Better slurry management on farms will reduce the amount of pollution runoff into rivers and streams, benefitting local communities and the wider environment.

To break down the financial barriers to upgrading slurry stores, nearly £34 million will be made available through the first round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant – more than two-and-a-half times the original budget.

Guidance will also be released for the second round of the Water Management Grant, set to open for applications later in April. The scheme will provide £10 million in funding to help farmers manage their water use through better irrigation and more on-farm reservoirs.

Moreover, the government’s new Plan for Water was published on 4^th April, providing data on water resources and the quality of water throughout the UK.

The aim of the publication is to transform the whole water system – addressing every source of pollution, including from storm overflows, agriculture, plastics, road run-off, chemicals and pesticides, as well as the pressures on our water supply as a result of climate change and population growth.

The government has also doubled funding to £15 million to give free advice to farmers across the country through the Catchment Sensitive Farming scheme. It is hoped the additional funding will accelerate the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which will help farmers use their land in a way that keeps valuable nutrients and soil on the farm.

Commenting on the announcement, farming minister Mark Spencer said: “Communities across the country want to see clean and plentiful water in our rivers and streams, and farmers have a huge role in helping to deliver this.

“We know that farmers want to do the right thing, which is why – as part of today’s Plan for Water – we’re providing even more funding for farmers both to reduce their water pollution from slurry and better manage the water on their farms.”

With around half of slurry stores in England not being fit-for-purpose, the Slurry Infrastructure Grant provides farmers with between £25,000-£250,000 to build, replace or expand storage and can contribute towards a range of solutions like lagoons, steel and concrete ring tanks and large slurry bags.

The first round of the grant saw 1,200 applications received by Defra, and while the government wants to help as many farmers as possible, the high demand for grants must be balanced with the capacity of slurry store suppliers to increase production.

So far, 374 projects have been invited to submit a full application and receive a share of £33.9 million in funding – up from £13.2 million when the grant was first announced last year. This takes into account the types of store farmers have applied for, as well as an assessment of what the market could handle following conversations with suppliers and installers.

Meanwhile, the second round of the Water Management Grant will see £10 million in funding made available for farmers to improve farm productivity through more efficient use of water for irrigation and constructing on-farm reservoirs to secure water supplies for crop irrigation.

To support farms of all sizes, grants will range in value from £35,000 to £500,000. Applications will open later in April with an online checker available to help farmers determine their eligibility and likelihood of success.

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Retrofitting dribble bars is a cost-effective way to meet impending slurry application legislation.Tramspread managing director Terry Baker said: “In less than two years there will be thousands of tankers left potentially redundant, having not been converted to work with a precision applicator to adhere to the splash plate ban.”

To combat the issue, the company has developed a universal solution to retro-fit its Suffolk range dribble bar systems, with working widths of 6 metres to 10.5 metres, to near all sizes and brands of tankers. The key element is a four-point attachment that does not mount to the door of the tanker.

“Rust can form around doors, and the hinges are often not secure enough to fit dribble bars to,” Mr Baker explained. “By welding a four-point attachment to the body of the tanker, we provide new fixing points on the rear of the tanker that the boom framework attaches to using telescopic arms.”

The 2025 splash plate ban seeks to reduce ammonia (NH₃) emissions in the UK, around 88% of which come from agriculture. Nitrogen, in the form of ammonia, is released into the atmosphere through open storage of organic manure, but also through the use of splash plates, especially on warm or windy days.

The initial ban will be followed by further regulation in 2027 that will require all slurry to be covered. To help farmers comply with the Clean Air Strategy, the Rural Payments Agency is offering grants for ‘Annex 3: FEFT 2023 productivity and slurry eligibility items’ to assist with the costs.

Mr Baker added: “Many farmers and contractors have already embraced precision application as it improves overall nutrient management and has the potential to reduce reliance on manufactured fertiliser.

“However, for those who have not updated their applicator there are grants available and retrofitting an old tanker is a cost-effective option that will help the farm comply with the 2025 splash plate ban.”

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The grant is being offered by the government to help beef, dairy and pig farmers overcome cost barriers to replacing or upgrading their slurry storage.

The scheme was launched to encourage more environmentally sustainable farming practices by bringing more slurry storage systems up to modern standards.

“Farmers are meant to have six months’ storage, but the government has realised that many don’t, because a store that size is expensive to build,” said Carter Jonas Associate Gillian Wilsher.

“However, if this is the carrot, then I imagine in five years’ time it may be replaced by a big stick if you don’t take them up on this offer,” he added.

