What felt like the never-ending winter of 2018 will be etched in farmers’ memories for a long time to come. Slurry storage capacity was under pressure on many farms because housing went on longer than planned. Expansion in herd numbers exacerbated the issue. Many farmers had to find out the hard way that storage was not up to spec on their farms.

Now that the tough spring is behind us, maybe it is worth looking at slurry storage capacity on the farm. It may be a good idea to sit down with your adviser to discuss the capacity requirements and put a plan in place to ensure you do not get caught out in the future.

As the old saying goes, it is better to be looking at it rather than looking for it. It doesn’t always have to be a case of building a new store, there are other options.

Some farmers will rent a shed for the winter or put their cattle in a B&B arrangement. Some might consider reducing livestock numbers over the winter period if it fits their system.

Where other arrangements are not feasible, increasing storage on the farm should be considered. Tom Ryan from Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal have outlined three popular options for storing slurry on farms:

  • Slatted tanks
  • Lagoons.
  • Circular tanks.

    • The costs and some of the specifications required for these options are covered here. It can be used as a starting point when gathering information to choose the best system for your farm.

    Stephen Robb has also looked at weighing system options for grain storage in this Focus, which offers a useful guide to what’s on the market.