Duck slurry problem

Snowstandards

So I posted here a couple of weeks back about an issue with a farmer over using slurry (in my opinion) on his field.

I have no farming background myself but have worked on a farm before.
As I know a lot you will assume in just not used to the farming life, this issue has gone passed ridiculous.

Since posting last, this same farmer has been putting slurry on his field between 4 - 5 days out of 7. The smell is horrible and I genuinely will not even step out my back garden anymore. The stench is so strong that it reaches more than 1/2 a km away. This has been for almost 4 weeks now. He also seems to prefer doing it in the rain :S

What can be done about this as I'm not too far from driving up the back roads to pay him a visit. I'm located in Leixlip and there's no "meat factories" (suggestion from last thread) or sewer plants near me.

greenfield21

Did u speak to him?

Arrow in the Knee

:rolleyes:

endacl

Crappy situation OP. Sounds really shyte. I'm flush out of ideas.

Blackgrass

Is it on grass or crop land? Presume occasional load rather than constant coating? Any form of incorporation going on? Over here you've about 48hrs to bury odourous fertilisers normally done asap, to prevent N loss. Talk to him to sort it out and if doesn't make an effort in 4 or 5 days ring the local county council environment dept.

Snowstandards

Blackgrass wrote:

Is it on grass or crop land? Presume occasional load rather than constant coating? Any form of incorporation going on? Over here you've about 48hrs to bury odourous fertilisers normally done asap, to prevent N loss. Talk to him to sort it out and if doesn't make an effort in 4 or 5 days ring the local county council environment dept.

A productive reply. I appreciate it as its really become a problems amongst a lot of local residents. At the end of the day, its not going to kill us (.... hopefully :P ) but its rather horrible having to put up with it so constantly. We've never had an issue with it ever before and I've literally lived in the same house for about 20 + years. Its on grass rather than crops though! Its constant coating the last few weeks with about 2 days off from coating it out of 7.

Blackgrass

Snowstandards wrote: »

A productive reply. I appreciate it as its really become a problems amongst a lot of local residents. At the end of the day, its not going to kill us (.... hopefully :P ) but its rather horrible having to put up with it so constantly. We've never had an issue with it ever before and I've literally lived in the same house for about 20 + years. Its on grass rather than crops though! Its constant coating the last few weeks with about 2 days off from coating it out of 7.

If that is the case I'd call over, have a chat in friendly manner about taking steps to reduce the pollution being caused be it using a slurry injector or cultivation or he might want to expect a visit from someone at the tail end of next week

merryberry

It should b mandatory to inject that stuff. Nothing more than a waste disposal operation as much of the nutrient value is lost to the air on contact.

merryberry

Blackgrass wrote: »

If that is the case I'd call over, have a chat in friendly manner about taking steps to reduce the pollution being caused be it using a slurry injector or cultivation or he might want to expect a visit from someone at the tail end of next week

I would think he'd be wasting his time blackgrass. The unfortunate thing for the op is there is possibly no breach of ag legislation happening here unless the farmer is exceeding the hydraulic loading per ha or soil nutrient budget. Is there some air quality legislation peehaps? Splash plate application of liquid sluury is banned in many eu countries esp the densely populated ones partly due to odours and nuisances that op is experiencing

merryberry

Blackgrass wrote: »

If that is the case I'd call over, have a chat in friendly manner about taking steps to reduce the pollution being caused be it using a slurry injector or cultivation or he might want to expect a visit from someone at the tail end of next week

I would think he'd be wasting his time blackgrass. The unfortunate thing for the op is there is possibly no breach of ag legislation happening here unless the farmer is exceeding the hydraulic loading per ha or soil nutrient budget. Is there some air quality legislation peehaps? Splash plate application of liquid sluury is banned in many eu countries esp the densely populated ones partly due to odours and nuisances that op is experiencing

greysides

OP, I don't think talking to him will have any effect but it should be tried to avoid later accusations. I would take a few other level-headed local residents with you so you can't be written off as a crank. Plus there will be witnesses to what's said/done. After that and depending on the response you may need to consider other options.

