With all slurry stores to be covered by 2027, John Tydeman, sales manager at Tramspread, outlined the pros and cons of different storage and cover options. He urged farmers to view slurry as an asset, not waste, and stressed the importance of looking after your store to maintain capacity.

Slurry storage grants offered by the government require farmers to reach and maintain at least six months’ storage capacity. The AHDB Slurry Wizard is a useful tool for calculating what size store you need.

Planning a new store

A good place to start is familiarising yourself with SSAFO regulations, ensuring any new store and its location meet the standards. If located in a farmyard, a circular store with a self-supporting roof may be the best option, but is also the most expensive, John explained.

Moving down the scale, there are satellite stores or, if you have a little more space, a bag tank could be the best choice. These have a 25-year design life and typically cost 35% less than the equivalent circular tank. Bag tanks are available from Tramspread in several sizes up to 7,500m3 and come in one piece with liner and cover all in one. Integral stirrers and pipework are all part of the kit and the tank can be easily installed in 3–4 days on outlying land and unstable ground. Sometimes planning permission is not required and they can be installed under permitted development rights if they are far enough away from nearby properties. This is a big advantage over circular and concrete tanks. They are also quite cost-effective compared to other types of store, John noted.

The cheapest permanent option is a covered lagoon with floating tile or fixed fabric cover. Lagoons are generally more difficult to manage, he explained, particularly with fabric covers as these can make it very difficult to stir the slurry, resulting in solid build up which can reduce the store’s capacity and make slurry much harder to pump.

Another option is a temporary bag store, which can be set out wherever needed if you have some outlying land, up to 350m3. This allows umbilical spreading in that block of land, then the bag can be rolled up and moved to another site to repeat the process.

All the above options, apart from the temporary stores, feature in the government’s Slurry Infrastructure Programme, offering various levels of financial support.

There is also funding for stirrers to be fitted into new stores. Additionally, separation before slurry gets into the store can be a big help, reducing the need for stirring and making sure you have a well-homogenised product, John noted.

Slurry cover options

There are three basic types of slurry cover:

• A self-supporting fabric cover: The most expensive option and only suitable for new circular stores.
• Fabric floating cover: Again, expensive and can be fitted to lagoons, or circular covers can be fitted to tanks. These make it harder to stir and manage the store but work quite well if using separated slurry. They also collect rainwater which must be periodically pumped off.
• Floating tiles (such as Tramspread’s Hexa-Cover): These don’t keep rainwater out of the store but are very easy to install, quite cheap and have a much longer lifespan than fabric, John said. They are a really good alternative to fabric covers and particularly well suited to older circular tanks that lack the structural integrity to cope with one of the tensioned covers – as well as odd-shaped slurry lagoons that are difficult to cover with a fabric solution. The lagoon doesn’t need to be emptied and cleaned to install the 8in tiles, which are made from recycled plastic. The tiles are simply poured over the surface, where they organise themselves into symmetrical patterns. They can reduce emissions by up to 96%, John said.

Silage additives

Silage additives are becoming a more common solution for breaking solid content down and improving the plant availability of nutrients. “These are quite cheap in the grand scheme of things and normally one course per year is enough to greatly improve any slurry store. Also, although it’s not a magical solution it can help to reduce solid in stores that have been mismanaged and have got  a big solid build up,” John said.

Callum Norman, of Origin Fertilisers, shared results from trials of Digest-It, one of the only liquid biological composting additives on the market. It’s a one-application product that’s comprised of molasses, sugars and seaweed, mixed with certain bacteria to allow the product to break down solids and increase the nutrient content. It is also the only additive with a quantity of P and K in it. Callum explained it improves fertiliser nutrient levels, reduces ammonia concentration and odour, breaks down crust and solids and helps to boost soil fertility.

Key results from Digest-It trials:

• 31% decrease in ammonia emissions on a farm in Ireland, demonstrated by twice daily measurements of gases from two 50,000-gallon slurry tanks over 12 weeks.
• 33% increase in N over an 8–12-week period on 15 different dairy farms.
• Six-year average increase of 18% in first cut silage, according to long-term grass silage trial comparing treated and untreated slurry.
• Other trials have revealed significantly higher worm counts where Digest-It has been applied compared to untreated slurry.

