There are multiple advantages to utilising a drag hose system for your dairy farm operations. A drag hose system is predominantly used in situations where only a small window of opportunity is available to move large amounts of effluent and apply it over a shorter period of time. This often occurs in spring, when there is a larger full effluent pond that needs to be emptied in the two or three fine weather days in a row.
Traditional pumping cannot put out effluent fast enough, but a drag hose system does have the capability to move effluent quickly and efficiently in the days available during the spring season. One advantage of utilising a drag hose system is the shared volume that can be shifted in a short amount of time. A drag hose system is able to manage 100 to 200 cubic metres an hour. For comparison, a travelling irrigator can only handle 20 cubic metres an hour, which operates at a far less volume capability. Travelling irrigators also have potential issues with wind drift, whereas a drag hose system has less wind drift, resulting in less nitrogen loss in the soil.
Drag hoses are suitable for irregular shaped paddocks and offer a more suitable situation than a slurry tanker if there are issues of weight around the paddock during the rainy months of the year. Drag hoses ensure reliable application of heavy material, such as solids removed from a storage facility that would normally block a traditional travelling irrigator or other methods. With full operational control, there is less concern when it comes to errors or potential issues with runoff.
If you are managing multiple farms or are a contractor, the ability to move the drag hose system from one farm to another is advantageous to lower operational costs. Instead of having multiple systems across farms, the drag hose system is not limited by location and can be used without having to insert pipes into the ground or bury the hose line. With the capability of moving the drag hose in any direction, you can achieve moving effluent across a whole radius around the effluent pond to cover a large area with a relatively small amount of drag hose.
If your operations include a big pond, irregular shaped paddocks, multiple farms, or you are working as a contractor, a drag hose is an efficient system to get the job done quickly. Chat with our team to learn more about the right drag hose system for your situation that can lower labour needs and increase effluent management efficiency.