Effluent is becoming a hot commodity when it comes to farm fertilisation. The rising cost of synthetic fertilisers has highlighted the value of recycling the free nutrients being naturally produced on farm, and more and more farmers are racing to invest in effluent equipment that allows them to make the most of it. Here’s some of the ways farmers can really utilise their effluent and cut down on the need for synthetic ferts…
Expand your reach
Slurry tankers and drag hose systems are rising in popularity for farmers wanting to cart their effluent over the entire farm.
But the benefits reach further than that…
Slurry tankers and drag hose systems fitted with low pressure applicators like a RainWave™ have reduced volitisation and wind drift compared with most irrigators, and they also allow for better control over where the effluent is spread. This means more of the effluent is making it to the ground for nutrient absorption, and you’re able to spread into irregular shaped paddocks and closer to waterways than the typical irrigation system would allow.
Utilise your feed
If you’re needing to buy feed for your cows, this can add to the nutrient value of the effluent produced. Rather than nutrients solely being recycled from grass to cow, any additional feed will be providing beneficial outside nutrients back into the system.
Use it all
If you’ve got a slurry tanker, you’ll know it’s got the added bonus of being able to suck up nutrients from more than just the effluent pond. Use the slurry tanker for cleaning up thick feedpad slurry, cleaning out troughs, sumps, under-barn storage…anywhere there’s slurry.
Spread more effectively
When compared with synthetic fertilisers, effluent breaks down faster, allowing cows to get back to graising faster. It can also help with building soil structure for summer, improving moisture retention. This means effluent can be spread more frequently.
Time is a big factor for any farmer, so some ways you can spread faster without compromising effectiveness are:
- Take the slurry tanker with you when locking cows back in the paddock after milking and make the most of your time.
- A drag hose system is very effective in pumping out large volumes quickly.
- Consider investing in a diesel pump that can allow more irrigators to run at the same time so you can spread faster and potentially over multiple areas at one time.