Dennis’ Advice to Avoid Costly Mistakes with Effluent Management Systems

Without having a stirrer, the large sump at the end of the barn had become problematic as the thick slurry was difficult to deal with. ‘Before we got the stirrer, this was so hard. Real thick. You could walk on it.’ Dennis said.

Now Dennis has his Nevada slurry tanker, the sump is only used for storage. ‘With the tanker I can spread 3Ha at 7 loads per day. We’ve got 70Ha under the sprinkler, but it took 4-5 days per paddock. Don’t use it now – the tanker is so much more flexible and convenient. The good thing about it is there’s an 8″ suction line. It can fill fast – doesn’t take too long.’

Before installing the two Nevada electric stirrers, Dennis had a solids separation system. ‘You can get rid of that separator for me now – it’s an eyesore. The system you’d got me is so much easier. It [solids separator] was supposed to deliver pretty clean water, but it’s never worked.I should have put this stirrer in 8 years ago when I put the pond in, and I wouldn’t have had the headaches of that separation thing. You win every time with a system like this.’

With a lot on his plate, Dennis enjoys the simplicity and convenience of his new set up.  The electric stirrers with Typhoon™ propellors make quick work of thick slurry, and require less time and effort to get the job done. ‘Those big islands there [on the effluent pond] are just simply drawn in and mixed up. I just start it not long before I tanker it out. It certainly doesn’t take long to mix this one up – and she’s a big pond.’

Having a slurry tanker has meant Dennis can spread when and where he wants, so he’s got more control to make sure the nutrients are going where they’re most needed. ‘Oh she grows grass…ohhh yes! I just follow the cows now.’

What’s next on the cards for Dennis?

‘Next thing I want is to get that liquid fert going on too [AddGreen™]. It’ll be awesome doing two jobs at once. Easy.’

Dennis Morgan – Dairy Farmer, Mangatainoka