Hay bales - in plastic

Out for a country walk today - with a group from the village - and was bemused to see all these hay bales wrapped in plastic.  Not sure if they are easier to handle that way or they keep better (so long as the hay is fully dry when it is cut, I presume).  Just seems odd, when we are all being asked to use less plastic, to see this massive use of single-use plastic wrapping.