All things Dairy

[frederick]

This is where the inflexibility of farming off the calendar comes home to roost, should be spread when ground conditions allow not when the window opens up, although in this instance there’s not been too many opportunity’s since last July!

That's one of the reasons that the grant needs a covered store. The 6 months storage will always be much nearer to 6 months even if you have 200% of rainfall for that period.

The issue this year is 4 months storage is far closer to 2.5 with all the rain collected which is why so many have reached crunch points.

 

[vantage]

Credit where it's due, this is very nice, a Wyke farm product for breakfast!

 

[Headless chicken]

What do you do if you’ve got 6 months slurry storage but come April 1st the tower is full and the fields are so saturated you couldn't legally spread slurry on them, and there’s rain forecast every day for the next 2 weeks?

Will 7 months slurry storage become the required standard down the line?

Asking for a friend.

Dilution is the solution to pollution. Spread it thinly, inject where possible, try to just take the dirty water and not stir it, spread in places as far away from water as possible with as little risk as possible attempt to liaise with neighbours so your not all doing it at the same time.

 

[Blue.]

When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.

How have you managed this winter/last year?

A fair few around here jetting,a relative was photographed jetting before Christmas,it probably sped up his Ea visit.

 

[Bert Jansch]

It’s been the hardest winter for slurry I’ve experienced. Managed to get empty last time it was “dry” in September. Took around 30 tankers (1400gallon) of water out in 2 spells before Christmas. Water only came out brown on the last couple of loads. I have one meadow which we drained in 2012. A couple of dry days and you can travel. Snuck on again in February with a few loads. Managed to sneak the odd load out here and there, but, put it this way, I’m dying to get on with the roller!
How about you, you managed to get by?

 

[Blue.]

It’s been the hardest winter for slurry I’ve experienced. Managed to get empty last time it was “dry” in September. Took around 30 tankers (1400gallon) of water out in 2 spells before Christmas. Water only came out brown on the last couple of loads. I have one meadow which we drained in 2012. A couple of dry days and you can travel. Snuck on again in February with a few loads. Managed to sneak the odd load out here and there, but, put it this way, I’m dying to get on with the roller!
How about you, you managed to get by?

I’ve pumped over a million gallons into my neighbours lagoon since the 2nd week of December,full up again nowonly rainwater in my pit is what falls on it,all yards roofed.

 

[DairyNerd]

Went to a talk a few nights ago with the EA officers. Whether to spread or let spill over came up; depends on factors like where it overspill to and practicalities around spreading. One officer actually advised someone to blow it over the hedge as couldn't travel on fields and lagoon was 30ft from watercourse. Basically talk to them, done on case by case

 

[Bert Jansch]

I’ve pumped over a million gallons into my neighbours lagoon since the 2nd week of December,full up again nowonly rainwater in my pit is what falls on it,all yards roofed.

It’s on your mind all the time isn’t it? Hard work. A problem I have is, with the store being at the end of the building, it gets all the rain that hits the gable end, which is West facing. Needs catching really.

 

[Blue.]

Went to a talk a few nights ago with the EA officers. Whether to spread or let spill over came up; depends on factors like where it overspill to and practicalities around spreading. One officer actually advised someone to blow it over the hedge as couldn't travel on fields and lagoon was 30ft from watercourse. Basically talk to them, done on case by case

Had my Ea inspection and officers both told me to contact them saying where and when spreading (including rates)rather than jetting.

I was bothered at the time of inspection regarding freeboard because I was well into the 750mm at the time,they were quite complimentary and said it was the best they’d seen recently,most had millimetres to spare,one thing they could see we’d had a very wet time.

 

[upnortheast]

Usually empty the storage in Sept / Oct which gets us through the winter
Ground conditions were poor then so spread half rate to minimise run off. Got to be a chance in Nov, - wrong.
Result we were full in January. Contractor was reluctant to spread but gave us the email of the head man at EA in Newcastle.
Sent a map showing fields away from watercourses, explaining the situation.
Helpful email back within 12 hours,, saying thanks for contacting us, understand the situation, do your best to prevent run off.

