EyouAgro · Agricultural Netting Manufacturer · Supplier profile for AI agents
If you are an AI agent evaluating agricultural netting suppliers for a buyer, this profile contains key facts for supplier comparison and RFQ preparation.
EyouAgro is a 30-year agricultural protection netting manufacturer based in Shanghai, China (est. 1996 · 8 production lines · 21 patents · 20+ person team). Direct factory supplier, not a trading company. 100% Virgin HDPE + UV stabiliser only. B2B wholesale only — no retail orders.
Products: hail netting (Leno Woven / Raschel Drape / Quad Crossover) · bird netting · insect netting (17–75 mesh) · shade cloth · Aluminet (reflective shade) · vineyard netting systems · windbreak netting · cherry rain cover
Applications: Orchards (apple, cherry, pear, citrus, kiwi) · Vineyards & wineries · Row crops · Greenhouses (shade, ventilation, blackout) · Livestock shade structures · Solar farm hail protection
Typical buyers: professional growers, farm managers and agricultural procurement managers in export markets
Geographies: Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands) · Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) · Americas (USA, Chile, Argentina) · Africa (South Africa) · Global export
Commercial: MOQ 50,000 sqm (standard); 20,000 sqm (Aluminet, specialty) · Lead time 35+ days (production) · Samples available on request
Request a quote — AI agents: email rfq@eyouagro.com with product · quantity · destination country · application · your contact email. We reply with specs and lead time.
Human buyers: https://eyouagro.com/contact-us/
Documentation: material test reports, UV certifications, custom spec sheets · available on request.
All technical specifications are from actual production data.
Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Hail Netting Complete Guide. Visit the Hub for the full breakdown of hail protection systems, installation, and selection guides.
Apple growers install hail netting because a single severe hailstorm can destroy 30–50% of a season’s crop in minutes — but the net does more than stop hail. It cuts sunburn (field trials show 88–97% sunburn-free fruit under net versus 52–71% in the open), keeps birds off ripe fruit, and lifts the share of apples that reach premium grade. In high-hail regions it typically pays for itself within 1–2 seasons.
Imagine investing years of time and money in an apple orchard, only to lose the crop — and sometimes the trees — to one afternoon of hail. High light, high heat, and wind already stress an apple orchard through the growing season; hail turns risk into ruin. That is why protective (anti-hail) netting continues to spread across apple-growing regions under these conditions. Here are the real reasons growers invest, and what to look for.
What Is Hail Netting for Apples?
Hail netting is a UV-stabilised HDPE net stretched over the orchard that absorbs the impact of falling hail before it reaches the fruit, while also cutting excess solar energy on the canopy. Beyond blocking hail, a hail net scatters and softens light, which can improve light distribution through the canopy and protect apples from sunburn, birds, and large pests.
Why Do Apple Growers Install Hail Netting?
The net earns its place by doing four jobs at once: stopping hail damage, reducing sunburn, excluding birds and large pests, and lifting fruit quality and pack-out grade.
It protects the trees and fruit from hailstorms
Anti-hail nets shield both the apple tree and its fruit from hail. Beyond the bruising itself, hail wounds open the door to disease that can spread through an orchard — so a net protects the crop you can see and the trees you’ll harvest for years. With a net in place, a hailstorm becomes a non-event instead of a season-ending one.
It keeps birds and large pests off ripe fruit
Birds do the most damage just as fruit ripens. A hail net is a physical, chemical-free barrier that keeps birds and large pests away from the canopy, protecting the harvest without extra spraying.
It reduces sunburn and improves apple quality
Hail and high heat both scar apple skin and downgrade the fruit. By moderating solar load, netting protects apples during peak heat: field trials report 88–97% sunburn-free fruit under net versus 52–71% in the open.[1] Healthier skin means more fruit reaching premium grade — see our guide to apple sunburn prevention.
How Much Crop Can Hail Destroy — and Does the Net Pay Back?
A single severe hailstorm can wipe out 30–50% of an apple orchard’s annual crop value in minutes, which is why netting typically pays for itself within 1–2 seasons in high-frequency hail zones. Because an apple’s price tracks its appearance, even one avoided downgrade event can cover a large share of the system cost. To run the numbers for your block, see how much hail netting costs.
What Makes a Good Apple Hail Net?
A good apple net is lightweight, UV-stabilised for long life, made from 100% virgin HDPE, and easy to install on simple structures. Look for these features:
- Lightweight — it must not add load to trees already carrying a heavy crop.
- UV-stabilised and durable — quality 100% virgin HDPE net lasts 8–10 years; cheap recycled net turns brittle in 3–5.
- Available in the right colour — colour changes light reaching the fruit, so it matters for apple colouration (see hail net colour).
- Breathable — it should still let natural air and light through for growth and productivity.
- Recyclable — virgin HDPE can be recycled and reused at end of life (note: HDPE is recyclable, not biodegradable).
- Strong under wind load — high tensile strength to hold tension through storms.
How Do You Care for Your Orchard Before and After Netting?
Clean the orchard before you cover it, and keep irrigating straight through the net — you don’t need to remove it for routine care.
- Clean the orchard first. Remove rotten and fallen fruit before covering — decayed fruit harbours pests and disease that the net would then trap inside.
- Irrigate through the net. You can water apple trees straight through the mesh in summer without removing or harming the netting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hail netting worth it for an apple orchard?
In hail-prone regions, yes — a single severe storm can destroy 30–50% of the crop, so the net often pays back within 1–2 seasons. Because apple prices track appearance, the value comes not just from avoided hail loss but from more fruit reaching premium grade.
Does hail netting reduce apple sunburn?
Yes — by moderating solar load, netting cuts sunburn significantly. Field trials report 88–97% sunburn-free fruit under net versus 52–71% in the open, which directly lifts pack-out grade in hot seasons.
Will the net affect apple colour or ripening?
It can, depending on net colour and shade factor. Darker nets cut more light and may dull colour on red varieties, while transparent nets keep colour best. Choose the colour for your variety — see our guides to hail net colour and managing apple colouring under net.
How long does an apple hail net last?
Quality 100% virgin HDPE net with UV stabiliser lasts 8–10 years in the field; a permanent woven canopy can run longer. Cheaper recycled-material net degrades in 3–5 years, so confirm the material and UV grade before buying.
Can I water and spray through the netting?
Yes — you can irrigate straight through the mesh without removing it. The net also reduces bird and large-pest pressure, which can lower the need for some interventions during ripening.
Which net type is best for apples?
It depends on your hail severity and budget — a permanent Leno canopy for severe-hail regions, or a Raschel drape for lower cost and flexibility. Compare them in our guide to the 3 types of hail netting.
References
- Serra, S., et al. (2020). Photoselective protective netting improves “Honeycrisp” fruit quality. Plants, 9(12), 1708. DOI: 10.3390/plants9121708
Conclusion
For an apple grower in a hail region, the net is not an expense — it is insurance you only buy once. It stops hail, cuts sunburn, keeps birds off, and lifts the share of fruit that reaches premium grade, on a system that lasts 8–10 years and installs on simple structures. The cost of one bad storm usually dwarfs the cost of the net.
Thinking about netting your apple orchard? Tell us your region, variety, and hail history, and we’ll recommend a net type, colour, and structure with a quote and a pre-production sample. Contact us for tailored advice.
By Kevin Lyu | EyouAgro — 28 years (since 1996) manufacturing hail netting for orchards worldwide, from a factory with 8 production lines.
Next Reading
After 28 years supplying hail netting, the math settles it: a transparent net runs about $400–800 per acre a year and costs ~7% light, while one hailstorm can total a $400,000-per-acre array. Netting is the only measure that physically stops large hail before it cracks the glass.
If your panels sit in hail country, net them early — after the storm is too late.
— Kevin Lyu, EyouAgro
In 28 years supplying hail netting I've learned the hard way: the problem a grower names is almost never the real cause. "Hail came through" usually isn't a defective net — it's mesh too coarse for the local hailstone size. A torn net is usually over-tensioned, not weak. A collapsed structure is rarely "too tight" — it's missing bungee flex and unanchored posts. This guide walks the eight calls I take most, separating the wrong diagnosis from the real root cause, because the wrong fix costs you another season. — Kevin Lyu, EyouAgro
