The Shutdown Phase Nobody Plans For
Most growers think the season ends at harvest.
In colder regions, frost decides.
In milder regions — like parts of New Jersey — harvest can continue as long as temperatures hold.
But plastic removal changes the equation.
The season doesn’t end when the crop ends.
It ends when cleanup begins.
When Revenue Pauses (In Some Regions)
In northern climates, harvest often stops because of freeze.
In milder regions, tomatoes, peppers, and other crops may still be producing.
Yet once removal begins, the crew shifts.
Harvest slows.
Sometimes it stops.
Not because the crop is finished —
but because the operation must transition to cleanup.
That decision is rarely included in per-roll pricing.
The Labor Window Is Finite
End-of-season labor:
Is fatigued
Has departure deadlines
Is managing multiple closing tasks
Removal compresses everything into the final weeks.
Management shifts from production to extraction.
It’s not neutral.
It’s heavy.
Weather Makes It Harder
Removal typically happens when:
Soil is wetter
Days are shorter
Wind increases
Frost risk rises
Wet plastic tears.
Fragments remain.
Cleanup slows.
The job becomes more difficult precisely when conditions deteriorate.
The Silent Loss No One Tracks
Plastic removal does not just extract film.
It removes soil.
Each season, a thin layer of topsoil adheres to the plastic.
When the film is lifted, shaken, hauled, and discarded, some of the most productive soil leaves with it.
Not dramatically.
Incrementally.
Year after year.
Topsoil contains:
Organic matter
Microbial life
Nutrient-rich surface structure
The best part of the field.
Removal extracts more than plastic.
It extracts time, labor — and a little soil.
A Different Seasonal Mentality
Traditional plastic assumes a shutdown phase is normal.
A compostable system removes that phase.
The field is incorporated.
The surface is stabilized sooner.
The season closes cleanly.
For some growers, that’s convenience.
For long-term operators, it’s structural.
When the field is released earlier, soil stabilization can begin earlier.
Cover crops (where used) establish better.
Surface protection improves.
Soil structure compounds over time.
This isn’t about one season.
It’s about how a system behaves over 5–10 years.
The Real Question
The question is not:
“How much does the roll cost?”
It is:
“What does this system do to my operation over time?”
Does it create a shutdown phase?
Or eliminate one?
Closing
End the season when the crop ends —
not when the cleanup ends.
Need Help Calculating What Plastic Removal Really Costs?
Most growers underestimate it.
If you'd like a realistic estimate based on field experience, email us with:
Total acres covered
Crop type(s)
Region / State
Approximate number of workers involved in removal
How many days removal typically takes
We’ll estimate:
Total labor hours
Tractor time and fuel usage
Equipment wear
Hauling and disposal fees
Total operational shutdown time (where applicable)
Because labor, tractors, removal fees — and even soil loss — add up quickly.
Email: info@filmorganic.com
Serious growers run the full calculation before planning next season.