How much nitrogen fert can I save by using dribble bar?

jerseycowsman

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cornwall
As above really. Is there any difference between dribble bar and trailing shoe, ie can I graze it any quicker after trailing shoe than dribble? How soon could I graze after dribble bar/trailing shoe application. Can I cut out artificial nitrogen altogether on my grazing ground or silage ground using trailing shoe/dribble bar application?
 

upnortheast

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Northumberland
Feck all, 2 units per 1000 gallon, need to spread 10 million gallons just to pay for it, running cost on top.
Way better than that

Slurry analysis.jpg
 

Boysground

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
I spread separated liquid using either the contractors umbilical or my own trailing shoe. I also spread on wheat although just umbilical this year. I get a sample tested and reduce the bag n rates accordingly, some years I can get more on the crop than others because of the conditions.

With a change to my combine operation for the 1st time this year I have yield maps. I certainly don’t see any difference between the wheat yields on fields that had slurry and those that did not. Next year I will aim to use more liquid if I can.

I prefer the trailing shoe as less material sticks to the leaves so it does not effect any subsequent spray application. I do think on grass it’s better to get it in the bottom of the sward. I know there’s data saying there is less n loss from a shoe.

I have just upgraded to a 12m shoe so hopefully I will be able to do more.

Bg
 

vantage

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Pembs
I just don’t have enough slurry, majority is covered, dirty water I would need a lagoon many millions of gallons, the Welsh NVZ is taxing my thoughts. :scratchhead:
 

upnortheast

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Northumberland
Your hand written bit there, how did you get to those figures? Sorry for being thick!
also, would my cow slurry stored under slats with bugs added and no rain water come any where close to that digestate?
That is cow slurry under slats. Only additions is wash water from the robots & bottling plant.

I was surprised how close the analysis was to the standard figures that are available
Notes is from 2nd column units / 1000 gallon. which is saying almost a bag of AN / 1000 gall

There will be losses to take into accountt but there will be losses with prills as well.

In summary, its almost gold dust, use it with the same precision you would prills.
Dumping 10,000 gall an acre will probably result in huge loses
2 / 3000 gall acre will result in much better utilisation, assuming of course that the weather plays ball
 
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sidjon

Member
Location
EXMOOR
Really, we're applying 2000 gallons after every grazing (12 applications a year) with splash plate, had dribble bar on our umbilical which now is a splash plate, as it was blocking too regularly and we were seeing grass dieing were the dribble bar was in the same place every application, guess it would be different if your only doing one or 2 applications a year. Our plate meter couldn't see any difference between the two applications either
Splash plate is disposal, trailing shoe is application. Even, predictable and works well with other fertiliser applications.
 

frederick

Member
Location
south west
Really, we're applying 2000 gallons after every grazing (12 applications a year) with splash plate, had dribble bar on our umbilical which now is a splash plate, as it was blocking too regularly and we were seeing grass dieing were the dribble bar was in the same place every application, guess it would be different if your only doing one or 2 applications a year. Our plate meter couldn't see any difference between the two applications either
Don't tell red tractor needs to be 4 weeks between application and grazing.
 

dowcow

Member
Location
Lancashire
If someone is trying to sell you a dribble bar or trailing shoe I'm sure they'll be able to find you a study and a printout that shows it makes a big financial difference that will more than pay for the equipment in short order, and that you'll save a fortune on bagged N and save the planet too.

I've always been a little sceptical as it looks like I would need another 20-30hp and a heavier tractor in front of my tanker to run such a system, as well as a ton or so of extra mass on the back of the tanker itself. At a guess I would be burning 20% more diesel to do the same job.
 

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

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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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