Higher milk prices give reason for more optimism at Thornton Grange ...

Tag : Polyester Cow

"The June increase was welcome, but milk prices should be achievinga consistent rolling average of 30p/litre. This is the sort offigure we need to help us pay off previous investments, and ensurethat we are in a position to fund future development."
The planned move from 140 cows to 180 by the end of this year hasaffected all aspects of the business, he continues. The £20,000dry cow housing and "hospital" quarters is complete, and Mr Chapmanis now under pressure to review slurry storage capacity to copewith the expanding herd.
NVZs
Apart from a small area of about 8ha (20 acres), the entire farmfalls within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone . So far, it has been a relatively simple to comply with NVZregulations, but proposals for a three-month winter "no spreading"period, and 22-week storage capacity will complicate matters, hesays.
The present slurry storage facility, an above-ground metal tankpurchased in 1976, can only hold three weeks' worth of slurry, andis coming to the end of its useful life. By next summer, Mr Chapmanhopes to have installed a clay-lined lagoon, which he estimateswill cost about £75,000. Designed to hold 3000cu m of slurry, itwill cover approximately 35sq m and be 3m deep.
He considered copying the Dutch idea of using an Alligator Winbag - a coated polyester fabric bag with entry and exit points forliquid storage - but was put off by the price, which is about fourtimes more than a traditional lagoon.
Slurry storage
"Apparently, the new slurry storage requirement was supposed tocome into force in 2007, but I have been told not to expect anannouncement until the end of the year. We are trying to setlong-term goals for our business, and we really need plenty ofwarning about how and when this ruling will apply. This kind ofuncertainty makes it very difficult to make financial plans for thefuture.