New OPICO Slurry Injector

New slurry injector for use with grass slitter gives improved nutrient utilisation

 

At LAMMA, OPICO is launching a new slurry injector, for mounting onto the 6m hydraulic folding Sward Slitter. Called the Slit Injector, it gives improved nutrient utilisation over splash plate applicators as slurry is delivered down to the ground and into the slots made by the slitter blades, reducing nutrient losses due to volatilisation and evaporation.

The Slit Injector dispenses slurry through 36 outlets which are directly aligned with each of the 4-blade rotors of the Sward Slitter.

OPICO’s grassland product specialist Neil Robinson explains: “While splash plate slurry application offers only a 20% nutrient efficiency, because the Slit Injector delivers slurry down to the ground and to the root zone, it gives an estimated 85% nutrient efficiency, a significant benefit by comparison.”

The Slit Injector also has the following: heavy duty inline rubber outlet nozzles with adjustable height control; a Vogelsang ExaCut distributor to macerate the slurry, complete with large capacity stone trap and easy drain port; a heavy duty double swing arm fitted with robust double-acting hydraulic line feed valve, with a Bauer HK108 (4”) female line fitting - alternative line fittings are available on request.

The Slit Injector costs £11,978 +VAT and the combination of the 6m hydraulic folding Sward Slitter and Slit Injector costs £20,512 +VAT.     

For more information, farmers and contractors can visit www.opico.co.uk or call OPICO on 01778 42111 for details of their nearest OPICO dealer.

Using slurry whilst slitting, before or after? - High Bracken Hall, Blog #1

October/November offer an ideal opportunity for Sward Lifting & Sward Slitting. If we open up the soil structure before winter sets in water drainage can be improved & we allow frost in the ground which will naturally expand/contract opening the soil structure.

With a rare run of fine 5 days at High Bracken Hall, Nr Kendal, Cumbria (dads farm) the land was fit to travel on so I took the opportunity to do some practical work.The 1st job was to review conditions & inspect the Sward. As dad suspected compaction was in the top 3-4 inch, no real suprise given that the fields are largley used for grazing but still worth checking dads, farmers & suspisions are not always correct.

With a 3-4 inch compaction zone the OPICO Grassland Slitter (Sward Slitter) has to be my weapon of choice, a full set of weights (540kg) were on the Slitter & helped to ensure we made the most of the 8 inch blades (72 in total on 3m machine). I offset the rotors by 10 deg to maximise the slit area & shatter effect. Work rate should of been approx 6 acres/hr but with four small fields all with fiddly bits I think it was probably closer to 5.Obviously not the quickest of operations (no doubt the reason for our +ve 6m sales) but to rush would only of compromised the effect so I resisted the urge.

In addition to slitting dad was was also applying slurry, he asked if there would be any difference between slitting before or after slurry? who knows? experiment commenced!

You'll see a map of the fields slit & notice only 1/2 fields were completed, the plans to monitor response using the untouched 1/2 fields as a control. From here on in I'll keep you posted on results & further actions.

 

 

Writen by: Neil Robinson - Grassland Machinery Specialist 

Sward Lifter Grassland Subsoiler Demonstration 10.10.12

At last after 5-6 days of dry weather a chance to demo the Sward Lifter Grassland Subsoiler in SW Scotland. With huge amounts of compaction in grassland the OPICO demostration list keeps growing & with few fields dry enough to operate opportunites to demo are few & far between in this part of the world.

The land is probably a bit wet for the Sward Lifters full benifit & care should be taken not to smear if operating in wet conditions. Needs must & todays weathers provided an opportunity before tomorrows standard forcast of rain.

A soil pit was dug before setting up the machine, its always best to judge the compaction problem & depth before trying to remedy a issue that might not exist! The sample was very cloddy, water lodged, with horizontal fissure & root depth was at best 3 inchl; compaction was found at 8 inch so definatley a Sward Lifter problem & not a shallower Sward Slitter issue. I set the Sward Lifters operating depth at 9 inch, finely adjusting the opening discs to suit & set the machine level in work. Operating speed was in the region of 8km/hr, with a broken 4wd care had to be taken not to damage the sward.

As with most farmers Robert wants to see some results before investing his hard earned cash so two demo strips were completed the 1st in his silage field & 2nd a grazing field. We didn't complete the whole field just 5 runs in each to give a nice comparison with the untreated field area. From here on in mother natures going to have to do some work & I'll keep you posted with pictures on our progress.

If you've got compaction issues & think we can help please get in touch for a chat, demo or purchase.

Regards

Neil Robinson

OPICO Grassland Product Manager

Sward Lifter Grassland Subsoiler
Sward Slitter Grassland Slitter

New OPICO Pasture Harrow At Livestock 2012

New grassland tool cleans the sward for faster fuller recovery in grazed fields

At the Livestock Show 2012, OPICO is launching a new grassland management tool which will allow the sward in grazed fields to re-generate faster, and more completely. Called the Pasture Harrow, this multi-tasking tool levels out molehills, disperses muck heaps and cow pats, and aerates the sward. The results: lost ground is re-gained, ‘free’ nutrients are better distributed, and re-growth can occur throughout the whole sward, boosted by improved aeration.

Designed by OPICO, the Pasture Harrow has two rows of spreading plates at the front: the plates in the first row are 95mm wide and drag along the ground – dispersing molehills and knocking off the top crust of cow pats. The second row’s plates are offset: these break up the rest of the cow pat and spread the muck and soil. At the rear, two rows of spring tines further distribute the loosened materials, and also aerate the sward. The Pasture Harrow has a galvanised finish to protect it from the corrosive effects of muck and slurry.

OPICO’s grassland specialist Neil Robinson explains: “By the time cattle have grazed a field down and are moved out, up to 15% of the sward can be covered by cow pats. The grass underneath these can’t grow and, especially in dry weathers, these take a long time to break down. So when cattle return to the field, there’s always a percentage of the ground with no grass re-growth but plenty of fertiliser!

“Using the Pasture Harrow, the cow pats are dispersed allowing the grass underneath to grow and the nutrients from the manure to be used more efficiently. The harrowing tines remove the immediate trash at the bottom of the sward and aerate it, thus encouraging better root growth and faster plant recovery.”

The Pasture Harrow is available in three working widths: 2.5m, 5m and 6m. The retail price for the 5m model is £7861 + VAT.

The Pasture Harrow is the latest innovation to join OPICO’s range of grassland machinery. Already on the market are the Sward-Lifter Grassland Subsoiler for subsoiling, Sward Slitter for aerating the soil and the Grass Harrow and Air Seeders for reseeding and overseeding. Together with OPICO’s Grass Rolls, these make up a comprehensive range of grassland management equipment for livestock farmers.

For more information visit the Pasture Harrow website page or contact Neil Robinson OPICO Grassland Product Specialist, Mob: 07971 484414