Vogelsang Blog

Robert Payne invested in a Vogelsang dribble bar, five years ago, to better manage slurry application on his Nutrient Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) classified farm. The move has brought greater flexibility and control of forage management, but, in one of the driest years on record, he has struggled to utilise slurry and cut enough grass to feed his dairy herd.

Slurry and digestate specialists, Wrights Agricultural Contractors has invested in a Vervaet Hydro Trike XL self-propelled machine with an 18-metre Vogelsang Compax dribble bar to apply 50,000 cubic metres of slurry and digestate a year. Operator, Dan Marsden, suggests it is the perfect combination for working in maize and cereal crops. 

Bringing slurry management back to the farm and investing in two Vogelsang BackPac application systems has provided significant savings and whole system benefits to a Welsh dairy farm.

Installing a separator over a decade ago has helped the Singleton family to improve cow health, reduce bedding costs and make better use of slurry on their grassland. The more recent installation of a Vogelsang XSplit separator has seen separation become key to growing the dairy unit whilst carefully managing costs. 

Ten years after buying his Vogelsang BackPac, contractor Paul Nixon is still using it to full effect to service farms in the Scottish borders. His innovative techniques for applying slurry umbilically sees RSN Contracting operate in a 40-mile radius from its base near Selkirk.

Advances in slurry application technology have enabled a mixed farm to make the most of its slurry, which has reduced the need for bought-in fertiliser, and improved forage quality.

The splash plate ban has worried some and inspired others. Callum Fernihough has chosen to get ahead and make best use of slurry by using a trailing shoe applicator that is more precise to reduce his family’s reliance on bought in fertiliser.

The challenges of liquid manure spreading in dry weather:
Slurry spreading poses particular challenges for farmers, especially during periods of dry weather. Drought causes the liquid components of the slurry to penetrate the soil quickly, while the solid fibrous matter remains on the surface. These fibers can affect the quality of the forage as they can be mixed with the grass during the next cut. This is a serious problem that can affect animal health.