Umbilical slurry outfit - justified for own use only?

[ploughman1963]

Do many farms run their own umbilical slurry spreading setup rather than getting contractors in?

On an organic dairy farm where one would like to have a slurry (dirty water) spreading session at least every week to follow the cows on the grazing paddocks - could one justify ones own umbilical setup? Also need to spread dirty water on 150-170 ac of silaged ground cut 4 or possibly 5 times with a dose of dirty water after first four cuts. 2 - 2,500,000 gallons spread annualy.
160 hp tractor available for most of grazing period to pump plus contractors tractor (with duals on when required) to operate dribble bar.

Cheaper alternative could be large tanker on floatations pulled by the 160hp tractor but dont like the idea of all the wheelings and associated compaction. We have been using a 2000 gall tanker with dribble bar but thats a minimum of 4 loads per day just to keep up which worked out cheaper in terms of cost/ cubic metre than umbilical but just struggled to find time all the time. Would probably still need to pull in umbilical gang to follow the silage cuts as farm labour couldnt cope with that acreage in a short time.

Thoughts please

 

[cosmagedon]

@eulb runs his own set up.

I imagine you could pick up a lot of the equipment second hand to keep cost down. Would it be cost/time effective to lay some hard pipe down from the outset?

 

[ollie989898]

I'd dig in a proper pipe to get you most of the way to the paddocks, then an outlet above ground for each etc, would make the job a doddle compared to tankering and for nothing more than the cost of digging a trench.

 

[Deere 6430]

Just my opinion but i think that in these times and to run a good business anything that you can make the most of or in order to do it properly etc is definitely worth having so you can do it yourselves.

Use to use contractors here for various jobs but now after buying secondhand equipment to do it myself I wouldn’t go back to contractors.

 

[ploughman1963]

The boss has his eye on the 40% grant currently available so my previous thoughts/suggestion of buying secondhand equipment are likely to be shelved in preference for purchase of new.

Boss loves having trenches dug so the idea of pemanent underground mains to strategic points was already a strong possibility.

 

[ollie989898]

The ability to coat areas immediately after grazing/cutting, but also in one fell swoop will also pay dividends with grass regrowth rates and yields etc, hard to put a value on that.

Trying to do all land work yourself is ok but can distract you from looking after the cows which is what actually makes the money.

 

[pappuller]

The boss has his eye on the 40% grant currently available so my previous thoughts/suggestion of buying secondhand equipment are likely to be shelved in preference for purchase of new.

Boss loves having trenches dug so the idea of pemanent underground mains to strategic points was already a strong possibility.

Is he prepared to spend £87.5 k on a setup just to claim 40% back ??

 

[davidroberts30]

How much are you spending on pumping at the mo??

@boyo runs his own too

 

[Speedstar]

If going going down the second hand road we have a reeler, doda pump & trailing shoe to sell

 

[ploughman1963]

Our current staffing is 2 full time and one for 4 months in the autumn to cover block calving. There is an argument that we should have 3 men full time which might work if we increased numbers and bought this kit. Personally, I doubt it - this year our main contractor provided the labour to run the tanker 99% of the time - but couldnt provide someone enough of the time to spread all the paddocks on each rotation. A full time staff member would only be needed for half a day to spread slurry with a tanker - less with an umbilical - so a full time man will be inefficient.
I think the most cost effective way of doing it is to stay at 2 men full time and use part-time labour (preferably from our contractor) to spread the slurry - umbilical will reduce the amount of time our contractor needs to supply someone and extend the gaps between spreading days which would make it easier for him.

 

[ploughman1963]

How much are you spending on pumping at the mo??

@boyo runs his own too

Good point - I was just going to post that - will be about £14K this year

 

[davidroberts30]

Good point - I was just going to post that - will be about £14K this year

You would have a very decent second hand kit for 30k if not new

Imo the timeliness factor is priceless

 

[jamesy]

i often hear about justifying this or justifying that.... life's too short.

If it's needed/wanted, makes life easier & can be afforded go for it.

 

[rusty]

I spent 50k about 8 years ago on 950m of underground 6" main with 3 hydrants, 1000m 4" lay flat with mounted reeler, 6.2m trailing shoe with flow meter and a DodaL35 pump. Got grant funding on this. Has been very beneficial to get muck out and not make a mess of the field. High output when set up. There is a knack to getting the pipes set up correctly and not getting knotted up! Probably little time saving if doing little and often small applications on smaller areas. Really comes into its own on big pumps in spring or after silage cuts.

 

[ploughman1963]

Thank you

 

[Digester Man]

I spent 50k this year on my own gear for moving about 4m gallons a year. Money well spent it won’t be long paying for itself and we can spread when ground/growing conditions are right

I have no staff so do the spreading myself and usually can find someone to spend a few days on the pump. Have one guy I try to use most of the time as he is good and knows what he’s doing, but can usually get a new man up and running no problem if they have some sense..

 

[ollie989898]

Our current staffing is 2 full time and one for 4 months in the autumn to cover block calving. There is an argument that we should have 3 men full time which might work if we increased numbers and bought this kit. Personally, I doubt it - this year our main contractor provided the labour to run the tanker 99% of the time - but couldnt provide someone enough of the time to spread all the paddocks on each rotation. A full time staff member would only be needed for half a day to spread slurry with a tanker - less with an umbilical - so a full time man will be inefficient.
I think the most cost effective way of doing it is to stay at 2 men full time and use part-time labour (preferably from our contractor) to spread the slurry - umbilical will reduce the amount of time our contractor needs to supply someone and extend the gaps between spreading days which would make it easier for him.

In that circumstances it is a no-brainer. You have the labour already which was going to be the crux of my answer. Hire a digger and get the trenches done, put it all back carefully and the grass will have grown back by spring!

The cleverer utilisation of the slurry and the bonus from rapid one-shot spreading on fields will be noticeable IMO. Plus you won't make such a run of gateways etc.

A reeler and pipes isn't hugely complex to run or look after, and you could even buy the kit in sequence and phase your investment over time if needed.

I used to enjoy tankering but it's a ball-ache compared to a half decent umbilical setup.

 

[ollie989898]

Good point - I was just going to post that - will be about £14K this year

That 14K will go a long way to justifying the pay of your additional full time man.

 

[JMTHORNLEY]

@Maxxum-man runs his own set up

 

[ploughman1963]

Thank you for the replies and the PM's which have been very helpful - much appreciated.