Portable Manure Storage Tank Keeps Spreaders In The Field

Portable Manure Storage Tank Keeps Spreaders In The Field MANURE HANDLING Miscellaneous 29-5-33 "It allows the manure applicator to stay in the field instead of running back and forth between the field and farmstead all the time. That saves time and also leads to a better public perception about manure transport," says Mark Van Hyfte, Balzer Inc., about the company's new portable field storage tank. It was on display at the recent Farm Fest show near Redwood Falls, Minn. The 17,500-gal. tank is designed to be parked in the field where semi trucks can load it with manure. The unit rides on two rear wheels and has loading ports on top. A pto-driven pump on front unloads manure from semis and is also used to load spreader tanks. Hydraulic jacks on front and back of the tank, which plug into a tractor's remote outlets, are used to raise the tank onto its wheels for transport. In the field, the tank rests flat on the ground with the wheels up in the air. "We built our first unit a year ago and displayed it for the first time at the recent World Pork Show. It has really generated a lot of interest," says Van Hyfte. "One reason for the interest is that hog and dairy farmers often have to haul manure two or three miles away. Instead of running two or three spreaders back and forth on the road all the time, you can get by using only one spreader and two or three semi trucks to fill the storage tank. The spreader can keep going in the field, which makes it much more efficient. "Commercial fertilizer prices keep going up, which makes manure more valuable all the time. But as animals become more concentrated in small spaces, farmers have to haul manure farther away to fertilize their crop ground." Another advantage is public perception, says Van Hyfte. "People aren't as likely to complain when they see semi trucks on the road instead of manure spreaders." The tank can be fitted with various pumps, discharge booms, ports, and agitation. "If you want, you can bypass the portable field storage tank and use a portable load stand that makes use of the same pump," says Van Hyfte. "The load stand is 15 ft. off the ground and is equipped with a 20-ft. long hose. The tractor and spreader pull under the load stand for filling. Some of our vacuum manure spreaders are equipped with a pump and a hydraulic arm with a hose on it. The arm is operated from the tractor and is used to reach into the top of the storage tank for loading." The portable field storage tank sells for right at $24,000, depending on options. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Balzer Inc., No. 20 Pleasant View Drive, Annawan, Ill. 61234 (ph 612 839-9965; slurry tank@aol.com; www.balzerinc.com).

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