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NEWS / EVENTS
SLURRY GOLD on show at Machinery Show in Ecclesville (20/1/10)
Farmcare will be helping inform farmers on the benefits of preserving the power of your slurry at this years Ecclesville Machinery Show on 26-28th January. Farmers will be able to find out how they can save on fertilser costs, mixing costs and the associated health costs with noxious odours. So if you are planning to attend the show, be sure to visit us at the Linton Robinson stand.
Visitors to the Winter Fair, learning how they can save with Slurry Gold
Value of Slurry Highlighted at Anniversary Grassland Event (5/2/09)
On 2nd February 2009, farmers had to opportunity to get an update on the outlook for Northern Ireland agriculture. Meeting at the Ulster Grassland Society’s annual conference the message was clear, more challenges but more opportunities. With increasing pressures from the banks, consumer habits, supply chain and the environment, it was clear that the challenges facing farmers have not diminished in any way. However throughout the conference there was a strong current of optimism with novel ideas being presented and enthusiasm about how new opportunities could be generated. Among this was the recognition on the increased value of slurry and how by improving its management farmers should achieve greater grass growth, reduced costs and be in a position to deal more effectively with future environmental constraints. By reducing mixing, increasing the dry matter content and more effective spreading techniques, the Nitrogen content of the slurry could be increased so much that improved grass growth could be achieved without such a heavy reliance on fertiliser. This of course is music to the farmer’s ears with the current price of fertiliser and the indirect costs associated with it. The second advantage of improved slurry managed will be the preparation for the inevitable environmental constraints being introduced in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions. Norman Fulton from DARD warned how the national targets will soon be driven through either grants or charges at the farmer level. Hence it is imperative that farmers look now at how they can reduce the levels their farms produce. With being one of the biggest sources within the agriculture sector, of which is the biggest contributor in N Ireland, slurry should be the first to be addressed. Given the low levels of investment required and the potential paybacks it was proposed that this should be a no brainer.
"SLURRY GOLD " Just one way of enhancing the nutrient value of slurry
The massive increase in the cost of inputs such as feed, fertiliser and fuel has encouraged N Ireland farmers to start taking a greater interest in utilising much more efficiently on-famr by-products such as slurry. It has been widely recognised that at least 80% of the potential value of slurry has been lost due to bad practices such as excessive mixing, poor application methods and application at the wrong time of year. By adopting and applying a new storage and application strategy, farmers throughout Ireland are experiencing the economic benefits to be achieved from application by the trailed shoe method and the weather conditions prevailing at the time. Soil pH can have a major impact on the utilisation of compound fertiliser and farmers would be well advised to pay particular attention this season, with fertiliser costing in the region of £100 per tonne more than last year. Soil compaction can also have a serious detrimental impact on grass growth and Greenmount College has some very good practical advice on this problem. We have been very encouraged by the positive feedback from our farmer customers on the benefits experienced by applying Slurry preservative to their empty slurry stores, tanks and lagoons. Proper application with adequate water has resulted in a massive reduction in agigation/mixing time, 50% reduction in smell, and a significant boost in grass growth. All at a minimum cost of 95p per 1000 gallons of slurry. All these factors and benefits reinforce the belief that there is a potential saving of a bag per acre of fertiliser.