We ran a series of four webinars with a focus on slurry management during the Spring of 2021. With topics covering slurry storage and calculating the volume of storage required; maximising the value of slurry as a fertiliser; extending the life of slurry storage through regular inspections and maintenance, and the importance of keeping safety for all involved in working with slurry.
Each webinar was recorded and we finished the series with an interactive ‘Panel Night’ where all of our expert speakers from each event were joined by a local Ayrshire farmer to discuss and answer questions and queries that arose on the night.
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Video Summaries
- Keyshill Farm: Making the most of slurry: The way we store and spread slurry is changing, it is becoming more likely that the days of the splash plate are coming to an end. At Keyshill farm in Ayrshire, farmer and contractor Ian Watson has moved from a splash plate to a umbilical dribble bar system and is reaping the rewards.
- Slurry Storage; funding, proposed regulations & calculating store requirements :SAC Consulting’s Alex Pirie and Adrian Jones from A&M Jones Consulting discuss the funding for slurry storage currently on offer via the Scottish Government Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), the recent consultation document proposing changes to storage and application of slurry, and how to calculate the storage space you need, along with tips and practical ideas to cut down the amount of water you are collecting and adding to your store.
- Extending the working life of your slurry store: During this webinar we heard from SEPA’s Stephen Field for a practical discussion on slurry storage and what to look out for in terms of maintenance and extending the working life of your store. Later, SAC Consulting’s Seamus Donnelly led a useful session about the importance of farm safety when when mixing and handling slurry.
- Getting the cash value out of slurry: We know slurry is not a waste product, but how do you maximise it’s financial benefits? Join SAC Soil and Water Specialist Dr Bill Crooks to take a look at the relationship between soil and slurry and how to view and critically evaluate the resource stored up in your towers, lagoons and slats, helping you also to make best use of bought-in fertiliser and target where it can be used best on the farm. We will also be joined by SRUC Crichton Royal Farm Manager Hugh McClymont to hear how he gets the best value out of slurry the financial benefits this can bring to the business.
- Slurry management and application: Specialist panel night. For the final event of thsi slurry management and application series, we were joined by past speakers Adrian Jones (A&M Jones Consulting), Dr Bill Crooks (SAC Consulting), Hugh McClymont (SRUC Crichton Royal Farm), Stephen Field (SEPA), Seamus Donnelly (SAC Consulting) and local Ayrshire farmer, Ian Watson, Keyshill Farm who has recently invested in a new dribble bar spreading kit. Our panel night provided some interesting discussions around some of the topics covered in the last three webinars as well as providing the opportunity to answer some common questions around the subject of managing and applying slurry.