Longford farming: Expert advice for farmers and contractors as slurry season opens

The start of the slurry spreading season is now upon us here in Roscommon and Longford with both counties now permitted to spread slurry from Friday 16th of January.

The end of the closed period is not essentially a green light for farmers to go out spreading slurry as weather conditions must be favourable before commencing.

Avoid land that is waterlogged, flooded or likely to flood, snow covered or frozen or where heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours.

Remember that there is an increased buffer margin to be adhered when spreading in the first two weeks after the closing period ends in January normally doubling from 5 meters to 10meters from Stream/Drains/Watercourses.

Another point to consider is as of from 1st January 2025, the use of Low Emissions Slurry Spreading (LESS) has become compulsory on farms stocked at 100kgs Nitrogen per hectare or above.

Your Adviser or Consultant can assist you in finding out the previous year’s stocking rate or the farmer can login on their own Agfood account to get this information themselves.

The two most common types of LESS systems are the Trailing Shoe and the Dribble Bar.

Some key points with agitating are remember evacuate, ventilate and agitate and ensure all livestock and people are out of sheds.

Agitate on a breezy day with considerable air movement as one lung full of Hydrogen Sulphide gas can kill.

Make sure all building are well ventilated with doors and outlets open.

Stay away from sheds for at least 30 minutes after starting agitation.

Never enter a slurry tank even if empty as gases can linger.

If weather conditions are not ideal and slurry tanks are full, consider only removing a small amount to get you out of bother and come at a later date when conditions hopefully are improved and spread the bulk of the tank.

Give your contractor plenty of notice as to when you wish to spread and priorities your silage ground if possible.

Everyone has a role to play in minimising the risk of nutrient run off into rivers, lakes and groundwater at this time of the year.

Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers.

They have offices based in Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166), Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) and Longford Town (Tel: 043 3341021).

You can find them on Facebook @Teagasc roscommonlongford, Instagram @teagasc.rnld and X @teagascRNLD. Email; RoscommonLongford Advisory@teagasc.ie

READ NEXT: Longford national school to celebrate 50 years of providing education and guidance

READ NEXT: Longford County Council urged ‘to move’ on construction of 13 new houses in Ballymahon