Waringstown-based SlurryKat has expanded its range of new low-emission slurry spreading technology to target both farmers and contractors.

At last week’s open day held at its newly upgraded premises, company CEO Garth Cairns outlined a shift in focus for SlurryKat.

“Traditionally we have been focused on agri-contractors and finding solutions for them, but in the last couple of years we have seen that the farmer also needs a solution,” Cairns told the Irish Farmers Journal.

That is being driven by new rules around ammonia contained in the latest Nutrient Action Programme.

There was a wide range of equipment available to view at the SlurryKat open day.

Over the next two years, more farmers will have to spread using low-emission equipment such as a dribble bar or trailing shoe, starting with digestate from AD plants from 1 February 2020.

In 2021, all slurry contractors will have to use the equipment, and from 2022, it must be used by all farms with more than 200 livestock units.

To help meet future demand, Cairns said that his company has designed dribble bars and trailing shoes that can be retrofitted to any tanker.

A 9m wide dribble bar fitted onto the back of a SlurryKat tanker.

“You just need to tell us the make. We have adaption kits, there is no welding required in most cases.

“Depending on the model, we may recommend some strengthening on the rear of the tanker – we can advise on that,” he said.

The equipment is made to be as light as possible, with the heaviest being a 7.5m trailing shoe that still comes in below 500kg.

With this weight low down on the tanker and level with the axle, Cairns maintained that stability of the retrofitted tanker will not be compromised.

The other issue often raised by farmers is whether the macerator/distributor on the dribble bar or trailing shoe is likely to get blocked due to unchopped silage or straw in the slurry.

SlurryKat CEO Garth Cairns, left, welcomed DAERA Minister Edwin Poots, centre, and DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley to the open day. \ Chris McCullough

“It is more challenging with round bale silage that isn’t chopped. But if the slurry is well mixed, it shouldn’t be a problem,” responded Cairns.

He said that there was no overall preference among farmers and contractors for the trailing shoe over a dribble bar, with sales split evenly across the two.

The trailing shoe tends to leave the slurry in neater lines, and can be used in grassy swards, but is less suited to wet conditions.

In terms of waiting times for new equipment, at present it is around three months for a tanker and spreading system, and about eight weeks for a retrofit trailing shoe or dribble bar.

SlurryKat CEO Garth Cairns outlines the 7.5m trailing shoe that can be retrofitted to an existing tanker.

An impressive new 2,000m2 painting and final assembly production line, opened last year, has eased the pressure on lead times.

SlurryKat manufactures a wide range of equipment from slurry tankers, through to various trailers, silage feeding equipment and storage tanks.

While the majority of sales are in Britain and Ireland, it also exports to the likes of New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Canada.

As well as welcoming the new DAERA minister Edwin Poots to the open day last Friday, the company also hosted Princess Anne on a visit to the factory earlier in the week.

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