Blackgrass

merryberry wrote: »

I would think he'd be wasting his time blackgrass. The unfortunate thing for the op is there is possibly no breach of ag legislation happening here unless the farmer is exceeding the hydraulic loading per ha or soil nutrient budget. Is there some air quality legislation peehaps? Splash plate application of liquid sluury is banned in many eu countries esp the densely populated ones partly due to odours and nuisances that op is experiencing

I'd give the farmer a chance but then I'd go to the officials personally at least. Over here there is something about odours pollution but a lot of sludge etc gets used

patjack

Snowstandards wrote: »

............This has been for almost 4 weeks now. He also seems to prefer doing it in the rain :S ......

Believe it or not he is actually doing you a favour spreading it in the rain as opposed to the sunshine.

Spreading in the rain reduces losses to the atmosphere, it's the losses to the atmosphere which cause the smell.

I would try speaking to him, see if he could agree to compact his spreading dates, as in get the spreading done in a shorter timeframe. As merryberry stated it might be difficult to force the farmers hand if he is compliant with all regulations eg. nitrates etc.

You seem reasonable, hope he is the same and try come to some agreement.
If not agreement at least he'll understand the air pollution he is causing and how it affects you, and you might get a better insight into his operation.

As someone said if he was injecting the slurry into the ground it would casue considerably less smell.

Go have a chat with him

Thargor

I remember in school the kids who lived near a battery egg laying operation used to come in for a couple of days a year when the slurry from that used to be being spread and the stench of concentrated vomit off them was unreal just from living near it.

AntrimGlens

Snowstandards wrote: »

Its constant coating the last few weeks with about 2 days off from coating it out of 7.

Is he spreading over the same parts as he spread on previously or is he bringing a few loads everyday and spreading on a different part of the field each time?
If its the former, he obviously trying to get rid of the waste in any way he can, if its the latter he's being a bit more 'responsible'.

twin_beacon

patjack wrote: »

Believe it or not he is actually doing you a favour spreading it in the rain as opposed to the sunshine.

indeed.

From the sounds if it, if he is constantly spreading, I would imagine its a farmer that is slowly spreading with his own tank, doing a few loads an evening. However, I doubt he is covering the same area in the field over again, probably a different part of the field. there are regulations determining how much nitrogen can be spread on land.

whelan2

op, if its as bad as you say no point complaining about it here, either talk to the farmer or go to the council

dohc turbo2

Is it duck for sure or u guessing ? , as said previously at least he doing it in bad weather

keep going

what do you propose as a solution to the problem

Miname

keep going wrote: »

what do you propose as a solution to the problem

A big wall around the towns to keep the farming folk out. It worked well in Germany.

mf240

Does he have many ducks?

Jb1989

Miname wrote: »

A big wall around the towns to keep the farming folk out. It worked well in Germany.

Till that faithful November day in 1989 where socialism destructed it and slurry fumes reaked havoc

Kovu

keep going wrote: »

what do you propose as a solution to the problem

_Brian

Feckin DUCKS with their attitude

micraX

Are you sure its duck slurry? Is there any vegetable processer near by? The one I deliver too keeps all his waste water in a tank and has to spread it, this is the worst smelling crap ever the whole back of the yard has a stench over it, and when its being spread it smells worse.

9935452

Snowstandards wrote: »

A productive reply. I appreciate it as its really become a problems amongst a lot of local residents. At the end of the day, its not going to kill us (.... hopefully :P ) but its rather horrible having to put up with it so constantly. We've never had an issue with it ever before and I've literally lived in the same house for about 20 + years. Its on grass rather than crops though! Its constant coating the last few weeks with about 2 days off from coating it out of 7.

What size field is he spreading on and how many loads a day is he spreading?