How to protect water quality when washing spinner

[Douglasmn]

What measures to you take to protect water quality when washing your spinner? Surely any amount of 2 metre buffers are irrelevant if poor washing techniques end up with all the N, P and K entering the water courses at the end of the day when we're washing down. Trying to improve the way I'm doing it and open to any advice. Does anyone know of any official guidance for washing fertiliser and spray equipment? I'm no specific fan of red tape, but at the same time it's nice having clean and safe drinking water and I think all farmers have a responsibility here.

 

[Chae1]

Wash it in the field

 

[Douglasmn]

Wash it in the field

Take a mobile pressure washer to the field?

 

[7610 super q]

You'll end up with a heavy dose in one spot......
Sorry to be the token elf n safety clown.....

 

[Chae1]

Its admirable what your trying to do. But you've spread tons of fertiliser in the field that could just as easily find its way into drains. Can't see how washing dust off it in yard going to be anymore harmful.

If you did want to avoid contaminating drains with water from washing it I'd just treat it like a sprayer and wash in field.

 

[Douglasmn]

Its admirable what your trying to do. But you've spread tons of fertiliser in the field that could just as easily find its way into drains. Can't see how washing dust off it in yard going to be anymore harmful.

If you did want to avoid contaminating drains with water from washing it I'd just treat it like a sprayer and wash in field.

Is that the recommended way to wash a sprayer safely? Wouldn't know as get a contractor to do the spraying.

 

[Chae1]

Is that the recommended way to wash a sprayer safely? Wouldn't know as get a contractor to do the spraying.

Yes. We have a pressure washer with engine on it so use that. Most modern sprayers would have some sort of power washer on them as part of main pump.

 

[PSQ]

At end of day, open slides in field fully, (keys out of ignition) poke hopper with stick , poke nooks and crannies with stick, then engage PTO and spread it as you leave the gateway.

Doubt a couple of Kg washing down the yard will make a difference, especially having seen your neighbours cattle drinking out of the burn

 

[Wobblebox]

Shhhhh! Keep it down, you never know who's looking, don't want to give them any ideas!

 

[7610 super q]

Shhhhh! Keep it down, you never know who's looking, don't want to give them any ideas!

Woo hooo !!! Red Tractor assurance bods !!!

 

[Douglasmn]

At end of day, open slides in field fully, (keys out of ignition) poke hopper with stick , poke nooks and crannies with stick, then engage PTO and spread it as you leave the gateway.

Doubt a couple of Kg washing down the yard will make a difference, especially having seen your neighbours cattle drinking out of the burn

Won't see that here anymore [emoji16]

 

[Yale]

Won't see that here anymore [emoji16] View attachment 658702View attachment 658706

 

[General-Lee]

If you were keen some sort of sump where you wash, withy bed to drain through if feeling really eco.

 

[PSQ]

Won't see that here anymore [emoji16] View attachment 658702View attachment 658706

What a brilliant idea, for about 7 days in June

[Cousin was funded for similar on the Eye Water, works well]

 

[Campani]

Concrete pad on a hill with a drain onto a big pile of compost. I would like to build one here, like a very basic biobed. Would use for it all sorts of messy jobs where the run off could be nasty. Including cleaning the girlfriends car.

 

[spin cycle]

if you've a livestock shed with muck....drive in and was it out onto muck?......when i don't fill sprayer in field i fill up sprayer in empty lambing shed

 

[icanshootwell]

What measures to you take to protect water quality when washing your spinner? Surely any amount of 2 metre buffers are irrelevant if poor washing techniques end up with all the N, P and K entering the water courses at the end of the day when we're washing down. Trying to improve the way I'm doing it and open to any advice. Does anyone know of any official guidance for washing fertiliser and spray equipment? I'm no specific fan of red tape, but at the same time it's nice having clean and safe drinking water and I think all farmers have a responsibility here.

Surly a tractor and muck spreader leaving a field with muddy tyres and then flying off down the road with all the sh#t flying off the wheels, will put more p & k on the road and eventually in the ditch. than my little fert spinner with an egg cup of fert left in it that i washed off in the yard. Please don,t anyone mention it to the red tractor lot, i have enough to do already without making a fert down wash area with a reed bed for added protection.

 

[ollie989898]

Annnnnndddd.... another reason for liquid!

 

[spin cycle]

Annnnnndddd.... another reason for liquid!

used to see a lot of prilled n on roads but since ppl have switched to liquid...see a lot less.....i know ppl who couldn't be arsed to lock their spreader shut offs whilst on road

i'm no angel...i'm also no longer RT....but i must say i'm astonished some of the replies on here....like 'its ok to wash in yard' and 'don't tell RT bloke'

 

[ollie989898]

used to see a lot of prilled n on roads but since ppl have switched to liquid...see a lot less.....i know ppl who couldn't be arsed to lock their spreader shut offs whilst on road

i'm no angel...i'm also no longer RT....but i must say i'm astonished some of the replies on here....like 'its ok to wash in yard' and 'don't tell RT bloke'

Its ok to wash it in the yard with the volume washer if you know the drain over there ends up in the slurry store.

Its only as big an issue as you make it.

Anyway with all the rain we have had a swollen rivers a few thousand tonnes more nirate salts in the English channel wont do any harm.