Digest-It is usually applied in October/November and needs 8–12 weeks in the tank to work effectively. Twenty litres treats 100,000 gallons of slurry, it’s organically certified and the liquid form means no respiratory protection is required as results show up to 80% reduction in ammonia emissions is possible. It results in a more usable slurry, and saves costs on stirring and bag fertiliser, Callum concluded.

Toby Ward of Origin Fertilisers pointed out that it’s not just about N; sodium is key too. Grass can become bitter over time and sodium “is like putting salt on chips”. Origin Fertilisers’ Sweetgrass range with sodium increases palatability and therefore dry matter intakes, yields and daily liveweight gain.

Bob Fabri, of Eurofins Agri UK, also pointed out the importance of looking at the whole cycle when testing nutrient levels of soil and slurry. Phosphorus, for example, is a very immobile element and needs to be very close to the root of the plant to be taken up – so high P stocks in soils may not translate to silage and slurry, which could result in deficiencies in cattle.

The post Are you prepared for new slurry legislation? appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The Amazone event was held on land adjacent to the Amazone sprayer factory in North Germany. Working demonstrations of most machines were planned but, like many other European press events so far this year, inclement weather prevented field work. However, there were plenty of new products on show, and the Amazone team was kept busy throughout the event explaining new features and their benefits for users.

140th anniversary

This year, Amazone is celebrating 140 years since the company was founded in 1883. The German press event started with an introduction by managing director Cristian Dreyer, who talked about the company’s recently acquired experimental and demonstration farm, which also includes the fascinating Amazone museum. The site is 120ha of which there are 32ha of trial plots where techniques such as companion planting, wider row spacing and controlled row farming are being evaluated.

Cristian said that the company’s sales for 2022 totalled €804M, contrasting with €650M the previous year. Exports account for 80% of production and, at the sprayer factory, nothing is manufactured unless it is sold.

Future farming

Joint managing director, Dr Justus Dreyer talked about future innovations, including automated machine operation, and he said that the ability to pre-plan work and load applications onto the machine before arriving at the field, as well as automation in the field using features such as Amazone WindControl for spreading, all contribute to increased precision and the ability to maximise efficiency and work rates.

Larger Pantera

One of the highlights for larger UK farms and contractors: a new, higher capacity Pantera self-propelled sprayer is joining the line-up. The new 7004 model has a 7,000-litre glass fibre-reinforced plastic tank – an increase of 2,500 litres over the current 4504. Like the current Pantera, the new model features an extremely efficient liquid circuit developed to minimise residual fluid. There is a 500-litre clean water tank at the rear of the sprayer, positioned to help maintain a low centre of gravity even with an empty main spray tank.

The new sprayer’s unladen weight is approximately 12t, and Amazone explained that a priority during its design was achieving similar ground contour following capability to the smaller version. A new chassis keeps the weight low for stability and pneumatic suspension keeps the machine level on side slopes. The new running gear featuring independent trailing arm suspension is unique, says the company. The hydro-pneumatic suspension is adaptive and intelligent control maintains maximum stability and comfort.

Hydraulic track width adjustment from 2.00–2.75m is standard, but the Pantera-W version can achieve wider 2.25–3.00m track widths. Ground clearance for both versions is approximately 1.3m.

The hydraulic axle adjustment also allows offset track operation, helping spread the weight so that only one wheel passes over each piece of ground. This is particularly suitable for operation on stubbles, and in wet conditions where plants are small enough to withstand the wheels.

The slope compensation activates automatically responding to angle information from sensors.

There are three levels of cab equipment, all with Cat 4 filtration as standard. The control armrest is new and tailored specifically for the self-propelled sprayer application, and the AmaDrive terminal operates the base vehicle while the spraying system is controlled through Isobus.

The engine is 306hp and drive to the wheels is hydraulic. The piston diaphragm spray pumps provide 710 litres/min total output, and the injection principle achieves filling rates of 700 litres/min.

Boom widths of 24–48m are available with ContourControl active boom guidance.

DirectInject is an option, allowing additional spray products to be added as and when required at the touch of a button, and it is also a new option for the smaller 4504 models.