Farmers receiving a grant will have approximately 50% of their building costs covered, with total payments ranging from £25,000 to £250,000. However, the grant will only contribute to the estimated cost of storing slurry for current stocking rates for six months.

“If you have plans to increase your herd, it may be more cost effective to consider increasing the capacity of your storage now, even though the increased capacity will not benefit from the grant funding,” Ms Wilsher advised.

“Looking at the bigger picture and considering your long-term plans is essential.”

Ms Wilsher suggested farmers carefully consider the location of the slurry store in light of any future plans for development. She pointed out the easiest place is not necessarily the most appropriate and the surrounding environment and watercourses must be taken into account.

“Consider whether your drainage networks are working efficiently to keep clean and dirty water separate,” she added. “If your clean water drains are also entering the slurry store this will increase the capacity required significantly and water down your slurry, increasing spreading costs to apply the same amount of nutrients.”

Ms Wilsher also recommended farmers consider whether third parties will need access to their slurry store outlets.

“As the price of fertiliser has increased significantly, the value of slurry is also a significant consideration,” she stressed.

In addition, farmers should keep in mind that the grants will be paid in segments to reimburse development costs and the business will need to fund the entire project initially.

“Given the substantial expenditure potentially involved it is important that the financing should be carefully considered, especially as we are now seeing interest rates rising,” Ms Wilsher said.

“It may be possible to fund some projects with capital or through the overdraft facilities for the short term while awaiting the grant reimbursement.

“For larger expenditure which cannot be covered by existing funds I would recommend speaking to your bank manager or local AMC agent at the earliest opportunity to discuss your options.”

Defra is expecting to receive a high volume of applications for the scheme, therefore projects that yield the greatest environmental benefits will need to be prioritised.

Successful initial applicants will be invited to submit a full application, for which planning permission must be secured.

“It would therefore be worthwhile engaging with your planning consultant at an early stage as planning applications can take longer than expected, especially if the planning authority has limited knowledge of agricultural practices,” Ms Wilsher advised.

Farmers can still check eligibility for the scheme using the government’s Online Checker.

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Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser at the CAAV

With air and water quality of increasing concern, and extremely high fertiliser prices, it’s a no-brainer to make use of the new scheme, which was announced on 23 November. “Water legislation is tightening and it’s not going to go away,” says Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser at the CAAV. “Improving slurry stores to benefit the environment is likely to become a statutory requirement in future, so while the Government is offering money to get there it makes sense to take it.”

The grant offers pig, beef and dairy producers between £25,000 and £250,000 – paid in arrears – to improve or expand their slurry storage capacity to six months, including fitting impermeable covers on grant-funded stores. It will be competitive and focussed on applications in priority areas, which deliver the greatest environmental benefit. It will cover approximately 50% of current market costs.

“The scheme has been in the pipeline for a long time, and is the first in the four-month Defra logjam to be released,” says Mr Moody. “It’s the first round of a multi-annual scheme, so if you don’t qualify this year, don’t despair – but do your research and apply when eligible.”

Tenants may need to have an open discussion with their landlord to ensure eligibility for the scheme, and to decide who pays for it, he warns. “Landlords need to be practical and allow these improvements. Under an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy, the tenant can challenge it if their landlord says no, but with Farm Business Tenancies there needs to be a practical discussion.”

Defra requires farmers to have at least five years’ use of the land after the final grant payment is made, so tenants may need to negotiate a term extension. “Bear in mind you’re also likely to need planning permission, and time to secure the contractors and materials – so in reality five years quickly becomes eight. It’s probably worth securing 10 years’ cover, which gives sufficient time to write off the investment cost.”

However, it would be extremely helpful if the Government helped ensure the scheme’s success by removing the need for planning permission, says Mr Moody. “We are asking for the Government to give permitted development rights for slurry store improvements. It’s crazy to let the planning system get in the way of solving water pollution.”

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Having adequate slurry storage is essential for protecting the environment and mitigating the impact of harmful gases on water and air quality. However, around half of slurry stores in England are currently not fit-for-purpose due to farmers facing substantial cost barriers.

As a result, many are left with no choice but to spread slurry when there is no crop need, wasting a valuable resource that is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Moreover, this can also lead to farms failing to comply with legal requirements for storing and spreading slurry.

Therefore, investing in good slurry management will not only help safeguard the environment, but also cut input costs by ensuring farmers make the best use of their organic nutrients.

The first round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant will make £13 million available for dairy, beef and pig farmers across England, who will be eligible to apply for 50% match funding between £25,000 and £250,000. Grants can be used to build, expand, or replace slurry storage to achieve six months capacity.

Applications for the first round of the scheme will open on Tuesday 6^th December and close on 31^st January 2023. Support and further opportunities will be provided for applicants that may not be successful on this occasion.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:    

“We know livestock farmers want to invest in slurry systems that support quality food production and protect the environment, but many are put off by high infrastructure costs and difficulty accessing finance.

“The Slurry Infrastructure grant will tackle this, helping farmers to invest in future-proof slurry storage that supports thriving farms while cutting pollution and allowing nature to prosper.”

Other than upgrading existing storage, the grants can also be put towards a range of slurry solutions such as lagoons, steel and concrete ring tanks and large slurry bags. In the long term, these investments will contribute to farmers spending less on artificial fertilisers, leading to increased farm productivity through better nutrient management and soil health.

Paul Caldwell, CEO of the Rural Payments Agency that is supplying the grants, said:

“Improving slurry storage offers farmers an opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of their businesses and cut input costs.

“We hope this scheme, which is the result of months of work with farmers and industry, will receive a significant number of applications for this first and future rounds.”

Full guidance explaining what the grant offers, the rules of the scheme and how to apply is available to view here. It also provides information for Local Planning Authorities and resources to help farmers plan their storage.

NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said:

“The farming industry has already made significant progress, with a 75% reduction in serious pollution incidents year-on-year compared to 2000. Farmers want and can do more to cut pollution levels and this grant will go a long way to supporting that.”

Mr Bradshaw said the new scheme is the result of close collaboration between the NFU and Defra to ensure funding support will reach as many farmers as possible.

“It’s vital that future farming schemes enable farmers to invest in new technology and infrastructure to tackle potential pollution issues and crucially improve water and air quality, as part of protecting the environment alongside producing sustainable climate-friendly food.

“I would encourage farmers to look at what’s on offer with this scheme, consider the requirements for their farm, and make their applications as quickly as possible and, if accepted, give themselves as much time as possible to make the necessary planning and building arrangements,” Mr Bradshaw urged.

Depending on demand in the first round, applicants may be prioritised in areas that are most in need of improved air and water quality.

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There is widespread confusion and misinformation in the industry regarding the legal towing weights for slurry tankers, a freelance sales professional specialising in slurry equipment told Farmers Guide. Many farmers and contractors are under the impression that if their tanker has an implement on the back (e.g. a dribble bar or trailing shoe), it’s classed as a ‘working machine’ and there’s no weight limit.

Such misinformation often leads to farmers overloading their machines and risking prosecution should they be stopped by the authorities.

Speaking to Farmers Guide about machine weight regulations and trailer safety, Jane Gurney from Tilly Pass commented: “In reality, nothing should be towed in an agricultural situation that weighs over 18.29t. That’s the law. And that means the weight of your machine as well.”

As outlined in the The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, the combination weight limit of an agricultural tractor towing an agricultural trailer is 31t, where the trailer can weigh no more than 18.29t fully laden.

The above regulation increased the weight limit of tractor and trailer from 24.39t to 31t, allowing farmers to use tractors up to 6.61t heavier for towing heavy loads. It also enabled the transport of higher volumes of produce in a single journey, resulting in fewer journeys and reduced risk of incidents.

While the weight allowance for tractors increased in 2015, the maximum laden weight of trailers remained the same (18.29t). Farmers must note that weight cannot be transferred from the front onto the trailer/trailed item and the latter must always be under the designated weight limit.

There is often a mistaken belief in the farming industry that slurry tankers with implements are classified differently to trailers and are therefore not subject to weight restriction. However, the bottom line is that no trailed item can exceed the legal weight limit of 18.29t, regardless of classification.

Farmers should also bear in mind that the gross weight of their machines includes any items or accessories on that machine. For example, a dribble bar on a slurry tanker or a tool box on a tractor will also count towards the total gross weight of each machine. The unladen weight of vehicles and implements can be found in the owner manuals.

“It is the farmer and contractor’s responsibility to know how much their machine weighs,” Ms Gurney pointed out.

A typical slurry tanker. Image © Jane Gurney/Tilly Pass.

The consequences of non-compliance

Knowing and adhering to the correct weight limit for your tanker is paramount, as non-compliance can cost operators and businesses dearly. Depending on the amount of excess weight, penalties can include a fine, points on the operator’s licence, or a court summons for a serious offence. The type of penalty issued will be at the discretion of the officer who stops the vehicle.

