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Agricultural Film Price: What Determines the Cost?
Agricultural film, also known as agri film, can perform several functions and is sold in many designs and pack formats. This article looks at the main film types and, through them, at what determines agricultural film price and what to consider when choosing.
Types of agricultural film
To understand agricultural film price, it helps to know the main film types first. Films can be grouped by their function on the one hand, and by their physical and environmental properties on the other.
By function, we distinguish the following agricultural films:
Mulch film – generally used in crop cultivation to suppress weed growth, so that far less herbicide (chemicals) is needed; if it is also made from biodegradable materials, it is an even more environmentally conscious solution.
Polytunnel film – a polytunnel is a less costly alternative to a glasshouse. These films let light through better than glass, the soil and the air under the film warm up better, and the tunnel also moderates the effect of night-time cooling. Light transmission does, however, decrease over time, and with it the film’s effectiveness.
Internal agricultural films – their main function is heat retention.
Row cover films – used to pre-warm the soil and keep pests away.
By physical properties, we distinguish between transparent and black, UV-stabilised or UV-resistant, and thick and thin films.
From an environmental perspective, there are films made from virgin and from recycled raw materials, as well as biodegradable and non-biodegradable films.
What determines agricultural film price?
The price depends on the thickness, the level of UV stability, the raw materials used and the packaging format.
As a rule, the thicker the film, the more expensive it is – and the harder it is to tear. Our company manufactures mulch film in custom sizes and thicknesses to suit your needs.
UV stability or UV resistance has a major influence on price. Manufacturers usually state the service period in the product properties. For polytunnels, this period indicates how long the film will last on the frame. There are 1-, 2- and 3-year films, and the price difference between them is considerable.
Film made from recycled raw materials is cheaper than film made from virgin materials. Mulch film made from biodegradable raw materials, on the other hand, is generally more expensive than conventional film.
Film bought by the metre costs more than film supplied on the roll.
We provide personalised quotations for film made to individual requirements – for example, film pre-cut to match the required row and plant spacing.
As with any other product, the price naturally also depends on the quantity ordered.
How to choose agricultural film
When choosing a film, you need to decide how long the mulch film should take to degrade – so that, for example, you do not have to deal with removing the film before the next planting.
For polytunnels, UV resistance is the top priority. If the film is made from non-degradable material, it should at least be recyclable. Pay attention to the loads and environmental conditions the film has been optimised for.
Summary
First decide what you will use the film for, then define the properties you expect. Calculate how much film you will need and, once you know the quantity, compare prices. Find the solution that offers the best value for money!