Sprayer shed and store.

[Daniel]

We're going to be building one this spring, 14m long by 6m wide by 4m to the eaves, a shed @PDRD had sitting on his shelf!

Just starting this thread to post pictures and to get ideas as to how best to deal with the contaminated water, bunding the floor and how people deal with the mud that drops off the sprayer and tractor without it ending up silting up the catch tank for the bund? We're intending to build the shed and lay the floor ourselves.

Please feel free to add any pictures and suggestions of how you did yours.

Thanks.

 

[Feldspar]

We're just in the middle of building essentially the same as this store:

http://www.farmersguardian.com/show...-and-agchem-management-benefits/55833.article

Using M Construction Services from Diss who have been very good so far. Will take some pictures of the progress so far when I get a chance.

Contaminated water is going through a silt trap into an underground holding tank. This contains a submersible pump linked to a float switch which pumps water into a biofilter which will be in the store.

Also trying to decide which induction system to use. Currently debating between the Vegcraft Pro-fill and the Handler from Homburg.

Have you got a FFIS grant?

 

[Daniel]

Are grants available for this? I was just browsing the FFIS site and couldn't see anything specific for spray stores? Unless you count rainwater harvesting which I can't see much point in since our borehole pumps water essentially for free via the solar panels?

 

[Clive]

Did this a few years ago - store and parking / fill area all under one roof and bunded to a tank, insulated for frost, water supply inside etc. ACCS man loves it !

will post some pics when I get chance to take them

 

[Clive]

those stacked bio beds look interesting - was going to start a thread about them ! anyone using one ? I saw a ad for them somewhere not long ago that I think i linked here ??

 

[Clive]

Also trying to decide which induction system to use. Currently debating between the Vegcraft Pro-fill and the Handler from Homburg.

Have you got a FFIS grant?

been looking at both myself for a couple of years - my sprayer man really wants one but both are expensive

 

[Feldspar]

Are grants available for this? I was just browsing the FFIS site and couldn't see anything specific for spray stores? Unless you count rainwater harvesting which I can't see much point in since our borehole pumps water essentially for free via the solar panels?

There were grants last year for a covered and bunded sprayer filling area and a grant for the biofilter. You don't get anything for the insulated walls, doors or any extra space. Our grant was around 6.5k. It was meant to be a grant for 50% of the cost of the eligible items but in reality it's no where near that. Nevertheless, every little helps!

We got pretty much maximum points on the application last year and so were pretty sure of getting the grant. This year's funding round has just opened I think. Downside is there's less funding and so it'll be more difficult to get the grants.

 

[Feldspar]

been looking at both myself for a couple of years - my sprayer man really wants one but both are expensive

Handler IV will allow batch mixing and with 3" lines you get a fill rate of 870 l/min. It means you can turn the sprayer round in no time.

Only thing I'm looking into at the moment is whether it's necessary to remove the lids and foils for recycling purposes. Annoyingly it looks like we will have to which is a pain.

The building firm are going to make the stacked biofilter. Obviously being inside the volumes aren't going to be huge, even though we've got quite a bit of stuff to wash down.

 

[Clive]

Handler IV will allow batch mixing and with 3" lines you get a fill rate of 870 l/min. It means you can turn the sprayer round in no time.

Only thing I'm looking into at the moment is whether it's necessary to remove the lids and foils for recycling purposes. Annoyingly it looks like we will have to which is a pain.

The building firm are going to make the stacked biofilter. Obviously being inside the volumes aren't going to be huge, even though we've got quite a bit of stuff to wash down.

do you have a plan for the bio filter set up ?

 

[Daniel]

There were grants last year for a covered and bunded sprayer filling area and a grant for the biofilter. You don't get anything for the insulated walls, doors or any extra space. Our grant was around 6.5k. It was meant to be a grant for 50% of the cost of the eligible items but in reality it's no where near that. Nevertheless, every little helps!

We got pretty much maximum points on the application last year and so were pretty sure of getting the grant. This year's funding round has just opened I think. Downside is there's less funding and so it'll be more difficult to get the grants.

