Upgrading slurry application equipment is proving key to improving output and efficiency as demand grows. CPM explores how one contractor is putting that into practice.
“When you have a window, you have to go. You can’t afford to be losing time.” WILL REID
By Charlotte Cunningham
As more growers look to organic materials to manage fertiliser costs and improve nutrient use efficiency, the role of the contractor is shifting accordingly, with focus moving beyond simply transporting material towards how effectively it can be applied within increasingly tight windows.
For businesses operating at scale, that brings output, consistency and reliability into sharper focus, particularly as workloads intensify and expectations around accuracy continue to rise.
For Gloucestershire-based contractor Will Reid, who runs WR Agriculture, that shift has been reflected in the steady growth of both solid and liquid application work, driven by greater availability of digestate and a growing recognition among farmers of the value held within organic nutrient sources.
“We’re spreading about 150,000t/year of solid material,” he explains, noting that the range spans biosolids, gypsum, compost, poultry litter and FYM. “On the liquid side, we’re around 50,000m³ annually – mainly slurry and digestate.”
SHIFTING PRIORITIES
Handling that volume places clear demands on machinery, not only in terms of daily output, but also in maintaining consistency across each load and minimising downtime during what are often narrow application windows. At the same time, the nature of the work itself is evolving, with application timing becoming more targeted as growers look to align nutrient availability more closely with crop demand.
“There’s definitely been a change,” he says. “People want to make better use of slurry and digestate now. It’s not just about getting rid of it – it’s about seeing the benefit and using it properly within the system.”
That shift is influencing when and how materials are applied, he continues. Where slurry might previously have been applied ahead of drilling as a matter of routine, improvements in application equipment are now allowing contractors to return later in the season, applying nutrients when crops are better able to utilise them.
Running a 24m dribble bar has been central to that approach, enabling applications to be made on tramlines and opening up opportunities that previously weren’t practical. In maize, for example, Will is now top dressing once the crop is established, rather than applying everything up front, with the benefits outweighing the small amount of crop lost where tramlines are introduced.
“You might lose a bit where the tramlines go in, but the benefit from applying it later more than outweighs that,” he comments.
A similar principle is beginning to carry across into cereals, where in-season applications offer greater flexibility and improved utilisation. However, delivering that level of service depends heavily on the capability of the tanker itself, something that became increasingly apparent with Will’s previous machine.
“It was second-hand and not really fit for what we required,” he recalls, explaining that the absence of an internal mixing system meant material was prone to settling, particularly when dealing with sand-laden slurry. “At times we were cleaning it out by hand once a week, which just wasn’t practical.”
Fill performance was also limiting output, with the lack of a turbo filler leading to excessive frothing and preventing the tank from being filled efficiently, reducing the amount of material moved per load and ultimately per day. “It just wasn’t keeping up with what we wanted to do,” he adds.
With workloads increasing and expectations rising, the decision was taken to invest in a new tanker, although not before taking time to ensure the specification matched the demands of the business.
“It wasn’t a quick decision – we looked at it for about 12 months before going ahead because it’s a big investment and you want to get it right.”
That process ultimately led to the purchase of a Pichon TCI 18000 slurry tanker, paired with a 24m dribble bar, bringing together features designed to improve output, reduce downtime and deliver more consistent application.
With an 18,000-litre capacity and twin-axle configuration with rear steering, the tanker is built for contractor workloads. A fully galvanised tank and chassis provide durability, while the structure itself is designed to operate at higher pressures than many comparable machines.
“Most tankers run at about 0.8 bar, whereas the Pichon runs at 1 bar,” explains Richard Young of Talis Amos Group. “That increases output, but it requires a heavier tank construction to handle that pressure.”
A key part of that performance comes from the inclusion of a 20cm turbo filler and water-cooled vacuum pump, which together improve fill speed while reducing issues such as frothing, allowing the tank to be filled more efficiently and consistently.
“The turbo filler made a difference straight away,” says Will. “We’re filling faster and actually getting a full load, which obviously improves what you can achieve in a day.”
