Lawrence Has More Control Of His Effluent Management

Due to the roads, and being unable to go underground, Lawrence knew the best way for him to spread effluent is using a slurry tanker. So he’d contacted a few companies to work out who could provide the best system for his farm…he chose Nevada.

With a long and narrow pond, Lawrence needed a shorter stirrer to keep things moving, so the FarmerStir 5000 PTO stirrer was a good solution. As for spreading, the farm is very flat and prone to being very wet and soft, so this meant he would need a smaller tanker that wouldn’t destroy the pasture. The Nevada MX60EX slurry tanker was ideal, and although it only holds 6,100 litres per load, the weight is much less making it possible to spread most of the time at up to 9 loads per hour.

‘Previously we were monthly getting a contractor come in and pump it out [tanker and stirrer].’ Lawrence said.

Lawrence chose Nevada because it looked like the best value for their needs. Due to the roads, they couldn’t go underground so needed a slurry tanker. ‘Nevada had a system that was going to work for what we needed.’

Since getting the slurry tanker Lawrence needs a lot less synthetic fertiliser, and he’s also found there’s benefits to driving the tractor to spread ‘There’s less fertiliser coming on, so that’s a major. You don’t have to buy as much fertiliser. And when you’re spreading it you get to see what your paddocks are doing, all the pastures. Sitting in there and driving along you get to see it all.’

He’s also been enjoying having his own stirrer to be able to stir more frequently. ‘It’s breaking up the solids. There’s not as much solids in the pond as normal.’

His advice to other farmers looking to improve their effluent management systems?

‘Look at your farm. Work out the system, and then look at all the systems – get the best option for yourself. A tanker is time management, you’re in the tractor seat…you can control it. Where an irrigator you switch it on at the beginning of the paddock and worry about it at the end.’