Slurry Management

G T Bunning and Sons show tyre option for spring applications

G T Bunning and Sons returned to LAMMA showing a spreader equipped with a large diameter, narrow tyre aimed at farmers wanting to reduce crop damage when spring top dressing.

Bunning showed three machines at LAMMA and the Lowlander 120 HY HBD features a set of Alliance 580/85 R42 IF tyres, offering a longer tread pattern and bringing the machine’s overall width down to 2,820mm. Being a Hybrid machine, it features the wider spreading design from the larger models, which improves the shredding of cattle muck for greater accuracy, and weigh cells for rate control.

This tyre option helps farmers retain the flotation benefits of IF tyres and is better suited to tramline widths when travelling through growing crops. Ben Johnson, UK and Ireland sales manager for G T Bunning and Sons, says it will appeal for several reasons.

“The 120 HY HBD model on the stand allows a 19.1cu m load due to the built-in flared side extensions, but crucially features a shorter wheelbase than the bigger Lowlander 150 model, so it will lessen crop damage when turning on the headlands. We are seeing more customers wanting to top-dress in the spring, so the narrower tyres and shorter machine offers good output whilst reducing crop damage.”

Elsewhere on the stand, the company also showed two further models. A 120 HY TVA that features the recently redesigned large diameter bottom spreading blades for increased accuracy. This machine will also be equipped with weigh cells, which allows the operator to set a target rate for precise applications of products. A smaller 105 TVA was also exhibited, aimed at smaller farms wishing to utilise their own manures.

“Demand for accurately applying organic manures continues to grow and our range of spreaders and technology can help to reduce input costs through precise spreading,” concludes Mr Johnson.

The Maelstorm range from Harry West

Harry West (Prees) machinery can offer our customers two types of products to transport and dispose of their farmyard waste. The machines able to cope with fresh, well-rotted or semi solid farmyard manure. With the West Dual spreader range, we can move liquid and semi solid material as the unit is a sealed container and prevents spillage when in transport. The West Maelstrom rear discharge spreader gives us an alternative process that can handle much heavier material, compost, or waste products and limited wetter material

The Dual spreader is the farmers favourite, a versatile machine giving flexibility in its handling of various materials. The high-speed rigid impellor positively spreads up to 21m from the machine, with the close coupled impellor at the front ensuring good distribution of slurry. The machine comes with a continuous mechanical oscillating side plate to eliminate blocking and bridging assisted by a large control door. The steep sided body design eases the operation of all materials.

The Maelstorm range gives us a well-balanced line up of rear discharge spreaders. Capacities ranging from 8M³ to 18M³and an optional rear container door we can offer a tailor-made machine to suit both farmers and contractors. The twin rear vertical rotating beaters operate at a powerful 400rpm from the PTO drive input of 1000 rpm. The flared double tip blades offer an excellent process to macerate the manure giving a much better spread both in consistency and coverage.

New high capacity compact tanker from Hi Spec

Hi-Spec Engineering were back at LAMMA exhibiting a range of products, including a new addition to their popular and well proven vacuum tanker range.

The new Hi-Spec TS-R tanker is available in a range of capacities from 2,000 up to 4,000 gallons. The tanker body is fully supported and is carried on a commercial tandem-axle, fitted with 710/50-R26.5 tyres with semi-recessed mudguards.

The combination of narrower width but lower rolling

resistance tyres to keep soil compaction to a minimum and the semi-recessed mudguard design has the benefit that overall width and height are reduced, making the TS-R a more nimble tanker and ideal for use where operating space is restricted.

As standard, the Hi-Spec TS-R is fitted with a sprung drawbar with swivel hitch and the barrel is made from 6mm British steel and incorporates internal baffles and antiimplosion rings. Also standard is a powerful Jurop pump and the TS-R can be specified with a wide range of filling options.

Spreading options for the TS-R include the Hi-Spec Trailing Shoe applicator, which is available in working widths of 7.5, 9.0 and 10.5 metres. Alternatively there is the 7.5 metre wide Hi-Spec Dribble Bar, which folds down to just 2.55 metres for transport.

In addition, also on display will be a Hi-Spec SA-R (single axle recessed) tanker. Capacities on the 6-model SA-R models are from 1,350 gallons up to 3,000 gallons. All SA-R models are fitted with commercial brakes and the show model is on 750/60 R30.5 Alliance 181D tyres. The tanker body is built from 6mm thick British steel, is fitted with a Jurop vacuum pump and incorporates internal implosion rings. The show model was also fitted with a Vogelsang Blackbird trailing shoe applicator. XCEL 1250 spreader Also on the Hi-Spec stand was the Hi-Spec XCEL 1250 rear discharge spreader. Unlike other rear discharge spreaders, the XCEL 1250 is unique in that it uses a combination of a shredding rotor fitted with 22 heavy duty chains with 12mm Hardox flail heads. These are mounted under a 4mm Hardox hood that shreds all the material to an even consistency which is then spread by two spreading rotors. An adjustment plate on the shredding rotor hood evenly places the manure onto the spreading discs to ensure an even spread.