Future technologies

Amazone is working with Claas and AgXeed to accelerate development of autonomous and semi-autonomous tractor and implement combinations. At the event, a Cenio 3000 Super tine cultivator with AutoTill technology was displayed. This makes it possible for the cultivator to record its performance automatically as soon as it engages the soil, in accordance with pre-defined parameters. Integrated sensors across the working elements monitor the conditions and change settings as required.

The Cenio 4000-2 4m folding mulch cultivator will be shown for the first time at Agritechnica. It joins narrower 3.0 and 3.5m models in the line-up, and the new 4m hydraulic folding variant is suitable for tractors from 105–275hp.

Convenient adjustment

New Catros+ 03-2 compact mounted disc harrows are available in folding versions of 4, 5, 6 and 7m working widths. There is also a trailed TS variant of the same models.

The Catros is ideal for shallow tillage and intensive mixing. The complete third generation range includes models from 2.5–12.0m.

The Smart Frame System frame concept means that the Catros only needs aligning with the field surface once. Working depth is adjusted by rotating the disc carrier arms, so that they rotate away from the frame for deeper working and towards the frame for shallow work. The design means the frame is always parallel to the soil, so all discs maintain the correct depth, and hydraulic control means there is no need for the user to leave the cab.

Schmotzer manufactures mechanical hoes and weeders, and the company was acquired by Amazone in 2019. A new compact VR 2 Linear Shift Frame which provides side travel across 600mm was displayed at the event, along with a mounted hoe.

Larger spreader and CurveControl

The mounted spreader range has been expanded with the addition of the ZA-TS 5000 model. Precise spreading up to 54m at rates up to 650kg/min can be achieved. Previous maximum capacity was 4,200 litres, but the new model’s hopper takes up to 5,000 litres to reduce filling frequency and increase daily output.

The Ultra frame and Profis weighing system are standard. Intelligent integration of the Profis weighing system within the Isobus software enables the user to monitor fill levels and residual volumes, to define target weights and to fill precisely at any time.

CurveControl is in development as a new software option for all ZA-TS mounted and ZA-TG trailed spreaders. Like CurveControl on Amazone sprayers, the system automatically adjusts application rates across the spread width when turning, to compensate for relative difference in travel speed and application rate across the turning radius.

Hydraulic-driven pump option

As an alternative to DistanceControl automatic boom guidance, the ContourControl system is now available for UF 1602 and 2002 sprayers with boom widths above 27m. The advanced system allows operation closer to the crop down to 50cm with 25cm nozzle spacing.

The UF 1602 and UF 2002 sprayers are also available with hydraulic pump drive as a new option, completely integrated within the hydraulic system as part of the Comfort-Pack. The hydraulic pump drive is controlled through the Load-Sensing system, and operation is through the Isobus software of the UF 02 sprayers. Different pump speeds can be achieved for filling, agitating and spraying, and pump speed control is independent of the tractor engine or travel speed. Minimum oil flow requirement is just 50 litres/min, allowing use with smaller tractors.

Drill news included the Centaya-C Special harrow-mounted seed drill with a twin-chamber hopper.

The new drill has a 1,500 litre capacity with the hopper divided 70:30, enabling two different materials to be metered separately and precisely. Infinitely-adjustable metering allows seed rates of 0.5–400kg/ha at up to 10kph.

Read more seeding, fertiliser, crop-care and cultivation machinery news from Farmers Guide here.

The post Cultivation, seeding, fertiliser and crop-care machinery previewed ahead of major show appeared first on Farmers Guide.

New updates to AHDB’s Slurry Wizard tool aim to improve user experience, as round two of Defra’s Slurry Infrastructure grant application is opened.

By entering basic farm information such as animal numbers, yard and roof areas that capture rainfall, and housing periods, the wizard calculates the volume of slurry that the farm will produce on a monthly basis.

This data, together with the farm’s current slurry storage capacity, is used to calculate how long it takes to fill the available storage and whether more capacity is needed.

Recent updates include making rainfall data and predictions more accurate, assessing every 1km² of locality, and making the tool more usable and effective for pig producers by allowing slurry and wash water produced on farms to be accounted for.