The water-cooled pump also contributes to reliability during extended working periods, maintaining performance while reducing wear, explains Richard. “It keeps everything cooler, which helps with longevity and reduces downtime. For a contractor, that’s critical because the machine has to keep going.”
AUGER SYSTEM
Integral to the machine’s operation is an internal auger system, designed to keep material in suspension and prevent settlement within the tank, particularly when working with heavier or sandier slurries. “There’s a sand auger inside the tank which keeps everything moving,” adds Richard. “It stops solids settling at the bottom so you maintain a consistent product throughout.”
For Will, that’s been one of the most noticeable improvements compared with the previous setup. “We haven’t had to clean it out since we’ve had it,” he says. “That alone saves a huge amount of time and hassle, and you know what you’re applying is consistent from start to finish.”
Loading flexibility has also been improved through the specification of a plunger arm, which provides a wider range of filling options across different farm setups. “It’s a rotating arm, a bit like an elephant trunk,” says Richard. “It allows you to load from lagoons, pits or nurse tanks, so it’s much more versatile.”
A hydraulically-operated top hatch further enhances flexibility, allowing the tanker to be filled from above where access is limited, helping reduce unnecessary field traffic and potential compaction, particularly where roadside filling or over-hedge transfer is required, he adds.
Then on the application side, a hydraulic turbo feeder ensures even distribution across the full 24m width of the dribble bar, delivering a consistent flow of material regardless of working width. “With a boom that size, you need a consistent feed,” highlights Richard. “The turbo feeder pushes the material through to maintain even output across the full width.”
Material passes through macerators before reaching the outlets, chopping any solids to prevent blockages and ensure a uniform spread pattern, while the addition of a flow meter allows application rates to be controlled accurately from the cab. “This means Will can set exactly how many cubic metres per hectare he wants to apply,” points out Richard. “The system adjusts automatically to maintain that rate, so you’re not guessing what’s going on.”
Crucially, that level of control sits alongside a system designed to minimise operator input, with load-sensing hydraulics ensuring only the required power is drawn from the tractor, while the majority of functions can be operated from within the cab. “Once you’re set up, you don’t need to be getting in and out,” notes Richard. “You can stay in the cab and keep working which saves time during the course of a day.”
For Will, the benefits of the new setup are best reflected in improved daily output, driven by both increased capacity and reduced downtime. “It’s a combination of both,” he says. “We’re getting more done in a day because we’re filling quicker, and we’re not stopping to deal with problems like we used to.”
That reliability has been particularly important as application windows tighten, placing greater emphasis on keeping machines moving whenever conditions allow, he suggests. “When you have a window, you have to go,” he adds. “You can’t afford to be losing time.”
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
When it came to choosing the tanker, Will says he considered a number of alternatives including lower-cost options, but ultimately opted for a higher-spec machine based on long-term performance and the ability to maintain consistent output under pressure. “There were cheaper options out there but for what we wanted to do, it made sense to invest in something that would last and do the job properly.”
That long-term view is supported by Richard, who notes that machines of this type are typically retained for many years, particularly within contracting businesses where reliability underpins profitability.
“It’s not a short-term investment,” he says. “You could be running that tanker for 15-20 years, and we rarely see them come back second-hand because people tend to keep them.”
While newer models have since evolved into the SV range, with greater flexibility for adding features as requirements change, the underlying principle remains the same – a focus on durability, output and adaptability to suit different systems.
As with any high-output machine, service support remains a key consideration, particularly for contractors where downtime has a direct impact on productivity. “The service from Talis Amos has been very good,” highlights Will. “They’re always at the end of the phone, and that’s a significant part of it because you’re relying on that backup when things go wrong.”
But for Will, the true benefits come back to a combination of practicality and long-term thinking, where the ability to deliver output consistently under pressure is what ultimately underpins the business. “If you have access to slurry or digestate, it’s about making the most of it,” he says. “It helps to reduce fertiliser costs while giving you more control over inputs, but, you have to be able to apply it properly to see that benefit.
“For us, it’s about having the kit that can keep up when the window’s there,” he concludes. “When conditions are right, you just have to be able to go and get the job done.”
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. Read the article in full here.
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