This is a subscriber-only article
The window for spreading slurry is closing for farmers rapidly as the closed period approaches and weather conditions deteriorate.
The closed period for slurry is set to begin at midnight Wednesday 14 October for farmers in the Republic.
Farmers in Northern Ireland have an extra 24 hours to get the last of their slurry out, with their closed period commencing at midnight on Thursday, 15 October.
With the deadline fast approaching, contractors told the Irish Farmers Journal how most farms are ahead of schedule.
“We are well organised this year, there should be no panic to get slurry out before the closed period,” Galway-based contractor Pairic Hynes said.
Based in Gurteen, close to Ballinasloe, he has two umbilical systems as well as dung spreaders in action.
“With milder conditions, this has been a great year to get work done. There was quite a bit of panic during the silage season to get slurry out. People remember how tight it ran last year.”
Pressure
“Most farmers didn’t want the same pressure to come on again this winter with mostly empty tanks around the county.
“We rang lads around the end of July to remind them to get the slurry out to make sure no one gets caught this year for room in the tank.”
Further south in Co Cork, contractor Padraig Noonan said he was “tipping away at the slurry, a lot of farmers seized the opportunity and got the tanks empty during the dry period leading up to October.
“We often have been busier other years and most tanks around these parts are nearly empty. There’s always a late dash to get the slurry out but I imagine there won’t be huge pressure this year,” said Noonan, who is based in Conna, close to Fermoy.
“It’s working out great for us with plenty of grain and maize work to do so having the slurry nearly out of the way is a help.
“We pipe the slurry with the umbilical system and dribble bars. We also have tanks but they are mainly used for just drawing slurry.”
SHARING OPTIONS: