Farmers can save €56 per acre by spreading slurry, says Teagasc

FARMERS can save €56 per acre by cutting back on fertiliser and spreading slurry during March, according to one Teagasc expert.

Teagasc’s Mark Plunkett said that pig slurry spread during spring gives the crop a much higher nitrogen boost than that spread during May and June. Farmers are invited to attend a live demo at Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, from 2-5pm on March 3.

“A thousand gallons of pig slurry is equivalent to one bag of 19-7-20, which is valued at €28. So, if you spread 2,000 gallons per acre, that’s a saving of €56 an acre,” Mr Plunkett said.

“To maximise the nitrogen recovery from slurry, it is best to apply in the spring time. If you leave it until May or June, you don’t get the same value in terms of nitrogen. It is also very important to know the nutrient value of the slurry, which you can assess with a slurry hydrometer.”

Testing allows the farmer to adjust the slurry application rate relative to the crop’s nutrient requirements. This leads to less bagged (or artificial) fertiliser being applied.

The Oak Park open day will also feature the results of recent research on the efficient use of cattle slurry in grassland and pig slurry in cereal production. The best application techniques to reduce nitrogen losses will also be discussed. The recently agreed changes to nutrient legislation will be reviewed and its effects at farm level will be outlined.

The Teagasc experts will also examine farm fertiliser planning requirements and the records that are required annually to satisfy farm cross compliance.

Other topics will include an assessment of slurry quality in the context of nutrient content and fertiliser replacement value, the economics of transporting slurry, and soil compaction and machine weights/tyres.

“Ground conditions are not great right now, but they should improve over the next few weeks,” said Mr Plunkett.

“We are hoping that farmers will be able to spread slurry once ground conditions improve.

“Farmers will find the live demonstration very useful. We will be looking at slurry equipment for both grassland and tillage crops and the latest application techniques available to farmers.

“Where slurry is applied on tillage land, it is important that the slurry is well agitated before application, and it should be spread evenly. To maximise the nitrogen recovery from slurry, it should be ploughed in within two hours of spreading.”