Farmers urged to act responsibly on slurry management

Water company Severn Trent is reminding farmers to stay ahead of wet winter weather with a responsible approach to slurry management.

Inconsistent

“Even if you’re not in a designated nitrate vulnerable zone, spreading slurry on waterlogged, flooded or frozen ground brings a high risk of environmental damage,” explains Severn Trent farm adviser team manager Mark Biddulph.

“Rather than enriching soils and supporting crop growth, manure applied now is more likely to lose its value to the environment, resulting in soil damage and runoff,” adds Mr Biddulph, pledging to work with farmers to minimise any risks.

“Slurry and manure are so valuable for crop and soil nutrition because they’re rich in diverse nutrients, including nitrates,” he says. “But now the plants aren’t actively growing and roots may be waterlogged, uptake will be significantly lower.”

Water tables

He adds: “Water tables will also be much higher following heavy rainfall – so there’s more water around to wash the nitrates out of the crop-growing system and into watercourses, causing environmental damage.”

Farmers and contractors should wait until conditions are better in the spring before spreading slurry. And whether in an NVZ or not, Mr Biddulph reminds farmers of the key elements of the Farming Rules for Water.

“Ensuring nutrients are safely applied to match both crop and soil needs not only protects the environment, but it also means you’re making the best use of valuable homegrown inputs,” he says.

Farmers facing an urgent need to reduce slurry volume on-farm over winter, are advised to contact the Environment Agency.

Right place, right time

Wet weather throughout the year has already put pressures on farms’ storage. The Environment Agency says it is important to have enough storage and a robust back up plan in place.

The EA recommends having six months of storage to help comply with the Farming Rules for Water to spread only according to crop and soil need.

If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your local EA Officer or call the EA National Customer Contact Centre hotline on 03708 506 506.

Chain manure spreader helps to cover all bases

German machinery maker Fliegl has announced the launch of its latest chain manure spreader – the KDS255 Muck Control.

This vehicle closes the gap between the large tandem spreaders and the more compact KDS140. Fliegl says it means the company now offers an ideal solution for farmers and contractors of all sizes.

The KDS255 has a permissible total weight of 18, 19 or 20 tonnes. The spreader has a stable tandem chassis to ensure safe and responsive driving characteristics when empty and fully loaded. It can optionally be equipped with a steering axle.

Spreading width

Thanks to its low design, filling with the front loader is easy and efficient. The conical body of the KDS255 has the dimensions 5500 x 2000 or 1200 mm. A Muck Control unit enables a spreading width of up to 26 metres.

Cardanically driven internal milling drums ensure consistent loosening of the material and even distribution to the spreading discs.

The drop angle of the hydraulic tailgate can be mechanically adjusted to suit different working conditions.

The tailgate itself consists of a frame on which plastic panels are mounted. These are less susceptible to stone or rock damage and corrosive materials than a steel rear wall.

The robustness of the KDS255 is also evident in the scraper floor, which is equipped with V2 chain links and has a breaking load of 50 tonnes per chain strand. Scraper floor bars are continuous across the width of the body.

A stone guard is mounted on the front wall to protect the tractor unit. Fliegl says the machine is a versatile solution that meets the needs of modern farms – and sets new standards for performance and efficiency.