Cheapest way to store slurry?

[Will Blackburn]

Deep litter bedding if not using cubicles, fix guttering so rainfall doesn't end up in slurry/dirty water, cover yards, slurry separator blah blah

The only exception is that thin slurry is cheaper to spread via umbilical albeit more expensive to store.

 

[GTB]

The only exception is that thin slurry is cheaper to spread via umbilical albeit more expensive to store.

Yes and in many cases (like here) an umbilical system can go where tankers fear to tread.

 

[Thick Farmer]

Yes and in many cases (like here) an umbilical system can go where tankers fear to tread.

But if you can stack muck, you can leave it in the fields and spread it when it’s actually useful.
I think there must be a way to separate out the solids and then put the liquids through a giant klargester before discharging into a watercourse.

 

[GTB]

But if you can stack muck, you can leave it in the fields and spread it when it’s actually useful.
I think there must be a way to separate out the solids and then put the liquids through a giant klargester before discharging into a watercourse.

Good thinking. Separate the solids, stack up but still need to store the dirty water somewhere. It's too valuable to waste surely?

 

[Thick Farmer]

Good thinking. Separate the solids, stack up but still need to store the dirty water somewhere. It's too valuable to waste surely?

It all depends on the value of the nitrates in the liquid, the cost of spreading it (in winter) and obviously, the cost of bagged nitrogen that can be spread easily and when required.

 

[GTB]

It all depends on the value of the nitrates in the liquid, the cost of spreading it (in winter) and obviously, the cost of bagged nitrogen that can be spread easily and when required.

But I can't see us being allowed to let it run into the river? It would need a lot of treatment and god knows what that would cost to get it clean enough.

 

[Thick Farmer]

But I can't see us being allowed to let it run into the river? It would need a lot of treatment and god knows what that would cost to get it clean enough.

Not a lot really, google homemade klargester - you just need a shitload of ibc containers and chlorine tablets!

 

[v8willy]

If putting a hole in the ground may as well put a house over it.

Surely chickens and more chickens that's all I see and hear

Chicken houses going up in every hole in the hedge here.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Good thinking. Separate the solids, stack up but still need to store the dirty water somewhere. It's too valuable to waste surely?

That's more inline with what we do over here @GTB
Main thing IMO is to reduce the amount you make - sometimes it's cheaper to build a roof etc and divert water into washdown water storage, than build extra effluent storage (and buy more water )
Our last system used dirty water wash for the cow yards and concrete to and from the shed and then a couple of banks of sprinklers on failsafes and timers, easy to catch up on a backlog when the weather came right (when it's useful, in other words).
We had around 120 days of dirty water storage, and it was easy to clean the concrete properly and divert in heavy rain events.
60 cube in two tanks would clean the concrete 3 times over so really the only added water was plant wash and hosing the platform, recycling water.is much better than I'd anticipated.

Solid separation was just weeping walls into 2 pits which were emptied about twice a year, usually onto crop paddocks as you guys would no doubt already be doing?

I can talk effluent all day

 

[Henarar]

can you make what you have bigger Dai ?

 

[Tarw Coch]

I can talk effluent all day

You fit right in here, you're amongst friends.

 

[rc mx110]

Slurry storage is the next problem to overcome here, two options under consideration put a dry cow shed up slatted underneath, which only really stops any more going in existing pit.

Or a tower a couple of fields lower down on a block of land, just pump to storage there.

Snap

 

[GTB]

can you make what you have bigger Dai ?

Well yes possibly but the road runs alongside the current slurry pit and the access into the cattle sheds and silage pits at the far end so a) it would cost lots of ££££ and b) it would mean rebuilding the existing and moving the access etc etc. Much cheaper and simpler to build something much bigger a bit further away.

 

[Bald Rick]

I wouldn't do that at any price.
Although it's great in theory not only is it popular in Ireland, the number of deaths from gas are also far too common there.
I'm sure farmers are aware of the risk and I don't suppose they're idiots but accidents do happen and what would any of us do if we saw a member of our family in trouble? I don't think I could stand back saying it was too dangerous if there was only the slightest chance I could save someone and we all know how that ends.
Much easier not to have the risk in the first place even if alternative storage is more expensive, what price do you put on a life?

We have 3 large lagoons under slats and have no problems at all.
Key is to have well vented buildings, not use anything like gypsum as bedding and stir on a windy day.

Totally removed the risk of rainfall filling the lagoons (although we can transfer roof water in if necessary).
Chuffin' expensive though as you are basically making two floors

 

[Henarar]

Well yes possibly but the road runs alongside the current slurry pit and the access into the cattle sheds and silage pits at the far end so a) it would cost lots of ££££ and b) it would mean rebuilding the existing and moving the access etc etc. Much cheaper and simpler to build something much bigger a bit further away.

can't build upwards ?

 

[Penmoel]

can't build upwards ?

I think we all need a trip to see @GTB's place ,

 

[GTB]

I think we all need a trip to see @GTB's place ,

Yeah most of the people on here would just ask 'why does he bother?'

 

[Penmoel]

Yeah most of the people on here would just ask 'why does he bother?'

Or doesn't he do well

 

[GTB]

Or doesn't he do well

I wish!

 

[young&keen]

Has anyone ever built a above ground lagoon? ie get paid to tip pile it round leaving a hole in centre then drop a liner in?