ARK Agriculture

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ARK Agriculture are the UK leaders in silage storage pioneering the patented sloping walled silage clamp and the complete Oxygen barrier silage sheet system.

ARK Silage Clamps

ARK Agriculture has built more than 50 silage clamps throughout the UK for dairy and livestock use as well for anaerobic digestion plants.

The unique design on the ARK silage clamp produces silage of the highest quality, reduces silage waste to less than 5% (saving you money) and provides a safe environment to work due to the platform provided by the earth banks - particularly useful when sheeting the clamp.

Read more on our website: www.arkagriculture.com
 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Friday 13/09.

ARK have a range of silage sheets, netting and gravel bags available for immediate delivery to site from our warehouse in Essex.

Included in this stock are some of larger sizes of sheets and netting which we are able to offer at a great price today as we head towards the maize silage season.

Now is the time to give us a call on 01787220560 - make better silage, ditch the tyres and make working on clamps a lot easier and safer.
 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
HAPPY CHRISTMAS from everyone at ARK Agriculture and Secure Covers.

We would like to thank all our customers past and present and we are looking forward to the future!


849393
 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Please see examples of the patented ARK Agriculture earth banked silage and vertical walled silage clamps attached.

The ARK sloping wall system is the perfect solution for retro fitting existing earth banked clamps. The vertical walls are easy to install and engineered for the extremes of modern silage clamp use.

We only supply silage clamps and we want to get the design right for you!

Please get in touch if you would like to find out more.

Will

01787220560
 

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Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
To our valued customers and distributors -

Please see below for the Covid 19 planning for ARK Agriculture and Secure Covers.

You can continue to stay in touch with us through the usual channels though we may be slower in responding as we have limited staff numbers.

As far as possible it is business as usual for ARK Agriculture and Secure Covers.

http://arkagriculture.com/covid-19.html
 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Please see below link explaining the new acquisition of Orion FT by the Milbank Group.

Orion FT lead the market in their supply of silica based bio stimulant products which are sold about the world. You can find out more about Orion FT here www.orionft.com

ARK Agriculture, working with the Milbank Group, will be supporting Orion FT in the development of new products and markets going forward.

You can see the full press release here - http://www.orionft.com/PDF/Orion_FT_Acquisition_Website.pdf

For more information please get in touch [email protected]

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Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Please see below for ARK Agriculture's recent technical note about silage clamp use.

You can see more advice and updates from ARK here https://arkagriculture.com/news/


Silage storage and management – ARK Agriculture.​



Silage losses in the UK vary from 25% dry matter losses in poor clamps to under 10% in the best, (these figures are backed up by recent research from Aberystwyth university and their Smart initiative http://www.smartsilage.com/) These losses occur in the field from the moment grass, whole crop or maize silage is harvested, during the silage clamp filling process throughout storage and onto feeding out.

These are manageable losses that can be tackled through best practice and investment in silage storage.


Silage clamps

Historically silage clamps in the UK were built in the 1960’s as silage became a more popular alternative to hay. As cattle numbers have risen and the capacity clamps are required to hold has increased investment in clamps has not always kept up.

It is very hard to hit the low dry matter losses and work safely on silage clamps that are not built for purpose.

An effective silage clamp is one which -

  • Can store the volume of silage you intend to make with the capacity for a good year without over filling
  • Is designed based on the speed you will empty the clamp - the feed out rate- this should be the basis for your clamps dimensions
  • Uses the appropriate wall design (sloping or vertical walls) that is safe to work from
  • Has the ability to withstand wall loadings from modern machinery; modern tractors weigh a lot more than older clamp designs were designed to hold
  • Meet Environment Agency requirements, silage clamps fall into the SSAFO (Silage Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) regulations. You must inform the EA of any work you intend to do on new or old clamps.

Filling silage clamps

Filling the silage clamp can have a big effect on the silage quality you will achieve. It is a job that should be closely monitored using the below best practice points for guidance

  • Before you fill the clamps, they should be cleaned, emptied, inspected for damage and plastic sidewall sheet applied to the walls. Having your sheets on site and ready to go 5 days before you intend to fill the clamp makes this job a lot easier.
  • Ideally silage should be bought into the clamps at the speed it can be compacted, not the speed it is harvested. A rule of thumb is that 1/3 of the weight of silage being brought to the clamp an hour should be on the clamps in compacting machinery weight
  • Another guide is that one tractor can compact 1 tonne of silage in 1 minute
  • Silage should be carefully spread and squashed into the clamp in 15 - 20cm layers
  • Covering silage, the moment the clamps are full reduces surface waste


Covering silage clamps

Covering a silage clamp is not a job many like but it can be made much safer and more efficient using an effective sheeting system.