The Xcel 1250 has the capability to achieve an even spread pattern up to 24 metres. It has a capacity of 12 tonnes, typical discharge time is 3-5 minutes and it is able to spread all types of material such as farmyard manure, sludge cake, muck lime, wood mulch and chicken compost.

The Mastek range

Mastek offer a range of dribble bars and trailing shoe applicators to fit tankers of all makes and sizes. The companies most popular machine is the 7.5m Professional Universal Dribble Bar weighing in at only 450kg. This machine simply

replaces the slurry tankers existing door meaning fitting is quick and simple. Mastek pride themselves on being able to fit this machine to any make of tanker rear door. The machine features sprung break away and stone trap as standard. This machine is very popular on tankers from 1300 gallon up to 3000 gallon. On larger tankers 3000 gallon and above Mastek offer the Hybrid Dribble Bar. This machine can feature 3 or 4 point linkage or can be bolted to the chassis of any suitable tanker. This machine is available in widths of 10 or 12m and features hydraulic accumulator break away and a junction box as standard which allows filling points to be fitted to the rear of the machine. If you prefer the idea of Trailing Shoe Mastek offer the 7.5m Micro Trailing Shoe. This machine is fixed to the tanker using fixed brackets and features a clever sequencing valve which unfolds the arms then tilts them to the ground all on the same hydraulic circuit. This machine also comes with a junction box to allow filling points to be fitted to the rear of the trailing shoe. The micro shoe features the company’s “Micro SuperCut” macerator, this is proving to be a very compact yet reliable macerator. Mastek’s own award winning “SuperCut” and “Micro SuperCut” macerators are designed to handle long fibre and debris by using 6 unique V-shaped cutting discs to shear long fibre and plastic. Each hose outlet has a oneway air valve, this gives an even flow and helps to prevent blockages.

Infrastructure grant supports bagging slurry

DEFRA recently announced the first round of ‘slurry infrastructure grants’ for applications from December 6th 2022 to January 31st 2023. The application window will enable farms needing to extend slurry storage to meet the six-month storage target and gain up to 50% towards new storage equipment.

The grants are primarily aimed at reducing the impact of slurry emissions and agriculture’s contribution to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Advocated by DEFRA are bag tanks which will be supported by grant funding and offer a complete solution to storing, agitating and managing slurry.

Slurry specialist Tramspread has been installing bag tanks

for 20 years and has welcomed DEFRA’s support for the technology. Tramspread’s John Tydeman says:

“Depending on location, bag tanks can often be installed without planning permission. The tanks sit low to the ground, have capacities up to 7500m³, feature integral stirrers and suction/delivery pipes. We import and install Albers Alligator bag tanks which only need groundworks similar to a shallow lagoon with sloping sides and base. This design enables the bag tank to be easily filled and fully emptied at any time.”

The grants will also cover the installation of above ground storage such as steel and stainless steel tanks. These offer farms, with less space close to livestock housing, the opportunity to increase slurry storage and in some cases incrementally add to the size of the tank.

“Stallkamp tanks can be extended using additional stainless steel rings. A more cost- effective option is the Agritank. Both are covered by the slurry infrastructure grant. However, unlike a bag tank, both will require planning permission,” adds Mr Tydeman.

To qualify for funding, all storage tanks must have an impermeable cover which will add to the cost of steel tanks that require a textile or floating cover.

“Textile covers can be costly whereas a floating solution like Hexa-Cover will be considerably cheaper. Whilst floating tile covers are not covered by the grants, it may still be a cheaper option for some farms,” he says.

The grant will also fund items necessary for the basic functioning of new or expanded slurry stores, such as reception pits, slurry pumps and agitators. A fixed contribution towards the cost of slurry storage will be calculated using DEFRA’s standard costings which see £19.27 per m³ contributed for a bag tank with liner and £31.50 per m³ for a steel tank.

Vogelsangs’ press screw separator

Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG launched a press screw separator in 2022. The mechanical engineering company introduced it at the in-house trade fair “Gülle Professional Days”, alongside other innovations for efficient liquid manure management. “To remain cost-effective despite the significant degree of regulation, our customers are increasingly relying on economical use of valuable liquid manure, including optimal nutrient placement. With this goal in mind, we are constantly developing our portfolio and have now added separation technology,” says Harald Vogelsang, Managing Director of Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG.

The XSplit press screw separator allows farmers and biogas plant operators to optimally separate the liquid manure and digestate for spreading and further use. Vogelsang has taken the tried

and tested method of solidliquid separation and redesigned the technology behind it. The drive is located at the solids outlet and not, as is customary on the market, at the inflow of the raw medium. The advantage: liquid cannot get into the drive and therefore a shaft seal is no longer necessary. This reduces maintenance effort and costs. In addition, the QuickService concept enables direct access to the screen and screw press.