There is also a new ‘scenarios’ option to assess the impact of mitigation actions like diverting rainwater runoff or using a cover or separator, and a wider range of available bank slopes for earth-banked slurrystores and the ability to incorporate slurry bags have also been added.

Slurry Wizard is also part of Defra’s Slurry Infrastructure grant application, which helps replace, build additional or expand existing slurry stores to provide six months’ storage, helping farmers to improve the use of organic nutrients on farms and reduce pollution.

When applying for the recently opened round two of the grant, a copy of the farm’s Slurry Wizard storage capacity calculation and rainfall data is required.

David Ball, AHDB lead environmental scientist, said: “AHDB recognises the value of slurry, with its unique value in nutrients, and ability to reduce the need for artificial fertiliser, reduce input costs and reduce a farm’s environmental impact.

“Using Slurry Wizard allows farmers to make the most of their slurry by calculating their current production and capacity and allowing them to explore different scenarios by providing them with a cost benefit analysis for potential system changes, keeping them well informed in their decision making.

“Having sufficient, well-designed slurry storage is essential to make best use of organic manures and minimise harm to the environment. I would encourage all farmers to make use of the Slurry Wizard tools and if they’re considering investing in their slurry systems to apply for a Defra grant.”

For more information on AHDB’s Slurry Wizard visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/slurry-wizard

To learn more about Defra’s Slurry Infrastructure grant visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/slurry-infrastructure-grant/how-to-apply-for-a-slurry-infrastructure-grant

The post AHDB updates Slurry Wizard tool in time for grant applications appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Stock photo for illustration only.

More than 90 pieces of equipment are now available to claim under the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).

Defra has announced funding of £31 million in the Productivity and Slurry pot, which covers products such as: rainwater harvesting tanks to reduce water scarcity for farmers in the summer; tree shears to help stop the spread of pests and diseases; and equipment to minimise grass contamination and ammonia emissions when spreading slurry.

Funding has been increased from the original £17 million to £31 million, after 3,000 applications were received for the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry grants.

Defra has also added 21 additional items this year, including camera-guided inter-row sprayers to help reduce herbicide usage, and mulchers for forestry, orchards and vineyards to help reduce input costs and improve carbon retention in the soil.

The FETF provides funding for farmers to invest in tools to improve sustainable production across agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Productivity and Slurry grants will specifically support the purchase of equipment and technology to help farmers use fewer inputs, reduce emissions and cut waste.

Items applied for in the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry budget include:

• Direct drill with fertiliser placement for precision drilling of arable and cover crops to help reduce crop establishment costs and increase efficiency of fertiliser usage. 250 applicants to be offered this grant worth £6.25m.
• Robotic drill and guided hoe – an autonomous robotic vehicle which can precisely place seed in the ground and return to mechanically weed – this helps to reduce herbicide usage and associated costs. Ten applications accepted with a value of £250,000.
• Rainwater harvesting tanks with a minimum capacity of 5,000 litres which will help to reduce water scarcity for farmers in the summer months. This equipment will now benefit 86 recipients with a value of £110,802.
• Tree shears with the capacity to fell 300mm diameter trees to stop the spread of pests and diseases across our woodlands. This funding helped 113 recipients with a total value of £363,747.
• Dribble bars with a minimum working width of 6m designed to apply slurry to the soil surface as accurately as possible to minimise grass contamination and ammonia emissions. This equipment was made accessible to 94 farmers, amounting to a value of £403,200.
• Direct drills with a width of 3m to conserve moisture and reduces soil erosion. This initiative assisted 129 applicants, totalling £1.555m in value.

The FETF 2023 is made up of two themes: Animal Health and Welfare, and Productivity and Slurry. The Animal Health and Welfare FETF 2023 has been given a separate portal to streamline the application process and has seen 66 new items added to its books.

Applicants can still apply to the Animal Health and Welfare strand of FETF 2023 until 15th June 2023. The government plans to offer further rounds of FETF funding in the future.

The post Defra announces latest round of FETF funding appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Better slurry management on farms will reduce the amount of pollution runoff into rivers and streams, benefitting local communities and the wider environment.

