Over the last fortnight, we have been able to test whether our slurry additive has worked or not. In using the biological additive, we had three aims.
To make the slurry easier to agitate – the hope being that the bugs would physically alter the consistency of the slurry. That seems to have been achieved with very few lumps though it still needed water to be added to give it a spreadable consistency.The second objective was to reduce the smell. People will have different views on the acceptability of smells from slurry but if a reduction in odour is a by-product, it can be welcomed.The third aim was the most difficult to measure – was the treated slurry more beneficial to the earthworms and general soil life? Even the manufacturers of the product are unclear on how the science of converting the ammonia nitrogen to bacterial nitrogen actually works but the treated ground has a less pungent smell and certainly no sign of dead earthworms as can happen routinely with normal application. All in all, I am willing to give the product and my use of it the benefit of the doubt. We will wait and see how the grass looks over the next few months.We had to make a decision on when we start to spread fertiliser on the crops. While it has been an exceptional year so far for grass, the recent cold spell has done no harm and may have done some good in checking crop growth. At the end of the day, we will wait until the end of February to begin with the 10.10.20 on the oilseed rape and then work our way through the crops as usual. The temptation was to go out early, especially on to the winter barley but the advice was unequivocal so we will go that way.
On the cattle side, we now have space in the sheds to begin buying but it’s clear that good quality young cattle have not followed the price of beef down to anything like the same extent. Hopefully, the long-term prospects justify the short-term costs – despite the Brexit threats.
Read more
Home Farm: Contented young cattle
Neighbours, gardaí and firefighters rescue 12 bullocks from slurry pit
Over the last fortnight, we have been able to test whether our slurry additive has worked or not. In using the biological additive, we had three aims.
To make the slurry easier to agitate – the hope being that the bugs would physically alter the consistency of the slurry. That seems to have been achieved with very few lumps though it still needed water to be added to give it a spreadable consistency.The second objective was to reduce the smell. People will have different views on the acceptability of smells from slurry but if a reduction in odour is a by-product, it can be welcomed.The third aim was the most difficult to measure – was the treated slurry more beneficial to the earthworms and general soil life? Even the manufacturers of the product are unclear on how the science of converting the ammonia nitrogen to bacterial nitrogen actually works but the treated ground has a less pungent smell and certainly no sign of dead earthworms as can happen routinely with normal application. All in all, I am willing to give the product and my use of it the benefit of the doubt. We will wait and see how the grass looks over the next few months.We had to make a decision on when we start to spread fertiliser on the crops. While it has been an exceptional year so far for grass, the recent cold spell has done no harm and may have done some good in checking crop growth. At the end of the day, we will wait until the end of February to begin with the 10.10.20 on the oilseed rape and then work our way through the crops as usual. The temptation was to go out early, especially on to the winter barley but the advice was unequivocal so we will go that way.
On the cattle side, we now have space in the sheds to begin buying but it’s clear that good quality young cattle have not followed the price of beef down to anything like the same extent. Hopefully, the long-term prospects justify the short-term costs – despite the Brexit threats.
Read more
Home Farm: Contented young cattle
Neighbours, gardaí and firefighters rescue 12 bullocks from slurry pit
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