A spokesperson for the DVSA, quoted by That’s Farming, said: “Normally, a fixed penalty would be inappropriate for serious cases of overloading.

“For example, when the vehicle is overloaded by 30% and over, or the excess weight is 5 tonnes, a court summons would be issued instead.

“If the excess weight and the way the load is carried is having a significant impact on road safety, for example, serious instability or loss of control, these other offences will mean a court summons. The excess weight would be part of the offence/s,” the spokesperson concluded.

Aside from prosecution, overloading an agricultural machine is also a major health and safety risk and should be avoided in all circumstances. Overloading can make a vehicle less stable, increase maintenance costs, reduce the operator’s control over the machine and even lead to fatal incidents.

Slurry tanker safety information

In order for their tanker to be adequately covered by insurance, Ms Gurney said farmers must make sure:

• It is well maintained and in good working order
• The tanker can break for itself
• All operators are suitably trained and have the correct license
• The tanker is being towed at the correct speed
• The tanker is not overfilled and is under the legal weight limit
• Daily and weekly checks are carried out.

For more information, visit NFU Mutual’s trailer insurance page.

A good way to ensure your tanker meets the standards set out in the PUWER 98 regulations is to book a Tilly Pass inspection, Ms Gurney adds. These are carried out by authorised mechanics across the UK, who will examine your tanker based on an 18-point check list. Upon successful completion, your tanker will be declared roadworthy and you will receive a Tilly certificate to go on the tailgate of your trailer.

A poorly maintained bowser. Image © Jane Gurney/Tilly Pass.

Ms Gurney also stressed the importance of reading manuals and making sure only manufacturers’ checks are carried out. The Tilly Pass Head to Tow App has various manuals available to read and download, with more manufacturers expected to join shortly.

She added: “It’s the employer’s ‘duty of care’ to make sure that they make time for the operator to check their machine themselves in the morning. You should never use a machine that someone else has checked. You must check it yourself. It’s your responsibility, and if you change your combination during the day, so you swap to tow something else, then you must make time to check that item.”

Ms Gurney explained that once an operator changes the combination, that trailed item may behave in a different way. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary accidents, it’s really important that everything is re-checked on the combination that is going to be towed with.

She emphasised that slurry tanker operators must ensure all accessories are secured correctly when driving on the road. If the bowser is carrying dribble bars on the back, these must be folded up with the slurry outlets closed to prevent any slurry from spilling onto the road.

Maintaining the cleanliness of the tanker is also important if farmers want their machine to perform as they expect it to, Ms Gurney says. Since slurry tankers often work in appalling conditions, washing them down, keeping wheels clean and greasing them up will help keep the machines operational.

The post Legal towing weights for slurry tankers – what is the limit? appeared first on Farmers Guide.

The Xerion Saddle Trac is equipped with a strong 462hp Mercedes engine. Because of the hydrostatic-mechanical drive, Kaweco says the machine has unprecedented pulling power, which is especially important in mountainous areas.

Additionally, 900/60R42 tyres can be mounted on the Saddle Trac, and these can be optionally equipped with a tyre inflation system. There is no track overlap due to the use of the Xerion’s Crab Steering mode. All this means that the soil is spared as much as possible.

The build-on tank is made entirely of epoxy resin and has a capacity of 16,000 litres. This construction method reduces the weight, so that the effective content can be increased. The inside of the tank is fitted with four bulkheads, two in the length and two in the width. This is to increase the driving comfort and to guarantee a long lifespan of the tank, Kaweco explains.

Crab steering.

The Kaweco Saddle Trac is standard equipped with a front unit on the machine. The arm has a swivel range of 135 degrees and can dock both low and high. In its class, there is no arm with as much reach as this one, Kaweco claims. The andock arm of the front unit is fully controllable with the Kaweco proportional joystick. The Go Home function puts the front unit in transport position with just one push of a button, and because the front unit is placed behind a cabin pillar, the view is not obstructed during transport.

Another part of the front unit is the stone catcher with hydraulically-driven cutting mechanism. Stones are caught and any feed or straw residue is cut into pieces. All this is done to preserve both the rotary lobe pump and the distributors. The stone catcher can be opened hydraulically via the Kaweco Terminal.

A 9,000-litre/min Vogelsang rotary lobe pump is fitted as standard. Optionally, a 12,000-litre/min rotary lobe pump can be chosen. To guarantee the capacity, the slurry route is made up of 10in suction pipes and a 10in maxi filler. The large maxi filler in the front unit ensures that the slurry is pushed towards the pump. This results in a high capacity and longer life of the rotary lobe pump due to the low underpressure.