To break down the financial barriers to upgrading slurry stores, nearly £34 million will be made available through the first round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant – more than two-and-a-half times the original budget.

Guidance will also be released for the second round of the Water Management Grant, set to open for applications later in April. The scheme will provide £10 million in funding to help farmers manage their water use through better irrigation and more on-farm reservoirs.

Moreover, the government’s new Plan for Water was published on 4^th April, providing data on water resources and the quality of water throughout the UK.

The aim of the publication is to transform the whole water system – addressing every source of pollution, including from storm overflows, agriculture, plastics, road run-off, chemicals and pesticides, as well as the pressures on our water supply as a result of climate change and population growth.

The government has also doubled funding to £15 million to give free advice to farmers across the country through the Catchment Sensitive Farming scheme. It is hoped the additional funding will accelerate the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which will help farmers use their land in a way that keeps valuable nutrients and soil on the farm.

Commenting on the announcement, farming minister Mark Spencer said: “Communities across the country want to see clean and plentiful water in our rivers and streams, and farmers have a huge role in helping to deliver this.

“We know that farmers want to do the right thing, which is why – as part of today’s Plan for Water – we’re providing even more funding for farmers both to reduce their water pollution from slurry and better manage the water on their farms.”

With around half of slurry stores in England not being fit-for-purpose, the Slurry Infrastructure Grant provides farmers with between £25,000-£250,000 to build, replace or expand storage and can contribute towards a range of solutions like lagoons, steel and concrete ring tanks and large slurry bags.

The first round of the grant saw 1,200 applications received by Defra, and while the government wants to help as many farmers as possible, the high demand for grants must be balanced with the capacity of slurry store suppliers to increase production.

So far, 374 projects have been invited to submit a full application and receive a share of £33.9 million in funding – up from £13.2 million when the grant was first announced last year. This takes into account the types of store farmers have applied for, as well as an assessment of what the market could handle following conversations with suppliers and installers.

Meanwhile, the second round of the Water Management Grant will see £10 million in funding made available for farmers to improve farm productivity through more efficient use of water for irrigation and constructing on-farm reservoirs to secure water supplies for crop irrigation.

To support farms of all sizes, grants will range in value from £35,000 to £500,000. Applications will open later in April with an online checker available to help farmers determine their eligibility and likelihood of success.

The post More funding to reward efficient water and slurry storage on farms appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Retrofitting dribble bars is a cost-effective way to meet impending slurry application legislation.Tramspread managing director Terry Baker said: “In less than two years there will be thousands of tankers left potentially redundant, having not been converted to work with a precision applicator to adhere to the splash plate ban.”

To combat the issue, the company has developed a universal solution to retro-fit its Suffolk range dribble bar systems, with working widths of 6 metres to 10.5 metres, to near all sizes and brands of tankers. The key element is a four-point attachment that does not mount to the door of the tanker.

“Rust can form around doors, and the hinges are often not secure enough to fit dribble bars to,” Mr Baker explained. “By welding a four-point attachment to the body of the tanker, we provide new fixing points on the rear of the tanker that the boom framework attaches to using telescopic arms.”

The 2025 splash plate ban seeks to reduce ammonia (NH₃) emissions in the UK, around 88% of which come from agriculture. Nitrogen, in the form of ammonia, is released into the atmosphere through open storage of organic manure, but also through the use of splash plates, especially on warm or windy days.

The initial ban will be followed by further regulation in 2027 that will require all slurry to be covered. To help farmers comply with the Clean Air Strategy, the Rural Payments Agency is offering grants for ‘Annex 3: FEFT 2023 productivity and slurry eligibility items’ to assist with the costs.

Mr Baker added: “Many farmers and contractors have already embraced precision application as it improves overall nutrient management and has the potential to reduce reliance on manufactured fertiliser.

“However, for those who have not updated their applicator there are grants available and retrofitting an old tanker is a cost-effective option that will help the farm comply with the 2025 splash plate ban.”

The post Tramspread offers low-cost solution to looming splash plate ban appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The grant is being offered by the government to help beef, dairy and pig farmers overcome cost barriers to replacing or upgrading their slurry storage.

