The slurry season starts off on Friday in counties located in Zone A. Counties in Zone B can commence slurry application on 15 January, while Zone C has to wait until 31 January (see beloe for zone breakdown). Inevitably, weather and ground conditions will determine when to start also. Farm safety is critical at this time, especially as slurry has two elements of danger. Hydrogen sulphide gas found in slurry is potentially fatal when inhaled. Slurry tankers themselves are heavy and when half loaded the driving characteristics change. It is important that a tractor of adequate size is used in the operation, to prevent the tanker bullying the tractor around the field and roads. In recent years accidents relating to PTOs have reduced, with good safety campaigns and effort on the manufacturers’ part to remove the driver from danger. In this week’s paper we feature the Safe Shaft System developed by the Hickey brothers in Waterford. This system replaces the traditional PTO drive by using a hydraulic motor to drive the pump. Also this week we look at Danish contractors’ experience when it comes to crimping grain.
Slurry spreading zones
Zone A: Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.Zone B: Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.Zone C: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan.
The slurry season starts off on Friday in counties located in Zone A. Counties in Zone B can commence slurry application on 15 January, while Zone C has to wait until 31 January (see beloe for zone breakdown). Inevitably, weather and ground conditions will determine when to start also. Farm safety is critical at this time, especially as slurry has two elements of danger. Hydrogen sulphide gas found in slurry is potentially fatal when inhaled. Slurry tankers themselves are heavy and when half loaded the driving characteristics change. It is important that a tractor of adequate size is used in the operation, to prevent the tanker bullying the tractor around the field and roads. In recent years accidents relating to PTOs have reduced, with good safety campaigns and effort on the manufacturers’ part to remove the driver from danger. In this week’s paper we feature the Safe Shaft System developed by the Hickey brothers in Waterford. This system replaces the traditional PTO drive by using a hydraulic motor to drive the pump. Also this week we look at Danish contractors’ experience when it comes to crimping grain.
Slurry spreading zones
Zone A: Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.Zone B: Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.Zone C: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan.
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