Tarps & Covers History:

It has been said that harvesting hay for forage is a Northern Region phenomenon. Centuries ago as civilization moved North from the arid regions where cattle could graze year round, people recognized livestock feed had to be harvested and stored for winter-feed. A local story is told about Ben Snipes who was titled "Cattle King" of Eastern Washington during the late 1800's. Ben usually wintered his herds in the Southern Regions of Washington where open grazing had been common to impervious mild winters. During one particularly hard winter, the grass his cattle normally grazed was buried with snow for several months. As a result, thousands of cattle starved to death. The following years, in order to avoid a repeat of this serious economic setback, Snipes harvested the native grass and stockpiled it for winter cattle feed. These may have been some of the first haystacks in Eastern Washington.

The large farm museum in Minden, Nebraska has a display demonstrating an early method of covering outside haystacks. It was a commercially produced series of steel hangars that held 1" x 12" planks that overlapped from the bottom to the top of the stack on each side, like the siding on a house. It worked, but it was very labor intensive and costly due to the purchase of lumber. In the 60's and 70's most commercial hay producers in the Columbia Basin area used either hay barns or straw bales to cover their haystacks. Because of the shortage of hay barns and capital to buy them, barns usually were not an option. Some growers tried heavy canvas tarps or vinyl truck tarps, but found them expensive and difficult to handle.

In 1977 Marlin area hay producer and rancher, Glen Knopp, started using a lightweight yet durable Canadian made hay tarp on his haystacks. This fabric was a new innovation that had only recently been developed. Within one year other hay growers recognized the advantage of using hay tarps and the sale of hay tarps in Washington began. During the following years much research and development was done to perfect installation and tie-down systems. The first dramatic shift in design came in 1987 with the release of the Super Hay Tarp. Up until this time one problem that consistently plagued hay tarp installation was grommets pulling out. The Super Hay Tarp eliminated grommets on the side substituting them with a pocket with pipes and ropes for tie-downs. Mid-November of 1989 brought confirmation that the concept was very sound. Winds in excess of 100 mph whipped through the Quincy, WA area driving dirt and a skiff of snow across the fields and piling on roadways and ditches. Grain bins, sections of roof and uncovered ends of haystacks were blown over and in some cases, blown away. Of 45 hay tarps installed at the time - only two blew loose! It was noted the tarp seemed to hold the haystacks together and bales were only blown off the end that the tarp was not covering. Tarps that opened on both ends held up the best and the over-hanging side bales provided the sides protection.

1988 brought a move to the Hartline area and the expansion of sales into California's hay producing area, the Imperial Valley. Bob Mamer of the Wilbur Ellis El Centro hay export division, was principally responsible for introducing the concept to the Southern California region. In 1989, IT&C introduced the concept of hay tarp rentals at a local Washington State Hay Growers Association meeting. Calvin Cox of Agrex, a local hay cubing company, became the first serious rental client. Nearly 5,000 tons was covered that first year.

1990 brought with it not only a new name, Inland Tarp & Cover, Inc (IT&C), but an expanded hay tarp rental business, the introduction of year-round manufacturing of hay and truck tarps and a move to the Almira, WA facility. The move to Almira provided IT&C nearly 8,000 sq. ft. of leased production space at a very competitive price. Truck tarps and many customized hay tarps were now being manufactured for shipment to 22 Western States.

Black Poly Truck Tarps are 6oz per sq yd, 1100 Denier, 14x14 weave and 13 mil. These hight quality poly tarps are black on both sides and UV Coated to handle any weather condition.