The scheme was launched to encourage more environmentally sustainable farming practices by bringing more slurry storage systems up to modern standards.

“Farmers are meant to have six months’ storage, but the government has realised that many don’t, because a store that size is expensive to build,” said Carter Jonas Associate Gillian Wilsher.

“However, if this is the carrot, then I imagine in five years’ time it may be replaced by a big stick if you don’t take them up on this offer,” he added.

Farmers receiving a grant will have approximately 50% of their building costs covered, with total payments ranging from £25,000 to £250,000. However, the grant will only contribute to the estimated cost of storing slurry for current stocking rates for six months.

“If you have plans to increase your herd, it may be more cost effective to consider increasing the capacity of your storage now, even though the increased capacity will not benefit from the grant funding,” Ms Wilsher advised.

“Looking at the bigger picture and considering your long-term plans is essential.”

Ms Wilsher suggested farmers carefully consider the location of the slurry store in light of any future plans for development. She pointed out the easiest place is not necessarily the most appropriate and the surrounding environment and watercourses must be taken into account.

“Consider whether your drainage networks are working efficiently to keep clean and dirty water separate,” she added. “If your clean water drains are also entering the slurry store this will increase the capacity required significantly and water down your slurry, increasing spreading costs to apply the same amount of nutrients.”

Ms Wilsher also recommended farmers consider whether third parties will need access to their slurry store outlets.

“As the price of fertiliser has increased significantly, the value of slurry is also a significant consideration,” she stressed.

In addition, farmers should keep in mind that the grants will be paid in segments to reimburse development costs and the business will need to fund the entire project initially.

“Given the substantial expenditure potentially involved it is important that the financing should be carefully considered, especially as we are now seeing interest rates rising,” Ms Wilsher said.

“It may be possible to fund some projects with capital or through the overdraft facilities for the short term while awaiting the grant reimbursement.

“For larger expenditure which cannot be covered by existing funds I would recommend speaking to your bank manager or local AMC agent at the earliest opportunity to discuss your options.”

Defra is expecting to receive a high volume of applications for the scheme, therefore projects that yield the greatest environmental benefits will need to be prioritised.

Successful initial applicants will be invited to submit a full application, for which planning permission must be secured.

“It would therefore be worthwhile engaging with your planning consultant at an early stage as planning applications can take longer than expected, especially if the planning authority has limited knowledge of agricultural practices,” Ms Wilsher advised.

Farmers can still check eligibility for the scheme using the government’s Online Checker.

The post Farmers urged to ‘look at the bigger picture’ as slurry grant deadline looms appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser at the CAAV

With air and water quality of increasing concern, and extremely high fertiliser prices, it’s a no-brainer to make use of the new scheme, which was announced on 23 November. “Water legislation is tightening and it’s not going to go away,” says Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser at the CAAV. “Improving slurry stores to benefit the environment is likely to become a statutory requirement in future, so while the Government is offering money to get there it makes sense to take it.”

The grant offers pig, beef and dairy producers between £25,000 and £250,000 – paid in arrears – to improve or expand their slurry storage capacity to six months, including fitting impermeable covers on grant-funded stores. It will be competitive and focussed on applications in priority areas, which deliver the greatest environmental benefit. It will cover approximately 50% of current market costs.

“The scheme has been in the pipeline for a long time, and is the first in the four-month Defra logjam to be released,” says Mr Moody. “It’s the first round of a multi-annual scheme, so if you don’t qualify this year, don’t despair – but do your research and apply when eligible.”

Tenants may need to have an open discussion with their landlord to ensure eligibility for the scheme, and to decide who pays for it, he warns. “Landlords need to be practical and allow these improvements. Under an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy, the tenant can challenge it if their landlord says no, but with Farm Business Tenancies there needs to be a practical discussion.”

Defra requires farmers to have at least five years’ use of the land after the final grant payment is made, so tenants may need to negotiate a term extension. “Bear in mind you’re also likely to need planning permission, and time to secure the contractors and materials – so in reality five years quickly becomes eight. It’s probably worth securing 10 years’ cover, which gives sufficient time to write off the investment cost.”

