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Know How / Slurry and manure management

Every livestock farm has to deal with waste and with the increasing focus on environmental impact, it’s key it is managed appropriately. These articles include guidance on legislation, regulation, storage systems and making the most of slurry and manure.

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SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

Advice on investing in a cover for a slurry lagoon or tank

Huge reductions in emissions can be achieved by fitting impermeable covers over slurry storage – as much as 80% on an above-ground tank  and 50-60% by permeable floating materials, according…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

On-farm ammonia reduction trials see breakthrough

Treating slurry with a biological solution has been found to increase ammonia retention by 43%, lowering odour and ammonia emissions. Pruex, the supplier of the product, carried out trials on…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How topping up manure with biochar has improved soil health

When prices of manufactured fertiliser and cattle concentrates increase, Mick and Sandy Jones do not see the financial impact in their suckler beef enterprise. For 15 years, they have grown…

DAIRY

How rainwater harvesting is protecting borehole supplies

Rainwater captured from their floating slurry lagoon cover is probably saving about £10,000 a year in tankering costs for Rheinallt and Rachel Harries at Llwynmendy Uchaf, Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire. Instead of…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How a Wiltshire dairy makes better use of slurry

Investment in a new slurry system on a Wiltshire dairy farm has resulted in a drop in bagged nitrogen use of more than 100kg/ha a year on the grazing platform.…

DAIRY

How new lagoon will drive silage quality and milk from forage

A major slurry lagoon project is a Lanarkshire family farm’s next step in their organic journey. Andrew Stewart, of Draffan Marshill, Kirkmuirhill, says the simplicity of organic farming, and the…

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SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

On-farm slurry-fed anaerobic digestion: What to consider

Interest is growing in farm-scale anaerobic digesters, using slurry as a feedstock, driven by the need to reduce manufactured inputs – for economic and environmental reasons – and the cost…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

Support for muck and slurry management: What’s on offer?

Tackling pollution from agriculture is a priority for governments in all four UK countries. As a result, there is growing pressure on farmers to get better at managing their slurry…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Autumn grazing tips to optimise grass nutrient value in spring

To achieve optimal production from pasture, dairy farmers should avoid leaving long grass and feeding cows too much cake, according to expert advice. “When you allow your grazing covers to…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

Advice on assessing the nutritional value of manure on crops

Used properly on crops, muck is a valuable by-product that offers the opportunity to reduce artificial fertiliser inputs and improve soil health. However, measuring its nutrient value and the associated…

DAIRY

7 tips for expanding your dairy herd safely

Over the past two decades, the average UK herd size has more than doubled, and consultants say more dairy farmers are looking to expand to "stay in the game" amid…

LIVESTOCK

Ways to cut emissions in housed livestock systems

All livestock farms, regardless of system, must comply with UK environmental legislation, but as the sector comes under greater pressure to go further with greener farming methods, it is businesses…

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Help to calculate your slurry storage requirements

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SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How a slurry inoculant helped increase grass yields by 20%

Use of a slurry inoculant on a Cornish farm resulted in fewer nutrient losses and a boost in grass yields by nearly 20%, a trial has shown. These resulted in…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why calcium is critical for soil, plant and animal health

Calcium’s superpowers have been known by agronomists for years, yet not enough attention is paid to the crucial role this mineral plays in soil health on farm. This is according…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How water treatment technology could cut slurry storage

Adapting water treatment technology to a farm setting could reduce slurry storage requirements by 10-15%, make better use of farm nutrients and produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge…

LIVESTOCK

How better use of slurry could help reach net zero targets

Researchers in Northern Ireland are exploring how manures can be more than just a waste product by helping reduce overall carbon footprints and associated emissions. The work, carried out by…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How a slurry chopper pump is enhancing dairy farm efficiency

Efficiency is a key priority at Old Holly Farm, Garstang, explains farmer Ian Pye. His organic herd of Holstein Friesian cross Scandinavian Red dairy cows is managed on a predominantly…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How slurry and forage analysis is benefiting from NIR tech

Adopting precision techniques more commonly used in the arable industry is allowing livestock and grassland enterprises at Myerscough College to run more efficiently. Following access to grant funding, the college…

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to ‘home-test’ grass to know when to cut for silage

When there is late application of fertiliser and slurry to crops, it is vital important to test grass before cutting for silage. Excess nitrogen is a risk in these fields…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

Video: High-tech machine to revolutionise slurry pollution

While there has been a reduction in water pollution problems over recent years in England, agriculture is now the sector responsible for the largest number of serious incidents. In this…