Getting the Farmyard Winter Ready

Farmers need to ensure that storage facilities are fit for purpose in the farmyard. This means that the slurry and manure collection and storage facilities meet the standards required by the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFM).

All such storage facilities in County Cavan need to be structurally sound and fit for purpose to ensure that slurry and manures can be stored safely throughout the winter period. Ensure silage effluent collection channels and tank storage can store the volumes of effluent generated. The effluent is a highly polluting matter and can cause fish kills in watercourses/rivers and contaminate wells if not collected and stored properly.

The first step is to thoroughly wash down all sheds using a power washer, especially the floors, walls, effluent channels and collection tanks to enable problems to be fully assessed. Look out for cracks, porous patches, unsealed and eroded joints. The extent of the damage can be assessed by hacking away any unsound concrete at joints and at the base of walls. All facilities must be leakproof and all the slurry, manures, soiled waters and effluents must be collected and safely stored. If the storage facility is not fit for purpose, cease using until all repairs are completed.

Repair works must be completed to Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFM) specifications These can be obtained at www.agriculture.gov.ie. Regular maintenance of the animal housing sheds, and storage facilities ensure that minor problems are attended to while still minor.

You should inspect your gutters, downpipes and gullies to ensure that storm water is diverted away from slurry tanks. Some farms may be limited for slurry storage and excess clean water entering these tanks should be avoided. Excess water entering these tanks could reduce their storage capacities which may cause issues later.

No one knows what lies in store next spring, so ensuring you have maximum slurry storage capacity available is important.

During the winter period, farmyard manure (FYM) and old silage is required to be stored on a concrete area where the effluents and seepages can be contained and collected. Farmyard manures and old silage is not allowed to be stored in the field during the winter period.

Allowing slurry, effluent or manures to discharge to a drain or watercourse is an offence under the Water Pollution Acts and the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations (Nitrates or GAP Regulations).