However, it would be extremely helpful if the Government helped ensure the scheme’s success by removing the need for planning permission, says Mr Moody. “We are asking for the Government to give permitted development rights for slurry store improvements. It’s crazy to let the planning system get in the way of solving water pollution.”

The post Take advantage of slurry grants now, urges CAAV appeared first on Farmers Guide.

Having adequate slurry storage is essential for protecting the environment and mitigating the impact of harmful gases on water and air quality. However, around half of slurry stores in England are currently not fit-for-purpose due to farmers facing substantial cost barriers.

As a result, many are left with no choice but to spread slurry when there is no crop need, wasting a valuable resource that is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Moreover, this can also lead to farms failing to comply with legal requirements for storing and spreading slurry.

Therefore, investing in good slurry management will not only help safeguard the environment, but also cut input costs by ensuring farmers make the best use of their organic nutrients.

The first round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant will make £13 million available for dairy, beef and pig farmers across England, who will be eligible to apply for 50% match funding between £25,000 and £250,000. Grants can be used to build, expand, or replace slurry storage to achieve six months capacity.

Applications for the first round of the scheme will open on Tuesday 6^th December and close on 31^st January 2023. Support and further opportunities will be provided for applicants that may not be successful on this occasion.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:    

“We know livestock farmers want to invest in slurry systems that support quality food production and protect the environment, but many are put off by high infrastructure costs and difficulty accessing finance.

“The Slurry Infrastructure grant will tackle this, helping farmers to invest in future-proof slurry storage that supports thriving farms while cutting pollution and allowing nature to prosper.”

Other than upgrading existing storage, the grants can also be put towards a range of slurry solutions such as lagoons, steel and concrete ring tanks and large slurry bags. In the long term, these investments will contribute to farmers spending less on artificial fertilisers, leading to increased farm productivity through better nutrient management and soil health.

Paul Caldwell, CEO of the Rural Payments Agency that is supplying the grants, said:

“Improving slurry storage offers farmers an opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of their businesses and cut input costs.

“We hope this scheme, which is the result of months of work with farmers and industry, will receive a significant number of applications for this first and future rounds.”

Full guidance explaining what the grant offers, the rules of the scheme and how to apply is available to view here. It also provides information for Local Planning Authorities and resources to help farmers plan their storage.

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said:

“The farming industry has already made significant progress, with a 75% reduction in serious pollution incidents year-on-year compared to 2000. Farmers want and can do more to cut pollution levels and this grant will go a long way to supporting that.”

Mr Bradshaw said the new scheme is the result of close collaboration between the NFU and Defra to ensure funding support will reach as many farmers as possible.

“It’s vital that future farming schemes enable farmers to invest in new technology and infrastructure to tackle potential pollution issues and crucially improve water and air quality, as part of protecting the environment alongside producing sustainable climate-friendly food.

“I would encourage farmers to look at what’s on offer with this scheme, consider the requirements for their farm, and make their applications as quickly as possible and, if accepted, give themselves as much time as possible to make the necessary planning and building arrangements,” Mr Bradshaw urged.

Depending on demand in the first round, applicants may be prioritised in areas that are most in need of improved air and water quality.

The post Funding up to £250k available to help farmers upgrade slurry storage appeared first on Farmers Guide.

There is widespread confusion and misinformation in the industry regarding the legal towing weights for slurry tankers, a freelance sales professional specialising in slurry equipment told Farmers Guide. Many farmers and contractors are under the impression that if their tanker has an implement on the back (e.g. a dribble bar or trailing shoe), it’s classed as a ‘working machine’ and there’s no weight limit.

Such misinformation often leads to farmers overloading their machines and risking prosecution should they be stopped by the authorities.

Speaking to Farmers Guide about machine weight regulations and trailer safety, Jane Gurney from Tilly Pass commented: “In reality, nothing should be towed in an agricultural situation that weighs over 18.29t. That’s the law. And that means the weight of your machine as well.”

As outlined in the The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, the combination weight limit of an agricultural tractor towing an agricultural trailer is 31t, where the trailer can weigh no more than 18.29t fully laden.