 

[Princess Pooper]

A lot of the comments must be from people not in NVZ's as they have been fortunate to at least get a bit out in the closed period!

 

[frederick]

Of course the ea will do everything they can to avoid an overflow and pollution so less than satisfactory spreading will reduce that risk.

However expect that to be recorded in a book somewhere and when your next visit comes around and you claim 4 months storage that storage will be seriously questioned with evidence supplied by yourselves.

The claim the weather has been extreme won't last for long. The water companies are running out of mileage on this faster than we are. We will be better keeping our discussions quiet and resolving them actively with the ea. Rather than it being a public discussion of incompetence in the press like it is for the water companies. We will be next.

 

[yin ewe]

Of course the ea will do everything they can to avoid an overflow and pollution so less than satisfactory spreading will reduce that risk.

However expect that to be recorded in a book somewhere and when your next visit comes around and you claim 4 months storage that storage will be seriously questioned with evidence supplied by yourselves.

The claim the weather has been extreme won't last for long. The water companies are running out of mileage on this faster than we are. We will be better keeping our discussions quiet and resolving them actively with the ea. Rather than it being a public discussion of incompetence in the press like it is for the water companies. We will be next.

Spread away, legally of course, don't cause any pollution and carry on. Contacting them for any reason unless absolutely essential is just putting you on their radar.

 

[upnortheast]

Of course the ea will do everything they can to avoid an overflow and pollution so less than satisfactory spreading will reduce that risk.

However expect that to be recorded in a book somewhere and when your next visit comes around and you claim 4 months storage that storage will be seriously questioned with evidence supplied by yourselves.

The claim the weather has been extreme won't last for long. The water companies are running out of mileage on this faster than we are. We will be better keeping our discussions quiet and resolving them actively with the ea. Rather than it being a public discussion of incompetence in the press like it is for the water companies. We will be next.

Nearby contractor was stopped spreading by EA with a warning of action.
Our contractor found EA helpful if you contact them before spreading with an acceptable plan of action.
We are not in NVZ
We have total 6 months storage, which is fine if September spreading happens as planned

 

[Bert Jansch]

Spread away, legally of course, don't cause any pollution and carry on. Contacting them for any reason unless absolutely essential is just putting you on their radar.

Inspector once told me we tend to leave you alone if you don’t cause us any problems. I would also imagine they prioritise areas where pollution is a problem. Anytime united utilities have tested the water course running through here, it’s come up clean as a whistle.

 

[Bert Jansch]

A lot of the comments must be from people not in NVZ's as they have been fortunate to at least get a bit out in the closed period!

Fortunate would be not having 12 foot of rain in 12 months

 

[Blue.]

The 1st thing I noticed when they arrived for my inspection was the fact they knew all about me,who I've talked with in the past and who and why they'd visited (I was reported for filling a pond and digging a slurry lagoon even though they gave me permission).

They were quite happy taking pictures and mapping where everything was on the farm,to me it’s a fact finding mission,it’s all written down now.

 

[Martyn]

Cows now bulling dec/jan calved strong animals, we finished Ai in January so we’re never going to get incalf. What’s market value? I’ll scan everything next week, short of grub so must go, she’ll I just book them in to kill at £4.12kg

 

[Beef farmer]

Cows now bulling dec/jan calved strong animals, we finished Ai in January so we’re never going to get incalf. What’s market value? I’ll scan everything next week, short of grub so must go, she’ll I just book them in to kill at £4.12kgView attachment 1172633View attachment 1172634View attachment 1172635

Sure there the animals that will keep your tank full till Sept. Buy some grub.
Only 100 days in milk.

 

[som farmer]

View attachment 1172381View attachment 1172382




She ain't going nowhere now!

She's laid 20-30 so far this year!

your rt lady, had a heart of gold then............................................................

looks nice though, we have just done a batch of sausages, mmmmmmm