Getting rid of slurry smell

[beardedcountryboy]

Hey, I've had digestate spread over my farm from a local AD plant, it's great stuff but the last field they spread was right outside some houses. It's a grass field and We didn't spread right up to the houses and gave them a nice buffer but it's been 3 weeks and it still smells because we've had no rain.

I totally understand why the residents have complained, they have been really patient and are really good at keeping an eye on stock and unwelcome characters across the farm so I would like to keep them on side

Basically, is there anything I can do to the grass (harrowing, rolling etc) that will help stop the field smelling. Or will these things just stir it up again and make it worse.

Like I said I get on with these people and they have put up with the smell for a while so although I get it, please don't bother replying "they live in the country so just deal with it" comments, I get that, but they asked if there's anything I can do so I'm asking.

I should mention we've had it spread before and because it rained the smell was gone in a day and a half but it's not properly rained in like 3 weeks

Cheers
Will

 

[Chae1]

Could you organise some rain?

 

[milkloss]

Maybe crack the credit card out and order some M&S hampers or something like that, write a letter to go with each explaining how it went wrong and that you'll try and avoid it in the futur.

Might be good for ongoing relationships.

 

[upnortheast]

Bugger all you can do
Seeing as your local residents have been understanding so far I would suggest a voucher for supper at the local pub ( or similar ) to keep them on side.

 

[Lofty1984]

Tank some clean water on it

 

[teslacoils]

Nothing you can do. Move it and it will smell.

 

[vantage]

If you’re that worried, plough it in.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Lime ?

 

[Tarw Coch]

Am I being cynical thinking that if you offer them gifts someone will be ringing up for their free gifts next time you spread

 

[Bertram]

Hey, I've had digestate spread over my farm from a local AD plant, it's great stuff but the last field they spread was right outside some houses. It's a grass field and We didn't spread right up to the houses and gave them a nice buffer but it's been 3 weeks and it still smells because we've had no rain.

I totally understand why the residents have complained, they have been really patient and are really good at keeping an eye on stock and unwelcome characters across the farm so I would like to keep them on side

Basically, is there anything I can do to the grass (harrowing, rolling etc) that will help stop the field smelling. Or will these things just stir it up again and make it worse.

Like I said I get on with these people and they have put up with the smell for a while so although I get it, please don't bother replying "they live in the country so just deal with it" comments, I get that, but they asked if there's anything I can do so I'm asking.

I should mention we've had it spread before and because it rained the smell was gone in a day and a half but it's not properly rained in like 3 weeks

Cheers
Will

Good post. Nice to see someone thinking about the neighbours and positive pr for all of us, instead of the usual rants against anyone who dares to live near our little rural empires.

 

[Headless chicken]

Am I being cynical thinking that if you offer them gifts someone will be ringing up for their free gifts next time you spread

I think if they’re tidy sorts they won’t. The ones that want more will always want more. Can always explain why and that it’s basically a one off

 

[TripleSix]

Get um all a bottle of wine or box of biscuits.

People love free stuff

 

[Mc115reed]

Tank some water on too it, doubt it’d take much drown the smell out

 

[warksfarmer]

Hey, I've had digestate spread over my farm from a local AD plant, it's great stuff but the last field they spread was right outside some houses. It's a grass field and We didn't spread right up to the houses and gave them a nice buffer but it's been 3 weeks and it still smells because we've had no rain.

I totally understand why the residents have complained, they have been really patient and are really good at keeping an eye on stock and unwelcome characters across the farm so I would like to keep them on side

Basically, is there anything I can do to the grass (harrowing, rolling etc) that will help stop the field smelling. Or will these things just stir it up again and make it worse.

Like I said I get on with these people and they have put up with the smell for a while so although I get it, please don't bother replying "they live in the country so just deal with it" comments, I get that, but they asked if there's anything I can do so I'm asking.

I should mention we've had it spread before and because it rained the smell was gone in a day and a half but it's not properly rained in like 3 weeks

Cheers
Will

Had the same problem 2 years ago. 2 houses out of a dozen kicked up a fuss, one in particular. So I told them I’d water it. I sprayed it with 100l/ha water really slowly so they could all see me doing it (taking video) and then the complaints stopped because I’d done something about it in their heads, even though it had actually done nothing at all.

 

[thesilentone]

Small letter in Parish magazine (if you have such a thing) explaining the situation.

As it is, the digestate should not be as bad as raw slurry as any proteins have been degraded in the process.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

What about trying to organise a tour of the AD plant for the residents? (Assuming it's fairly local)

 

[Nearly]

Get um all a bottle of wine or box of biscuits.

People love free stuff

A box of pork chops for bbq.
You'll offend the vegans too as a bonus.

 

[betweenthelines]

I'd be very wary about apologising or offering any recompense as it's possible someone might use this to say you are accepting responsibility for a "nuisance". In the same way as you should never put up a Beware of the Bull or Beware of the dog, sign

You're carrying out a perfectly reasonable act of husbandry.

 

[Chae1]

We had 200t digestate spread around our own house yesterday.

It's not that bad. Just got to get on with it. Son wasn't happy when his mum left bedroom window open this morning to let some fresh air in and house was stinking.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Just explain you can’t do anything about the lack of rain