Saddle Trac cabin.

A clever positioning of the slurry pump results in a minimum number of bends and therefore minimum resistance. Furthermore, the pump is easy to remove at the back with a pallet fork, for example, for maintenance. Because the slurry pump is mounted as close as possible to the fertiliser, as little slurry as possible is pumped around unnecessarily.

At the pressure side of the slurry pump, the 8in three-way valve is placed which switches between circulating and spreading. Kaweco always places this valve as short as it can on the fertiliser so that at the start of the next pass, slurry is immediately available.

The Kaweco Saddle Trac is known for the perfect interaction between tank and tractor. The rotary lobe pump is driven by the power hydraulics of the Xerion. The Kaweco computer communicates directly with the Cebis computer of the Xerion and therefore ensures a very accurate automatic dispensing system. During application the engine speed can be adjusted to the required power, resulting in lower diesel consumption. Through the Isobus, communication functions can be assigned to the Xerion’s multifunctional gear lever and Kaweco’s proportional joystick.

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The Easy Bus system is a simple variant of the extensive Isobus Premium.

The Kaweco Easy Bus system is easy to use with a tractor terminal or separately supplied monitor. The system is based on the Load-Sensing system from Kaweco with joystick control. All functions of the tank can be controlled with a touchscreen or via the tractor’s F-function. The system comes without terminal as standard and is meant for integration into the tractor terminal.

Starting and stopping applicating/filling is done with a preset sequence. This means that you only need to use one button at a time to start applicating or filling. The suction arm and other functions can be easily assigned to an F-button on the tractor or to an optional joystick.

The Easy Bus system differs from the Isobus Premium system in its simplicity. It has fewer sensors, and no flow meter is supplied as standard. This means a simple yet complete way of operating via the tractor’s Isobus. The advantage of the system lies in the simplicity of operation and the fact that there is no need to install a separate terminal in the tractor.

Visit the website for more information.

Hall 17 Stand 17.760

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SAS Agri offer an ever changing and comprehensive range of new and used agricultural machinery, including telehandlers, spreaders, trailers and tankers. Whilst the company is a specialist in used Bunning and ECE muck spreaders, it also stocks handle muck spreaders, trailers and tankers by other popular manufacturers.

As a small family run business SAS Agri have been able to focus on providing services to increase their customers uptime in the field. Taking on the highest quality used spreaders to provide their farming clients with the good prices of buying secondhand with the confidence of buying new kit.

The company also supports on farm repairs of your machinery to reduce downtime and increase productivity. SAS stock a comprehensive range of spare parts, with a full back-up service for machines it sells and supplies. Spares back-up is complimented by a next-day delivery service with morning and afternoon collections.

SAS Agri have expanded it’s workforce by taking on two new employees to both support the new Merlo franchise and to provide sales and service to their existing offerings.

In March 2020 Richard and Emma bought SAS Agri from its founder Alan Suffling, who started the business back in 2000. Alan has built an excellent reputation within the agricultural world for his knowledge and experience of agricultural machinery and Alan continues to work with Richard and Emma providing guidance and imparting his knowledge.

In 2021 Richard and Emma were approached to join the Merlo dealer network, and offer sales of new and used machines as well as service and repair of the Merlo telehandler range.

When they joined the dealer network Emma Davey was quoted as saying: “Being farmers ourselves, we understand the needs of our customers first-hand. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and matching the right machine to the right customer.

“We are able to support our customers with our large parts store and the ability to offer service and repair options on farm, or in our large on-site workshop. We feel that the Merlo brand will complement our current range of agricultural machinery and are incredibly proud to be approached to take on this new franchise.”

VIEW WEBSITE HERE

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Since it was founded six years ago, Tim Wells Ltd, which is based in Waddingham, Lincolnshire, has grown rapidly due to its reputation as a reliable, dedicated contractor services company.

The company has a broad and flexible range of services, from agriculture to haulage, which can be easily tailored to suit farmers’ needs.

The company’s services include:

• Umbilical spreading – 12, 24 and 30m
• Manure spreading – animal and plant
• Tanker services – liquid transportation
• Tractor hire – with driver
• Baling & Collecting – hay, silage, straw
• Trailer work – haulage

For services that are not on the list, Tim Wells Ltd invites customers to give the team a call on 07876386241.

With a dedicated team of highly trained operatives, Tim Wells Ltd says it can ensure your job, no matter how big or small, is completed to the highest level and as quickly and efficiently as possible.

VISIT WEBSITE HERE

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