A Vogelsang 30m SwingMax plays a key role in applying around 80,000 m³ of pig slurry across 5,000 acres of Dorset farmland.
Managing slurry from multiple pig units alongside 2,500 acres of cereals, oilseed rape and beans, farm manager for Allen Hanson Family Farming Group, Luke Hiscock has developed a contracting service to make better use of surplus slurry while providing a valuable nutrient source to neighbouring farms.
At the centre of the operation is the Vogelsang 30m SwingMax dribble bar, which has been working on the farm for seven years.
“We have had the SwingMax for seven years and it’s still the best dribble bar for the job. It is reliable, easy to maintain and makes short work of slurry application when coupled to our 26 cube Joskin Euroliner,” says Mr Hiscock.
Precision is increasingly important to the operation. Soil sampling and mapping are used to create variable-rate application plans, helping ensure slurry is applied according to crop and soil requirements.
Prescription maps and FendtONE communicate via ISOBUS with the Vogelsang SwingMax, enabling variable-rate application across individual fields.
“We can apply slurry in the volumes required to maintain the correct soil nutrients and offer a precision service to our customers,” he explains.
Around 25 percent of the farm’s slurry is currently applied through an umbilical system. However, local conditions mean tanker application remains the most practical option across much of the land, with the SwingMax handling the majority of post-harvest applications.
The contracting operation has expanded over the past two years, prompting investment in three additional tractors. The larger machines work with the 30m SwingMax, giving the business the capacity to move and apply slurry efficiently within a 15-mile radius of the farm.
By combining Vogelsang application technology with precision mapping and variable-rate control, the farm is making better use of slurry nutrients, improving application accuracy and supporting a growing local contracting operation.
More information about the SwingMax.
