Jul 4
Smells Like Manure
Posted in Crops Organic Farming Farming Techniques , Farm Machinery by David Wilson
We try to muck spread just before or during the growing season so it can be utilised by the clover and grass. Why do we muck spread? Well, it feeds the soil, particularly the composted manure. In a nutshell, it's the law of return and forms part of the nutrient cycle. We use a farm loading machine which is basically like a big bucket so you can move a lot of stuff around efficiently. We have two of our own muck spreaders and we hire two in. It's all done in two and a half to three days. The key thing is to spread it evenly. All farmers strive towards the holy grail of perfect manure distribution. That's ultimately what it's about!
Four people have been working hard spreading over a thousand tonnes across 250 to 300 acres. It might sound a lot, but when you look at it that's only a few tonnes per acre. It is not too smelly and you certainly get used to it - I'm sure it's good for cleaning out the tubes and a lot more natural than putting on artificial fertiliser!
