SCHOOL EDITION 22 MARCH 2023 - Flipbook - Page 21
SLURRY FEATURE
risk
Prevent
slurry spills
TRAMSPREAD has released
two new slurry hose pinchers
to help reduce the risk of
slurry spillages.
The lightweight ‘Handy’ is
designed to be carried easily
and is suitable for clamping
hoses up to six inches in
diameter. The larger ‘Heavy’ is
for use with pressurised hoses
up to eight inches in diameter
to stem the ow. Both can
prevent slurry from being lost
when breaking couplings or
repairing hoses on the job.
Pollution, as a result of slurry
spillages, can be damaging to
the environment and could
lead to legal action against
those responsible. When
where they can move their livestock to in order to
mix the tank safely, what the weather and ground
conditions are like, and whether they have the right
equipment to do the job.
“These are the issues the farmer needs to consider
when slurry season opens. Most critical, though, is
that farmers MUST follow the slurry mixing code.
Slurry gas kills, it is as simple as that. Farmers are
fully aware of this but continue to take chances. If
you follow the slurry mixing code there should be no
issue.
“Stop and think SAFE before you mix slurry.”
For more information about working safely with
slurry or general farming health and safety issues
please contact the HSENI helpline on 0800 0320
121 or visit the farm safety topic page on the
HSENI website www.hseni.gov.uk
pumping slurry, leaks or blow
outs can occur.
“These pinchers are
inexpensive and will prevent
slurry being lost if a quick
repair is needed when
pumping or spreading,” says
Tramspread director Edwin
Baker. “Now, more than ever,
FARMWEEK
JANUARY 28 2021
farmers need to demonstrate
the measures being taken to
reduce slurry pollution and
safeguard the environment,”
he adds.
The pinchers are both priced
at £250. “This is a small
price to pay for a device that
can prevent unnecessary
pollution. It is also useful to
have a pincher when breaking
couplings because there is no
need to drain the pipe rst,”
says Mr Baker.
Whilst designed for use
with umbilical slurry hose,
the pinchers can also be used
in other agricultural work.
“Other applications could be
for irrigation pipework or
other water pipes on farms.
However, we see the main
benet of these pinchers as
saving land and water sources
from the potential damage that
slurry spillages can cause,”
concludes Mr Baker.
Spreading rules for February
T
HE introduction of the new Nutrients Action
Programme (NAP) in 2020 brought with it
various changes to slurry spreading.
As usual, farmers and contractors can begin
spreading slurry from February 1 but only if the
ground and weather conditions are suitable. This
is an extremely important aspect of the slurry
spreading regulations which must be followed.
However, for the month of February buffer zones for
spreading will increase and the maximum amount of
slurry that can be applied at any one time is reduced
to lower the risk of contamination to waterways.
Buffer zones will increase to 30m from lakes and
15m from any other waterways. The buffer zone can
be reduced to 5m if low emission slurry spreading
equipment (LESSE) is used and certain conditions
are met. The maximum slurry rate is reduced to 30m3
per hectare for each application (2,700 gallons/acre).
From February 1 slurry contractors must use
LESSE. A slurry contractor is dened as a person who
receives payment for spreading slurry where they do
not claim Basic Payment Scheme on the land. It is
now a legal offence for a slurry contractor to use a
slurry tanker with splash plates for spreading slurry
on most land after this date.
The UFU is also reminding farmers that the deadline
to submit records of slurry and all other organic
manures exported from farms during 2020 is January
31. Any farm exporting slurry, chicken litter or manure
to another farm must submit this information online
to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The
NAP rules are part of cross compliance and failure
to comply could result in penalties being applied to a
farmer’s area payment.
21
A different
way to
treat slurry
P
LOCHER slurry treatment
is fundamentally different
from other biological products on the market in that it
does not contain slurry bugs.
Instead of adding chemicals
or bacteria and bugs to
soils, manures and slurries,
Plocher products change the
environment of what is being
treated by supplying oxygen and
essential minerals and elements.
This means that the benecial
microbes which are already
dormant in slurry, manure and
soil begin to thrive and multiply
at an optimal rate, working with
oxygen as nature intended,
creating a much healthier
environment for the housed
animals and, in turn, protecting
soil life, including worms.
The slurry treatment can
also be used as a cubicle bed
treatment for dairy cattle – just
add with a little sawdust. No
other products, such as lime,
are required.
This product helps create
a good balance of aerobic
bacteria, which suppresses
much of the pathogenic bad
bacteria. That process continues
in the soil, making it more fertile
and productive.
Plocher’s 40 years in business
prove that it works and it saves
the farmer money.
T McFarland Agri Ltd
natürlich gesund leben
Slurry Treatment
Cattle
Pigs
Sheep
Duck Slurry
Germany
24 Cavan Road, Fintona, Co. Tyrone
Email t.mcfarland@btconnect.com
Tel 028 8284 1273
Aaron Mobile Tel 07872 666310
The Ultimate in Grass Ensiling & Slurry Mixing
SILAGE SPREADER
• High Speed
Grass Levelling
In Silo
• No fusty air
pockets
Plocher Slurry Treatment applied on cubicle beds helps
keep mastitis cases and somatic cell count to a minimum.
Proven over 40 years - protecting animal health and soil life
Fewer problems = more profit
FOLDING MIXER
For mixing slurry tanks and
lagoons (easily inserted
through std. manholes)
SLATTED
FLOOR MIXER
• Excellent
Fermentation
• No buckrake
required
RECK TOWER
MIXER
Specifically designed for
slurry stores from
3-6m in height
THE NEW RECK TELESCOPIC
TOWER MIXER
• No Lifting Of Slats
• Ideal For pig slats slats
• Ease of Transport from one farm to another
• Extends to 4-6m in height
The mixer designed to save your time!