The above regulation increased the weight limit of tractor and trailer from 24.39t to 31t, allowing farmers to use tractors up to 6.61t heavier for towing heavy loads. It also enabled the transport of higher volumes of produce in a single journey, resulting in fewer journeys and reduced risk of incidents.

While the weight allowance for tractors increased in 2015, the maximum laden weight of trailers remained the same (18.29t). Farmers must note that weight cannot be transferred from the front onto the trailer/trailed item and the latter must always be under the designated weight limit.

There is often a mistaken belief in the farming industry that slurry tankers with implements are classified differently to trailers and are therefore not subject to weight restriction. However, the bottom line is that no trailed item can exceed the legal weight limit of 18.29t, regardless of classification.

Farmers should also bear in mind that the gross weight of their machines includes any items or accessories on that machine. For example, a dribble bar on a slurry tanker or a tool box on a tractor will also count towards the total gross weight of each machine. The unladen weight of vehicles and implements can be found in the owner manuals.

“It is the farmer and contractor’s responsibility to know how much their machine weighs,” Ms Gurney pointed out.

A typical slurry tanker. Image © Jane Gurney/Tilly Pass.

The consequences of non-compliance

Knowing and adhering to the correct weight limit for your tanker is paramount, as non-compliance can cost operators and businesses dearly. Depending on the amount of excess weight, penalties can include a fine, points on the operator’s licence, or a court summons for a serious offence. The type of penalty issued will be at the discretion of the officer who stops the vehicle.

A spokesperson for the DVSA, quoted by That’s Farming, said: “Normally, a fixed penalty would be inappropriate for serious cases of overloading.

“For example, when the vehicle is overloaded by 30% and over, or the excess weight is 5 tonnes, a court summons would be issued instead.

“If the excess weight and the way the load is carried is having a significant impact on road safety, for example, serious instability or loss of control, these other offences will mean a court summons. The excess weight would be part of the offence/s,” the spokesperson concluded.

Aside from prosecution, overloading an agricultural machine is also a major health and safety risk and should be avoided in all circumstances. Overloading can make a vehicle less stable, increase maintenance costs, reduce the operator’s control over the machine and even lead to fatal incidents.

Slurry tanker safety information

In order for their tanker to be adequately covered by insurance, Ms Gurney said farmers must make sure:

• It is well maintained and in good working order
• The tanker can break for itself
• All operators are suitably trained and have the correct license
• The tanker is being towed at the correct speed
• The tanker is not overfilled and is under the legal weight limit
• Daily and weekly checks are carried out.

For more information, visit NFU Mutual’s trailer insurance page.

A good way to ensure your tanker meets the standards set out in the PUWER 98 regulations is to book a Tilly Pass inspection, Ms Gurney adds. These are carried out by authorised mechanics across the UK, who will examine your tanker based on an 18-point check list. Upon successful completion, your tanker will be declared roadworthy and you will receive a Tilly certificate to go on the tailgate of your trailer.

A poorly maintained bowser. Image © Jane Gurney/Tilly Pass.

Ms Gurney also stressed the importance of reading manuals and making sure only manufacturers’ checks are carried out. The Tilly Pass Head to Tow App has various manuals available to read and download, with more manufacturers expected to join shortly.

She added: “It’s the employer’s ‘duty of care’ to make sure that they make time for the operator to check their machine themselves in the morning. You should never use a machine that someone else has checked. You must check it yourself. It’s your responsibility, and if you change your combination during the day, so you swap to tow something else, then you must make time to check that item.”

Ms Gurney explained that once an operator changes the combination, that trailed item may behave in a different way. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary accidents, it’s really important that everything is re-checked on the combination that is going to be towed with.

She emphasised that slurry tanker operators must ensure all accessories are secured correctly when driving on the road. If the bowser is carrying dribble bars on the back, these must be folded up with the slurry outlets closed to prevent any slurry from spilling onto the road.

Maintaining the cleanliness of the tanker is also important if farmers want their machine to perform as they expect it to, Ms Gurney says. Since slurry tankers often work in appalling conditions, washing them down, keeping wheels clean and greasing them up will help keep the machines operational.

The post Legal towing weights for slurry tankers – what is the limit? appeared first on Farmers Guide.