5 best silage tarps that Withstand the Elements

You’ve spent the entire season growing, cutting, and piling the perfect forage to get your livestock through the winter. Now, that mountain of potential nutrition sits waiting, vulnerable to rain, sun, and oxygen—the enemies of preservation. The final, critical step is choosing the right silage tarp, a decision that will determine whether you open up a pile of prime feed or a layer of moldy waste.

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Why a Quality Silage Tarp is Non-Negotiable

For a hobby farmer, every bit of feed counts. The primary job of a silage tarp is to create an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, which allows beneficial bacteria to ferment the forage, preserving its nutrients and making it palatable for livestock. A cheap, thin tarp from the hardware store simply won’t do the job. It will tear, degrade in the sun, and allow oxygen to penetrate, leading to spoilage, nutrient loss, and the growth of harmful molds.

Think of a quality tarp not as a cost, but as insurance on your most valuable winter asset. Even a few inches of spoilage across the top of a small bunker or pile represents a significant loss. That’s not just lost feed; it’s wasted fuel from your tractor, wasted time in the field, and wasted effort from a long growing season. The financial loss from spoiled feed will almost always exceed the cost savings of a cheap cover.

Furthermore, feeding spoiled silage is a direct risk to your animals’ health. Molds and mycotoxins that thrive in oxygen-rich environments can cause a range of issues, from digestive upset and reduced milk production to serious respiratory problems or even death. A top-tier silage tarp is a fundamental component of good animal husbandry, ensuring the feed you provide is safe and nutritious.

Key Features: Mil Thickness, UV, and O2 Barrier

When comparing silage tarps, you’ll see a few key specifications, and understanding them is crucial. Mil thickness is the most common metric, representing the tarp’s thickness in thousandths of an inch (e.g., 5 mil = 0.005 inches). While a higher mil count generally means better puncture and tear resistance, it’s not the only measure of quality. A well-engineered 5-mil tarp can easily outperform a poorly made 6-mil one.

UV (ultraviolet) resistance is absolutely critical. A silage pile may be covered for six months or more, fully exposed to the sun. Without proper UV inhibitors woven into the plastic, a tarp will become brittle and crack, creating countless entry points for air and water. Look for tarps specifically rated for long-term sun exposure, often featuring a white outer layer to reflect sunlight and keep the silage underneath cooler, which further aids in proper fermentation.

The most important, and often overlooked, feature is the Oxygen (O2) Barrier. Standard polyethylene plastic is actually permeable to oxygen; molecules can slowly pass right through it. High-quality silage films are multi-layered products that include a special barrier layer, often made of polyamide or EVOH, specifically designed to block oxygen transmission. This is the single most effective feature for preventing the slow, invisible spoilage that degrades the top several inches of your feed.

Raven FeedPro-G: Top All-Around Performer

If you’re looking for a dependable, no-nonsense workhorse of a silage cover, the Raven FeedPro-G is it. This is the classic black-and-white tarp that has proven itself on farms for years, offering a fantastic balance of strength, performance, and value. It’s constructed with high-quality resins that provide excellent puncture and tear resistance, so it can handle being walked on or having gravel bags dragged across it during installation.

The FeedPro-G provides solid UV protection, ensuring it will last the entire season without becoming brittle or breaking down. While it may not have the absolute cutting-edge oxygen barrier of a specialized film, its performance is more than adequate for most small-farm applications, significantly reducing spoilage compared to any generic cover. It’s a reliable product that does exactly what you expect it to do, year after year.

This is the right tarp for you if: You need a proven, all-around solution that won’t let you down. For general haylage, corn silage, or baleage piles, the FeedPro-G offers professional-grade protection without the premium price of more specialized systems. It’s the smart, safe choice for the farmer who values reliability and durability above all else.

Silostop Orange: Ultimate Oxygen Barrier Film

Silostop isn’t a traditional heavy tarp; it’s a thin, flexible, and incredibly effective oxygen barrier film. It’s designed to be laid directly on the forage, where it clings to the surface and eliminates air pockets. Its unique multi-layer construction makes it 100 times more effective at blocking oxygen than conventional black-and-white plastic, resulting in a dramatic reduction in surface spoilage.

Because it’s thin, Silostop is almost always used as part of a two-layer system. You first apply the orange film, then cover it with a durable, UV-protective black-and-white tarp (like the Up North Sunfilm) to shield it from punctures and sun damage. This combination provides the best of both worlds: an unbeatable oxygen seal and a tough outer shell. The bright orange color also makes it incredibly easy to spot any tears or holes in your outer cover.

This is the right film for you if: You are focused on maximizing the quality and nutritional value of your feed. For high-value forage like alfalfa haylage or BMR corn silage intended for dairy animals or finishing livestock, the investment in a Silostop system pays for itself many times over in preserved protein, energy, and dry matter. It’s the undisputed champion for anyone unwilling to accept any amount of waste.

Up North Plastics Sunfilm: Heavy-Duty Choice

When physical toughness is your top priority, Up North Plastics Sunfilm is the answer. This is a seriously durable, heavy-duty cover engineered to withstand the harshest conditions. It boasts exceptional puncture and tear resistance, making it the ideal choice for piles in high-traffic areas, or for covering abrasive feeds like corn silage with sharp stalk ends.

Manufactured in the northern US, Sunfilm is built with superior UV protection to endure long-term sun exposure without degrading. Its multi-layer, co-extruded construction provides strength that goes beyond simple thickness. This is the kind of tarp that gives you peace of mind, knowing it can stand up to high winds, heavy snow loads, and the occasional misstep from a person or animal.

