As the cost of fertilisers continues to rise and calls to reduce emissions become stricter, many farmers and contractors are searching for new and innovative ways to improve soil health and growth while also reducing their expenses.

One promising solution in Ireland is the use of trailing shoe technology and the careful management of slurry on farms. The focus is getting the most out of slurry, which is currently more valuable than ever before.

Trailing shoe technology has several benefits over traditional surface application methods. First, because the slurry is placed directly in the soil, it is less likely to evaporate or run off into nearby waterways. This of course helps to reduce pollution and nutrient loss.

But perhaps the most significant benefit of trailing shoe technology and careful slurry management is the potential cost savings it can offer.

By using slurry more efficiently and reducing nutrient loss, farmers can reduce their reliance on expensive fertilisers and save money in the long run.

Plus, with the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) grant, low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) becomes more attainable to the everyday farmer with financial and environmental advantages.

The heart of these trailing shoes are distributors that allow equal distribution of slurry to all the hoses of the spreading applicator. The Vogelsang ECQ distributor is a revolutionary solution that has been designed to make slurry spreading in Ireland more efficient and sustainable.

This technology offers a range of benefits that can help Irish farmers to spread slurry more accurately, reduce fertiliser waste, and improve crop yields.

The Vogelsang ECQ distributor with its QuickService principle uses a cutting-edge technology that ensures precise slurry spreading. The system is designed to distribute slurry evenly, which means that the nutrients are spread over the soil more resourcefully, leading to better crop yields.

This accuracy is especially crucial in Ireland where land is limited, and efficient use of resources is critical.

The Vogelsang ECQ distributor is a highly effective system that can help farmers to complete the slurry spreading process quickly and smoothly.

The system is designed to work in all weather conditions, which means that farmers can take advantage of any weather window to complete the slurry spreading process.

It uses 50% less power and can be used for 50% longer than comparable distributors. This increased efficiency results in significant cost savings and allows farmers to spend more time on other essential farm tasks.

The Vogelsang ECQ distributor is designed with optimal flow to distribute slurry evenly over the soil, ensuring that the nutrients are absorbed by the soil more effectively.

Larger cross-sections and new flow guide plates calm the flow and ensure unprecedented distribution precision. This process leads to improved soil health, which translates to better crop yields and a more sustainable farming practice.

The Vogelsang ECQ distributor is a user-friendly system that requires minimal maintenance. This means that farmers can reduce labour and maintenance costs, resulting in significant cost savings.

Thanks to the ExaCut ECQ’s completely new service concept with a larger maintenance port, wear parts are much more easily accessible – even the eccentric adjuster can be clamped without any maintenance at all. So, it’s easy to clean, which means that it can be quickly ready for the next use.

Michael Wall, a dairy and beef farmer in Co. Cork, uses the Vogelsang ExaCut ECQ distributor on his Abbey system.

“We deal with large quantities of slurry, so we use an umbilical system to do the majority of the spreading," he explained.

Despite the economic impact of farming, farmers are actively exploring alternative methods to manage slurry. Many farmers are finding that the benefits of trailing shoe technology and slurry management are well worth the effort.

By implementing progressive slurry management methods and technology like Vogelsang’s ECQ distributor, farmers are able to spread slurry more accurately, reduce fertiliser waste, improve soil health, and increase efficiency.

As the cost of inputs continues to rise and concerns about sustainability grow, it seems likely that we will see even more farmers adopting these innovative approaches in the years to come.

To learn more about Vogelsang and the ExaCut distributors, click here.