Agriculture
Agricultural Plastics for Tough, High-Exposure Farm Environments
Durable agricultural plastics for equipment, livestock facilities, crop protection, and water management.
Agricultural plastics—often called “ag plastics” or farming plastics—are engineered polymer materials used in barns, fields, and processing areas to reduce wear, cut maintenance, and improve efficiency. From slurry chutes and kick plates to tanks, troughs, and irrigation components, Laird Plastics supplies high-performance plastics that stand up to abrasion, moisture, and chemicals in demanding agricultural environments.
Plastics for Machinery, Livestock, Crop Protection & Water Systems
Laird Plastics supports agriculture customers with plastics that run quieter, last longer, and perform better than traditional materials in barns, fields, and processing facilities.
Wear & Liner Plastics for Equipment
Low FrictionLow-friction plastics used as liners, guides, and wear strips in chutes, augers, conveyors, and material-handling equipment to reduce drag and extend service life.
Tank & Containment Plastics
Chemical ResistancePlastics for water, fertilizer, and chemical tanks that resist corrosion, cracking, and impact in outdoor environments and on mobile equipment.
Livestock & Barn Plastics
Animal-FriendlySmooth, quiet, and easy-to-clean plastics for stalls, pens, kick plates, and trailer interiors that help protect animals and equipment from impact and abrasion.
Water & Irrigation Plastics
Flow ControlPlastics for piping, manifolds, and control components used in slurry systems, watering lines, and irrigation networks across fields and livestock facilities.
Quick Facts: Selecting Plastics for Agricultural Use
Use these parameters to compare agricultural plastics against steel, wood, and rubber alternatives when making material decisions on the farm.
| Parameter | Why It Matters | Design Guidance | Typical Farm Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abrasion & impact resistance Wear Life | Grain, feed, manure, and soil cause heavy wear on chutes, augers, and conveyors, leading to frequent replacement when using metal or wood. | Use tough, low-friction plastics such as UHMW and HDPE where bulk material slides or impacts to extend life and reduce noise. | Chutes, troughs, drag plates, liners, bucket elevator seals, and skid plates. |
| Friction & horsepower | High friction surfaces require more horsepower to move material and can generate heat and noise in rotating equipment. | Select low-friction plastics for contact surfaces to reduce power draw, improve efficiency, and keep equipment running quieter around animals and operators. | Auger flight facings, conveyor wear strips, and drag conveyor components. |
| Chemical & moisture resistance Corrosion | Fertilizers, manure, feed additives, and constant moisture can corrode metal, swell wood, and degrade some rubbers. | Use plastics with proven resistance to the specific chemicals and moisture exposure on your farm, and consider UV-stabilized grades for outdoor use. | Fertilizer tanks, chemical storage, wash-down areas, watering systems. |
| Temperature & UV exposure | Outdoor equipment and structures see daily temperature swings and strong sunlight that can crack or fade unprotected materials. | Choose UV-stabilized plastics and grades with appropriate temperature resistance for your climate and installation (e.g., high-sun, cold-start conditions). | Covers, panels, shields, and exterior machine guards. |
| Hygiene & cleanability Biosecurity | Surfaces in contact with animals, feed, or water need to be easy to wash down and resistant to cleaning chemicals. | Smooth, non-porous plastics are easier to sanitize than wood or rusted metal and can support biosecurity programs and animal health. | Stalls, pens, feeders, troughs, tank interiors, and wash areas. |
| Lifecycle cost & sustainability | Material cost is only part of the picture—labor, downtime, and replacement frequency affect total cost of ownership. | Evaluate plastics based on service life, maintenance reduction, and potential recycling options rather than just initial price per sheet or part. | Any high-wear or hard-to-access component where downtime is costly. |
How to Choose the Right Plastic for Farm Equipment & Facilities
Matching material performance to the job site is key. Use these steps to narrow your agricultural plastics options before finalizing a design or retrofit.
Define where and how the part will be used
Start with the environment and duty cycle so you understand what the plastic must survive over its service life.
- ● Barn, feedlot, field, processing area, or mobile equipment.
- ● Type of material sliding or impacting the surface (grain, silage, manure, soil).
- ● Exposure to moisture, mud, fertilizers, or cleaning chemicals.
Prioritize wear, friction, and noise reduction
On moving equipment, the right plastic can directly impact horsepower, energy use, and noise levels.
- ● Identify where material is sliding, rolling, or impacting surfaces.
- ● Use low-friction plastics for liners, guides, and wear strips to reduce drag.
- ● Consider animal comfort—quiet operation reduces stress in barns and trailers.
Match plastics to fabrication and maintenance plans
Choose materials that fit the way your team cuts, fastens, and maintains parts across the farm.
- ● Confirm compatibility with your cutting, drilling, and fastening methods.
- ● Plan for bolt-on, replaceable liners or plates in high-wear areas.
- ● Evaluate replacement intervals and potential recycling or reuse options.
Agricultural Plastics FAQs
Practical answers to common questions about using plastics on farms, ranches, and agricultural processing sites.
Where are agricultural plastics most commonly used on the farm?
Agricultural plastics are widely used in chutes, troughs, grain handling systems, tanks, hoppers, kick plates, livestock pens, watering systems, and trailers. Anywhere you see repeated abrasion, moisture, or impact, plastics can often replace steel, wood, or rubber to improve wear life and reduce maintenance.
How do agricultural plastics compare to steel or wood in durability?
While steel offers very high strength, it can rust, dent, and increase friction in sliding applications. Wood can swell, rot, and harbor bacteria. Agricultural plastics such as UHMW and HDPE provide excellent wear resistance, do not rust or rot, and maintain smooth, low-friction surfaces even in wet, dirty conditions, often extending component life and reducing downtime.
Are agricultural plastics safe for livestock and food-contact areas?
Many plastics used in agriculture are formulated to be safe around animals and, when specified correctly, can be suitable for certain food-contact or wash-down areas. It is important to work with your supplier to confirm which materials meet relevant regulatory or customer requirements for your specific application.
Can agricultural plastics help reduce equipment noise and power consumption?
Yes. Low-friction plastics reduce drag on moving parts, lowering horsepower requirements and potentially saving energy. They also dampen impact and sliding noise in chutes, augers, and conveyors, which can improve comfort for workers and reduce stress for animals in barns and trailers.
What happens to agricultural plastics at the end of their service life?
End-of-life options depend on the specific plastic, contamination level, and local recycling programs. Some agricultural plastics can be collected and recycled, while others may be repurposed into lower-demand applications. Designing for longer life, easier replacement, and potential reuse can help reduce overall environmental impact.