This is the right tarp for you if: You prioritize durability and brute strength. If your silage pile is located where it might get bumped by equipment, walked on by deer, or pecked at by birds, the robust construction of Sunfilm is your best defense. It’s the armor your feed pile needs when you know it’s going to take a beating.

BOLD Silage Sheeting: Best Value for Coverage

For the hobby farmer working on a tight budget or needing to cover a large area, BOLD Silage Sheeting offers an unbeatable combination of performance and price. It delivers reliable, professional-grade protection without the premium cost associated with some of the top-tier brands. It’s a significant step up from generic tarps, providing good durability and solid UV inhibitors in a classic black-and-white design.

While BOLD may not feature the most advanced oxygen barrier technology on the market, it provides a dependable seal that effectively prevents the vast majority of spoilage. It’s a practical, no-frills solution that gets the job done well. For many types of forage where preserving every last percentage point of protein isn’t the primary goal, BOLD is more than enough to ensure a high-quality end product.

This is the right tarp for you if: Cost-effectiveness is your main driver. If you’re covering a large pile of sorghum-sudan grass, oatlage, or simply need a good, reliable cover for your balage row, BOLD provides the best bang for your buck. It’s the smart choice for getting dependable coverage without over-investing.

RKW Polydress 2IN1: Innovative Combo Film

The RKW Polydress 2IN1 system brilliantly solves one of the biggest challenges of covering a silage pile: wrestling with two separate layers. This innovative product combines a high-performance oxygen barrier film and a durable black-and-white protective tarp into a single, easy-to-deploy sheet. The two films are folded together at the factory, allowing you to unroll them in one simple step.

This design is a game-changer for anyone working alone or trying to cover a pile before a storm rolls in. It cuts installation time in half and eliminates the frustration of trying to keep a slippery underlay film in place while pulling a heavy top tarp over it. You get the premium spoilage protection of a two-layer system with the unmatched convenience of a single application.

This is the right tarp for you if: You value your time and labor above all else. For the part-time farmer who is always short on help and daylight, the efficiency of the 2IN1 system is a massive advantage. It takes the hassle out of achieving a perfect, two-layer seal, making it the smartest choice for streamlined operations.

Proper Tarp Installation for Maximum Protection

Even the world’s best silage tarp will fail if it’s not installed correctly. The goal is to create a completely airtight seal around the entire pile. Before you even think about the cover, ensure your pile is packed densely and shaped with a crown to shed rainwater. Any dips or low spots will collect water, putting immense pressure on the tarp and potentially creating a pathway for spoilage.

When you’re ready to cover, unroll the tarp carefully, avoiding dragging it over sharp rocks or stubble. If you have to use multiple pieces, overlap the seams by at least four feet, with the upper piece overlapping the lower one like a shingle to shed water. Before sealing the edges, do your best to smooth out the tarp and remove large air pockets between the plastic and the forage. Some farmers will even use a leaf blower to help the tarp "suck down" onto the pile.

The final and most crucial step is sealing the perimeter. The most effective method is to dig a small trench, about 6-8 inches deep, around the entire base of the pile. Tuck the edges of the tarp into the trench and firmly backfill it with soil or gravel. This creates a continuous, airtight seal at the ground level, preventing oxygen from seeping in from the bottom and undermining all your hard work.

Securing Your Tarp: Gravel Bags vs. Old Tires

The debate over what to use to weigh down a tarp is a classic one on any farm. Old tires are often free and plentiful, making them the default choice for many. However, they come with significant downsides: they collect stagnant, mosquito-filled water, they can have exposed steel wires that will puncture your expensive new tarp, and they are awkward and messy to move.

Gravel bags, or silage bags, are the purpose-built solution. These durable woven bags are filled with pea gravel or sand and laid end-to-end to create a continuous line of weight. This uniform pressure provides a much better seal than the intermittent weight of tires. They are easy to handle, stack neatly for storage, and don’t hold water. While they require an upfront investment, they will last for years and make the job of securing and uncovering your pile significantly easier and more effective.

While tires can certainly work in a pinch, gravel bags are unequivocally the better tool for the job, especially around the perimeter where a perfect seal is essential. A highly effective and budget-friendly compromise is to use gravel bags to seal the entire perimeter and any seams, then use a grid of tires to weigh down the center of the pile. This gives you a guaranteed airtight seal where it counts most, while still utilizing a free resource.

Final Verdict: Investing in Feed Preservation

Choosing a silage tarp is far more than just buying a piece of plastic; it’s the final act in a season-long process of producing high-quality feed. The small price difference between a cheap, ineffective cover and a high-performance silage film is insignificant when compared to the value of the forage it’s protecting. Skimping here is a classic example of being penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Your decision should be based on a realistic assessment of your needs. Consider the value of the forage you’re covering, your tolerance for waste, and the amount of labor you have available. Whether you need the all-around reliability of a Raven FeedPro-G, the ultimate protection of a Silostop system, or the brute strength of an Up North Sunfilm, there is a product designed to meet your specific goals.

Ultimately, a well-covered silage pile is a cornerstone of a successful small-farm operation. It ensures your animals have safe, nutritious feed throughout the lean months, reducing your reliance on expensive purchased feed and protecting their health. Investing in the right cover isn’t an expense—it’s a direct investment in the efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of your farm.

Ultimately, the best silage tarp is the one that lets you sleep soundly, knowing your hard-earned forage is safe from the elements. Don’t let a poor choice at the finish line undermine a whole season of work. Your livestock, and your wallet, will thank you for it come spring.