Slurry in this warm weather

Dunedin

Was all set to put out watery slurry on where I cut silage yesterday. Had second thoughts this evening and opted to wait to see if any sign of rain/warm weather to pass.

Slurry is fairly watery but no rain for next week at least and maybe longer than that.

What’s the view here?

tanko

I'd be spreading it asap, it's not going to cake on the ground if it's watery.

charolais0153

Dunedin wrote: »

Was all set to put out watery slurry on where I cut silage yesterday. Had second thoughts this evening and opted to wait to see if any sign of rain/warm weather to pass.

Slurry is fairly watery but no rain for next week at least and maybe longer than that.

What’s the view here?

Teagasv make out to leave it a few days to green up, better value than spreading on the white grass, i wouldnt be spreading in 25°heat tbh

Mooooo

If you are using a splash plate go sooner, if using LESS wait till it greens a bit I suppose. This dry spell seems to be at least 10 days lasting anyway edit to add probably better spread later on the evening if you have to go, when the heat of the day is gone

Dunedin

Didn’t spread 25 degree heat coupled with no rain in sight. Will wait till next week and see from there.

whelan2

Got dung out today. It was being stored in my silage pit so had to go out before I do my silage. I didnt put it on bare ground though

jntsnk

A neighbouring farmer was out at 1 am spreading slurry. He’s running short of grass , doesn’t want the sun to evaporate the water as fast.
Personally I would never spread slurry on silage ground until the day is overcast and rain due.

TooOldBoots

Dung beetle and dung flies are more active in warm weather. That's how it gets broken down and absorbed into the soil. I'd more inclined to go with thick slurry rather than watery stuff in this heat

orm0nd

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Dung beetle and dung flies are more active in warm weather. That's how it gets broken down and absorbed into the soil. I'd more inclined to go with thick slurry rather than watery stuff in this heat

Unfortunately blatant use of invermectim and similar type products have resulted in a decline of the dung beetle in a lot of areas.

I read somewhere where a guy had dosed his calves with ivomec in April. WTF? Those animals will have no self immunity. Not to mention the damage done to the soil.

Westernrock

orm0nd wrote: »

Unfortunately blatant use of invermectim and similar type products have resulted in a decline of the dung beetle in a lot of areas.

I read somewhere where a guy had dosed his calves with ivomec in April. WTF? Those animals will have no self immunity. Not to mention the damage done to the soil.

Sorry for off topic rant but nothing annoys me more than people wanting to dose yearlings as they let them out in the spring. Complete waste of time and money never mind that it is of zero benefit to the animal or their farm long term🀯😡

Hard Knocks

Westernrock wrote: »

Sorry for off topic rant but nothing annoys me more than people wanting to dose yearlings as they let them out in the spring. Complete waste of time and money never mind that it is of zero benefit to the animal or their farm long term🀯😡

With this dry spell should we dose calves for worms shortly?
Generally go end of June & first round of blackleg
But wonder should go early June this year?

Westernrock

Hard Knocks wrote: »

With this dry spell should we dose calves for worms shortly?
Generally go end of June & first round of blackleg
But wonder should go early June this year?

I’d get the blackleg in asap with the dry weather more soil is exposed so there would be a higher risk. For dosing I’d follow your normal trends ie if calves are coughing dose otherwise take faecal samples etc. In 2018 there was a massive burst of lungworm when we did get rain so I’d watch for that if we get rain. I suppose if your grazing down to lower covers due to grass shortages calves could pick up a higher burden sooner

Biscuitus

I spread slurry on the silage ground back during the drought and it was a disaster. The slurry baked on and stayed there for months. No amount of rain was able to break it down. I'd never do it again.

C4d78

I know even with LESS method your going to loose most of N value. Would you have less chance of damaging grass thou with the dribble bar or shoe.

24_7

For second cut silage I had seen that Teagasc advised to apply 25/30 units/acre/N in a compound fertilizer, then follow up with slurry if rain was forecast, then top up fertilizer levels.
Are any of you following this? How long would you need to leave between applying slurry after the 1st fertilizer.

richie123

24_7 wrote: »

For second cut silage I had seen that Teagasc advised to apply 25/30 units/acre/N in a compound fertilizer, then follow up with slurry if rain was forecast, then top up fertilizer levels.
Are any of you following this? How long would you need to leave between applying slurry after the 1st fertilizer.

Sure you can do all you want bottom line is if you don't have decent rain nothing will work.

Cavanjack

24_7 wrote: »

For second cut silage I had seen that Teagasc advised to apply 25/30 units/acre/N in a compound fertilizer, then follow up with slurry if rain was forecast, then top up fertilizer levels.
Are any of you following this? How long would you need to leave between applying slurry after the 1st fertilizer.

Usually get slurry out the days following silage being cut then wait a week and go with fertilizer. Spread fertilizer for second cut today. If it rains it rains. If it doesn’t rain it’ll still be there whenever it does rain.