in equipment or ingested by livestock, sisal is biodegradable. It breaks down naturally in the field or compost pile, saving you a tedious cleanup job.

Many older balers, the kind most of us run on our small farms, were designed specifically for the feel and texture of sisal. The knotters grab it reliably, and its natural fibers have a "tooth" that helps knots hold tight under pressure. Plastic can be too slick for worn knotter mechanisms, leading to frustrating and inconsistent tying.

Of course, there’s a tradeoff. Sisal isn’t as rot-resistant as plastic, so it won’t hold up for years of outdoor storage. But for hay that will be used within a season or two and stored under cover, its practicality and environmental friendliness are hard to beat.

Tytan International for Unmatched Knot Strength

When your primary concern is preventing bale failure, Tytan is a name that consistently comes up. This twine is known for its exceptional knot strength, which is the measure of how much force a knot can withstand before it breaks or slips. This is where most twine failures happen, not in the middle of the string.

Tytan’s reputation is built on consistency. From the beginning of the spool to the end, you get a uniform thickness and strength, which means your baler’s knotters don’t have to constantly adjust to variations. This reliability is what you’re paying for—the peace of mind that comes from knowing your bales will stay tightly packed from the field to the barn.

Is it the cheapest option? Rarely. But a slightly higher price per box is a small price to pay to avoid the back-breaking work of re-baling or hand-tying a dozen broken bales on a hot July afternoon. Think of it as an investment in a smoother, less stressful haying season.

Cotesi ONE: European Quality and Consistency

If you’re running a well-maintained baler and demand absolute perfection with every knot, Cotesi is often the answer. This Portuguese brand is synonymous with premium quality and is engineered to run flawlessly. Its smooth, uniform texture is less likely to fray or shed fibers, which can gum up a baler’s knotter assembly over time.

The real advantage of Cotesi ONE is its predictability. It flows smoothly through the baler, ties clean, tight knots, and has a very high tensile strength that keeps dense bales from sagging. For farmers baling high-value crops like pure alfalfa, where bale integrity is paramount, the extra cost is easily justified.

This is the twine you choose when you can’t afford any downtime. If you’re racing against an incoming rainstorm or have a very small window to get your hay up, the last thing you need is a twine-related problem. Cotesi provides a level of confidence that lets you focus on the job at hand.

Bridon Cordage: A Trusted Name for Generations

Bridon is the old, reliable standard that many farmers learned to bale with. It’s a North American workhorse brand that has built a legacy on delivering solid, dependable performance without the premium price tag. It represents a perfect balance between quality and value.

You won’t find flashy marketing here, just consistently good twine that works in a wide range of balers, from ancient New Hollands to slightly less ancient John Deeres. It has enough strength for typical grass hay bales and is forgiving enough to work with slightly worn knotters. It’s the definition of "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

For the small farmer who needs a no-fuss solution, Bridon is often the go-to. It’s a known quantity. You know what you’re getting in every box, and you know it will get the job done year after year.

Cordexagri Sisal for Heavy, Dense Hay Bales

Not all hay is created equal. If you’re baling heavy, moisture-rich crops like first-cut alfalfa or dense forage grasses, you need a twine that can handle the extra pressure. This is where Cordexagri shines, as it’s often engineered with a higher-than-average tensile strength.

This extra strength does more than just prevent breakage. It ensures your bales hold their shape. A bale made with weaker twine can "squat" or relax over time, leading to unstable stacks in the barn. Cordexagri’s robust nature keeps bales tight and square, making them easier to handle, transport, and stack safely.

While it might be overkill for light, fluffy second-cut grass hay, it’s the right tool for the job when you’re pushing your baler to make tight, heavy bales. It gives you the confidence to pack more hay into every bale without worrying if the twine can take the strain.

Holland Extra: Treated for Outdoor Storage Life

One of sisal’s biggest weaknesses is its vulnerability to moisture and rot. Holland Extra addresses this head-on by offering twine that is specially treated to resist the elements. This treatment helps fend off mildew and UV degradation, significantly extending the twine’s life.

This is the ideal choice for anyone whose hay storage situation is less than perfect. If you have to store bales outside on pallets under a tarp for a few months, this treated twine is your best bet. Untreated sisal can start to weaken and break in a matter of weeks when exposed to ground moisture and rain, causing your carefully made stacks to collapse.

The treatment is biodegradable, so you still get the environmental benefits of natural fiber. It simply slows the decomposition process, giving you a wider window for storage and use. It’s a practical solution for the reality of limited barn space that many hobby farmers face.

America’s Best: Consistent Value for Small Farms

For the small-scale farmer baling a few hundred bales a year, a top-shelf premium twine isn’t always necessary. America’s Best is a brand focused on delivering solid, reliable performance at a very competitive price point. It’s the value choice for getting the job done without breaking the budget.

This twine provides adequate strength for most standard haying operations, particularly with grass hay that doesn’t require extremely dense packing. It runs well in most older balers and provides a dependable knot that you can count on. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t always need the most expensive option to get a good result.

The tradeoff for the lower price might be slightly less uniformity compared to a premium brand like Cotesi. However, for the vast majority of everyday baling jobs on a small farm, it offers an unbeatable combination of affordability and function. It’s a smart choice for keeping input costs low.

Matching Twine Tensile Strength to Your Baler

Choosing a brand is only half the battle; you also need to select the right strength. Sisal twine is typically rated by its "knot strength" in pounds-force (lbf). This number tells you how much force is needed to break the twine at the knot.

A simple framework can help you decide:

• 130-160 lbf Knot Strength: This is the standard range for most small square balers. It’s perfect for grass hay and older balers that make slightly looser, lighter bales.
• 170-200+ lbf Knot Strength: This is considered heavy-duty. Choose this if you’re baling dense material like alfalfa or straw, or if you have a modern, high-capacity baler that packs bales extremely tight.

Remember, your baler’s tension settings play a huge role. If you crank up the tension to make heavy "bricks," you must use a stronger twine to match. Using a light twine for a heavy bale is a recipe for broken bales all over the field. Always match the twine’s strength to the density of the bale you intend to make.

Ultimately, the best twine is the one that runs reliably in your machine and holds your bales together until feeding time. Whether you prioritize ultimate strength, value, or weather resistance, choosing a quality brand is a small step that prevents big problems. It ensures that all your hard work cutting, raking, and baling is safely secured.