NMS - hands-on manure management

By Jim Breen

The application of manure to land has reached a new level of sophistication, or so says Ag-Chem. New technology offers proof as to who, what, when, where and how much manure was applied to a field. Ag-Chem refers to this technology as NMS (Nutrient Management System).

Ag-Chem's NMS can be specified on self-propelled Terra Gator machines that are equipped to apply both dry and liquid manure. Admittedly though, there is as yet a very limited number of Terra Gators working in this country.

A full range of spreaders is available for mounting on Terra Gators, allowing the machines to handle solid fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, sludge, lime and compost. Further boosting the machines' appeal is the fact that NMS, via adjustment of bed chain speed and dosing gate aperture, allows the rate to be adjusted on the move - quickly and easily. In addition, Terra Gators with NMS can be equipped with an electronic weighing system to indicate the exact spreading rate per acre or per hectare.

NMS is also available with Ag-Chem's liquid manure systems. A positive displacement pump is most commonly used for spreading or injecting liquid manure on arable land and grassland. The application rate is controlled by a computer, independent of driving speed.

Terra Gators equipped with NMS can be fitted with various tank sizes, starting from 10 cubic metres. An arable land injector, grassland injector, drop-hose divider or spray boom can be fitted to the machine. You can also choose between an ‘Optimal' or ‘Automatic' model.

According to Ag-Chem, the benefit of NMS is that it makes the best use of nutrient-rich manure. This, says the firm, can boost crop yields, safeguard the environment and save on the bill for artificial fertilizer.

The Irish agent is T Flynn & Sons, Mullingar.