Could you post a link to it here?

Just worth pointing out at this stage that this is to be done on a budget, so unlikely to have any fancy filling stations, the sprayer looks after a max of 600 acres but the opportunity arose to purchase a shed that fits nicely between two existing ones and will solve any assurance issues hopefully for years to come.

Water disposal and a bed of some kind will be considered though.

 

[Feldspar]

Also, I was thinking if you have a spare flat bed trailer and a plastic tank, you can pick the Handler up with the forklift, put it on the flatbed, and you've got a pretty decent batch mix bowser system ready to go.

 

[Feldspar]

I've attached what I think is the most recent version.

 

[Feldspar]

do you have a plan for the bio filter set up ?

It's the same set-up as James Nott's in the article. Three IBCs stacked on top of each other in a steel frame. Can remove each individually with a forklift. Mesh and then gravel in the bottom of each, mixture of straw, peat free compost and soil in the remaining space. Contaminated water feeds into the top one, then the middle and then the bottom. Can recirculate if necessary, if not then it's pumped outside where it's spread over a grassy area.

 

[Clive]

Also, I was thinking if you have a spare flat bed trailer and a plastic tank, you can pick the Handler up with the forklift, put it on the flatbed, and you've got a pretty decent batch mix bowser system ready to go.

that was how I was planning to use one - we normally spray supported by a bowser anyway so pre mix would add to output

 

[Daniel]

It's the same set-up as James Nott's in the article. Three stacked on top of each other, mesh and then gravel in the bottom of each, mixture of straw, peat free compost and soil in the remaining space. Water feeds into the top one, then the middle and then the bottom. Can recirculate if necessary, if not then it's pumped outside where it's spread over a grassy area.

That sounds pretty simple, do you have to sample the water that come out of the bottom or can you assume its clean?

It says in the article you have to dispose of the contents of the IBC after 5 years, I guess in reality you cant get the stuff out so you get 3 new IBC's and fill them up, cut the old ones open and dispose of the biomulch?

 

[Feldspar]

That sounds pretty simple, do you have to sample the water that come out of the bottom or can you assume its clean?

It says in the article you have to dispose of the contents of the IBC after 5 years, I guess in reality you cant get the stuff out so you get 3 new IBC's and fill them up, cut the old ones open and dispose of the biomulch?

I believe the EA has approved the design and so you can assume it's clean.

I think you cut the tops off the IBCs and so you could get it out, or perhaps just remove some and top it up with fresh stuff every now and then.

Are you going to insulate the building?

 

[Feldspar]

Also, get in touch with you local CSF officer as that will increase the chances that your grant application is successful. They seem to have loads of money at the moment and will come out and look for free. We also had a free ADAS visit and then a report produced on the possible options.

 

[Daniel]

I believe the EA has approved the design and so you can assume it's clean.

I think you cut the tops off the IBCs and so you could get it out, or perhaps just remove some and top it up with fresh stuff every now and then.

Are you going to insulate the building?

Probably, that way our two pressure washers for the pig/poultry units can be safely stored in there as well.

We weren't going to use the insulated tin sheets though, they work out very dear. Probably going to use 60mm celotex board and then line the inside of the shed wither with white tin sheets or good quality plywood. White tin sheets would give a nice clinical finish.

 

[Daniel]

I attach the diagram of the shed, I suppose in ideal world it would be a bit wider than 6 metres but it fits snugly between two existing sheds. The idea is to have a 4mx4m roller shutter door on this end pushed over as far left as it can be. Tractor and sprayer occupying the left hand 3.5 metres leaves 2.5 metres along the right hand wall to stack chems, clean water tanks, biofilter and for me to stand and fill it up!

 

[Daniel]

Also, get in touch with you local CSF officer as that will increase the chances that your grant application is successful. They seem to have loads of money at the moment and will come out and look for free. We also had a free ADAS visit and then a report produced on the possible options.

Is involving offcials from CSF etc worth it or are they just going to 'suggest' a load of 'ideas' which add cost?