Farming without bagged Fertiliser

Location
East Mids
I'm going to try this, feeding it to milking cows in the parlour with their cake though. No idea if it will work but i think it's worth a try, heard of several people doing the same and have said they find it as successful as overseeding with harrows/spinner, others say it won't work so well so who knows!
From June, our milkers graze clover-rich aftermaths by day and old pp at night and continually bring clover seed back from the leys into the pp in their muck. You can tell by the way it accumulates in gateways and under trees (if they have been seeking shade).
 

sjt01

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North Norfolk
Joking aside, that looks like what I was thinking of making...
You reckon that's a splash plate, or high pressure nozzle? 😋
I reckon one or more of these would do the job
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362660618939?hash=item547041e2bb:g:5YwAAOSw9KZiTicg
1652606205713.png

Anyway that is what I have ordered to make a machine. Got a tank from Direct tanks https://www.directwatertanks.co.uk/275-litres-water-tank-oval
1652606359879.png

Wheels and hubs from ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332730995092
1652606492841.png

Pump from Dual Pumps
https://www.dualpumps.co.uk/products/200P-PED__2_Pacer_S_Series_Pump
1652606581194.png

which should stand urea intermittently so rinse and fill with next batch water after use. We have a BLDC 48 volt motor to drive it, plugged in to the battery on our electric Gator.
 

crashbox

Member
Livestock Farmer
I reckon one or more of these would do the job
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362660618939?hash=item547041e2bb:g:5YwAAOSw9KZiTicg
View attachment 1036186
Anyway that is what I have ordered to make a machine. Got a tank from Direct tanks https://www.directwatertanks.co.uk/275-litres-water-tank-oval
View attachment 1036187
Wheels and hubs from ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332730995092
View attachment 1036188
Pump from Dual Pumps
https://www.dualpumps.co.uk/products/200P-PED__2_Pacer_S_Series_Pump
View attachment 1036189
which should stand urea intermittently so rinse and fill with next batch water after use. We have a BLDC 48 volt motor to drive it, plugged in to the battery on our electric Gator.
@sjt01 this is what I was thinking.

I reckon you'll want to make another inlet in the bottom of the tank for the return, for good mixing effect.

Then take a feed off the pumped line to the nozzle, ideally with a three way valve to keep flow moving when not squirting.

Keep us posted with how you get on.
 

sjt01

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North Norfolk
@sjt01 this is what I was thinking.

I reckon you'll want to make another inlet in the bottom of the tank for the return, for good mixing effect.

Then take a feed off the pumped line to the nozzle, ideally with a three way valve to keep flow moving when not squirting.

Keep us posted with how you get on.
Not sure whether to put the recirc pipe into the top or bottom of the tank yet. What is puzzling me at the moment is the best way to meter the spray. I may end up making a peristaltic type metering mechanism driven off the land wheel, but in the meantime I am looking for better ideas.
 

crashbox

Member
Livestock Farmer
Not sure whether to put the recirc pipe into the top or bottom of the tank yet. What is puzzling me at the moment is the best way to meter the spray. I may end up making a peristaltic type metering mechanism driven off the land wheel, but in the meantime I am looking for better ideas.
Put it in the bottom to churn everything round IMO. In the top will not mix heavy items.

For metering flow, I thought a 1/2" water meter, and an adjustable flow control valve.
 

vantage

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Pembs
@vantage how are you getting on?
Weve one coming here next Monday on a long demo, so hopfully will see some results either way. Have not spread anything after 2nd cut and will grow 3rd with it.
We used it on 1st cut, rather late on, but got a surprising amount of grass. Currently going at grazing, will know today how much it’s grown from last week’s applications. Did get a bit of scorch as some was applied in the heat of the day. Doing grass for second cut this week, following slurry straight after cutting. It’s pretty impressive how it solubilises urea, plus all the other goodies.
I’m guessing Peter will be over to set you up, top chap, his home farm has been using the system for 5 years, so a wealth of experience.
 
Last edited:

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
100 cows on 100 acres Cutting frequently to bales or zero grazing.
Regular reseed rotation and import quite a bit of nutrients in feed.
Not used any p or k for years just urea and sulphur for first 2/3 of the season going little and often.
Gone to all umbilical/dribble bar and just put in a second lagoon for winter storage.
Is it realistic to try without any bagged N?
Wondering about slurry bugs instead as a cheap alternative.
Any thoughts??
This thread soon went from farming without bagged fert to the latest fangled way to put it on but that is liquid I spose, perhaps you should have left "bagged" out of the title ?
 

vantage

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Pembs
This thread soon went from farming without bagged fert to the latest fangled way to put it on but that is liquid I spose, perhaps you should have left "bagged" out of the title ?
Indeed!
Mind you you’d have a job bagging the liquid for foliar feeding! :cool:
 

Stuart1

Member
We used it on 1st cut, rather late on, but got a surprising amount of grass. Currently going at grazing, will know today how much it’s grown from last week’s applications. Did get a bit of scorch as some was applied in the heat of the day. Doing grass for second cut this week, following slurry straight after cutting. It’s pretty impressive how it solubilises urea, plus all the other goodies.
I’m guessing Peter will be over to set you up, top chap, his home farm has been using the system for 5 years, so a wealth of experience.
What size of machine are you using? Roughly how long is it taking you dissolve and at what quantity or urea? Thanks.
 

crashbox

Member
Livestock Farmer
Anyone any advice on establishing legumes into existing grazing swards?

Direct drill?

Broadcast and trample in with stock?

Any other ideas?
 

O'Reilly

Member
A thread about grass farming without artificial fert would have been interesting.
but I spose somone has to keep the fert and implement suppliers going.
I'm thinking that using a tow and fert could be a way of weaning our soil off artificial n. Going cold turkey doesn't appeal, even the likes of Dr Christine Jones and the worm woman whose name I forget, don't recommend that
 

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
I'm thinking that using a tow and fert could be a way of weaning our soil off artificial n. Going cold turkey doesn't appeal, even the likes of Dr Christine Jones and the worm woman whose name I forget, don't recommend that
no quite, once on the fert/cut more fert/reseed/irg treadmill its a job to get off
fortunately I never really got on.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

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