Northland Farmer Revolutionizes Effluent Management with Slurry Tanker

Logan Hewlett, a dairy farmer in Mata, Northland, has made a transformative change to his farm's effluent management system. Previously reliant on a travelling irrigator for over 20 years, Hewlett switched to a slurry tanker, dramatically enhancing his farm's efficiency and productivity.

Hewlett's farm, which spans 405 hectares and supports a herd of 500 cows, faced daily challenges with the inefficiency of the travelling irrigator. The system's limitations allowed him to spread only about 60,000 litres of effluent daily over 35 hectares, requiring constant maintenance and time-consuming manual interventions due to blocked nozzles.

Upon borrowing a slurry tanker from his neighbor, Hewlett quickly realized its benefits. In just the first week, he managed to spread over a million litres of effluent, prompting him to purchase a Nevada 12,800L tandem slurry tanker for himself. This change enabled him to cover 75% of his farm, compared to the previous 25% coverage, and increased his daily spreading capacity to 250,000 litres.

The new tanker, equipped with a tandem axle and steering, allows for easy maneuvering across the farm, and its Auto-Fill arm facilitates quick tank refills. Hewlett's upgraded system also includes a Nevada Electric Stirrer, which keeps effluent solids in suspension, ensuring higher nutrient value during spreading.

With this new system, Hewlett has observed significant improvements in soil health and pasture performance, reducing his reliance on additional fertilizers. The main pond on his farm can store eleven million litres of effluent for winter use, while a 100,000L sump manages daily needs.

Hewlett attributes the success of his effluent management overhaul to the efficiency of the slurry tanker and the support from his neighbors. His investment in advanced equipment has not only improved soil and crop yields but also led to considerable savings on fertilization costs.