A tough single layer Oxygen Barrier sheet like ARKs OXY SEAL https://arkagriculture.com/silage-protection/oxy-seal/ should be used on top of the silage to reduce surface waste and ensure a thorough fermentation of the silage.

Your oxygen barrier sheets should be weighed down with netting and gravel bags to hold them in place and prevent bird damage. Secure Covers are the perfect solution https://arkagriculture.com/secure-covers/

Tyres should be avoided due to the way they hold dirty water and the risk of wires coming from them into the silage.

A top tip before you buy sheets is to draw out a plan how you intend to cover the clamp including where you will have overlaps, this helps as you will be able to order the right size sheets to fit with less cutting and wasted plastic. ARK will do this for you if you get in touch.

Emptying silage clamps

The last piece of the jigsaw is the effective emptying of the clamps, this is also where you will see the quality of the silage you have produced.

If your silage has wasted in the clamp you will notice -
  • Dark wet patches that smell on the top of the clamp under the sheet
  • Excessive leachate (liquid) production
  • Mould on the silage
  • A rotting smell
  • Heat that you can feel with your hand on the silage face
Emptying a silage clamp should be made as simple and hygienic as possible by using attachments like block cutters, shear grabs and particularly for maize silage a silage rake. Keeping the silage face as small as possible, with a with a flat face, no overhangs, and no loose areas all helps to reduce wastage.

This is only a brief guide to improving silage clamp best practice and there plenty of in-depth resources available from suppliers and organisations like the AHDB which are listed below.

Please call ARK to find out more about our silage storage systems. 01787220560

or click here for the website https://arkagriculture.com/




 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Check out our new blog on the importance of using the right silage sheets

 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Please see the attached PDF for more information on our silage clamp options.
 

Attachments

  • ARK vertical and sloping walled silage clamp options.pdf
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Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Gearing up for maize harvest - Please click on the link to read our latest blog.

Any feedback welcome. Remember we have everything you need to cover your maize silage.


 

Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
ARK Agriculture have everything you need to cover your maize silage this year.

OXY SEAL Oxygen barrier silage sheets - no clingfilm needed, easy to walk on, no waste

ARK Sidewall films - 5m high the perfect height for silage clamp walls

Secure Covers, gravel bags and silage clamp nets


Talk to your local merchant about ARK products or all us on 01787220560


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Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
Secure Cover windbreaks

Winter is just around the corner and you might be looking at ways to prevent wind and rain blowing through your open sided sheds and doorways- everyone knows drafts are not good for animal health!

We have the answer!

What are my options?

The Econoblind -
https://www.securecovers.co.uk/secure_econoblinds.html

The Econoblind runs on trolleys held in rails fixed to the vertical sides of your door/opening. The Econoblind can be manually raised and lowered using the supplied cord and is great on doors and openings you want to access frequently.

The Windbreak - https://www.securecovers.co.uk/secure_windbreaks.html

The Secure Windbreak is a more permanent solution. The Windbreak is fixed onto the frame of your building by hooks which attach to the vertical post. The windbreak system can be removed if needed.

Both systems are designed to be adjustable to the size of the opening or door you wish to cover.

The material used in the blind is our own specialist knitted netting which you will recognise if you have Secure Cover nets on your silage clamps.

This means a 10-year UV guarantee and if you do happen to puncture them the material will not unravel and can be repaired.

Both systems are tensioned across their span using the supplied ratchets and built in straps.


How do I know which sizes will suit my shed?


We have a range of sizes that are based on the common bay sizes of sheds. The best size for your shed will be the one nearest to your bay sizes, though if you aren’t sure we would always suggest going for the larger size as they can be easily cut/adjusted down to fit.

If you are unsure, please get in touch.

How do I install Windbreaks and Econoblinds?

Installation of both systems is very simple, and every kit is supplied with a full set of written instructions.

You can also see videos of the install here – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbWopWDJuyg_hXqvHjDWXQ

Installation of the windbreaks takes minutes and does not require any specialist tools. Installing the Econoblinds requires the fixing of the rails to the vertical posts of the door and will need an electric drill and some simple tools.

As always you can call us anytime with any questions about the installation procedure.


What makes Secure Windbreaks and Econoblinds the best solution for me?

The key benefit to you by using our wind breaks and Econoblinds lies in the long-lasting knitted netting design and simple install which you can do yourself with out the expense of a fitter.

get in touch with us anytime on 01787220560 or email [email protected]


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Will Wilson

Member
Location
Essex
ARK Agriculture - reduced cost silage clamps a unique option for farmers

Please see attached option for farmers looking for silage clamps in the counties surrounding the M25.

We are looking to roll this relationship out across the country (anywhere near large scale developments), please let me know if it is of interest.

Will
01206585090
[email protected]
 

Attachments

  • ARK SILAGE CLAMP LETTER.pdf
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 78 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.6%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.5%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 5 2.7%

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

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


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

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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