Farmers to see pioneering slurry dewatering system in action

Initial data from an on-farm system that has the potential to reduce slurry volume by up to 80% will be shared with visitors at a joint Prosiectslyri Project and Farming Connect open day at Gelli Aur College farm in Carmarthenshire this August.

The farm, a Farming Innovation Connect Site, is trialling technology that removes the water from slurry and treats the water with an aim to be acceptable for reuse or safe discharge.

That technology will be up and running this month and farmers will get an opportunity to see it in action at the open day on August 31^st.

The technique developed by Swansea-based Power & Water not only aims to reduce the risk of farms polluting watercourses but to make slurry easier to store and spread.

With the slurry produced by the herd at Gelli Aur stored in three tanks with a capacity of approximately 1 million gallons, farm manager John Owen says the potential is enormous.

“Because it separates the water from the slurry only the important nutrients and solids will be stored for use on farm. With the system in place, we aim to enable safe discharge into watercourses and/or the ability to be reused on the farm,’’ he says.

“It will go a long way towards alleviating contamination of watercourses and other issues around pollution.’’

Slurry storage is an issue on dairy farms, whatever the system, he says. “We run an extensive grass-based system but have a considerable amount of slurry to control during certain months.’’

Last year the Welsh government said it would strike a balance between “regulatory measures, voluntary initiatives and investment” in its approach to slurry and fertiliser application.

Mr Owen says slurry dewatering could provide one solution.

“The industry is trying to come up with solutions for the issue and if we can prove this equipment is effective we hope that the government will support the farming industry to invest in this equipment,’’ he says.

“It won’t be for everyone but we hope that the concept can be modified to suit all systems and herd sizes.’’

Gareth Morgan of Power & Water says the ultimate outcome of this project is the ability to tackle agricultural pollution with a ‘head-on’ approach.

“The aim of the project for us is to make better solutions available to farmers, to manage their farm slurry using best practice in storage, water purification, nutrient and resource recovery,’’ he says.

“The strength of such collaborations is so important, to provide solutions to Wales’ water quality issues, and the means for Wales to obtain ‘Good’ Water Quality Status under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) on every occasion.’’

Funding for the project has been provided by the Welsh Government’s Rural Communities Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

During the open day, there will be four work stations to highlight environmental nutrient management and good practice and the legislation regarding slurry storage and capacity.

For more information and to book your place at the event contact Farming Connect on 08456 000 813 or visit our website – https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/prosiect-slyri-gelli-aur-310818-gelli-aur-slurry-project.

Ffermwyr i weld system flaengar i waredu dŵr o slyriar waith

Bydd data cychwynnol o system ar fferm sydd â photensial i arwain at leihad o 80% mewn cyfaint slyri yn cael ei rannu gydag ymwelwyr yn ystod diwrnod agored ar y cyd rhwng y Projectslyri a Cyswllt Ffermio ar fferm Coleg Gelli Aur yn Sir Gâr ym mis Awst.

Mae’r fferm, sy’n un o Safleoedd Arloesedd Cyswllt Ffermio, yn treialu technoleg sy’n tynnu dŵr o slyri ac yn trin y dŵr gyda’r nod i’r dŵr fod yn dderbyniol i’w ail ddefnyddio neu’n ddiogel i’w ryddhau.

Bydd y dechnoleg yn weithredol y mis hwn a bydd ffermwyr yn cael cyfle i weld y dechnoleg ar waith yn ystod y diwrnod agored ar 31 Awst.

Mae’r dechnoleg, a ddatblygwyd gan gwmni Power & Water o Abertawe, yn anelu at leihau’r perygl o ffermydd yn llygru dyfrgyrsiau, ond hefyd at wneud slyri’n haws i’w storio a’i wasgaru.

Mae’r slyri a gynhyrchir gan y fuches ar fferm Gelli Aur yn cael ei storio mewn tri thanc gyda chapasiti o oddeutu miliwn galwyn, a dywed rheolwr y fferm, John Owen, fod y potensial yn aruthrol.

“Gan ei fod yn gwahanu’r dŵr o’r slyri, dim ond y maetholion a’r solidau pwysig fydd yn cael eu storio i’w defnyddio ar y fferm. Gyda’r system yn ei le, rydym yn anelu i allu ryddhau’r dŵr i mewn i dyfrgyrsiau yn ddiogel neu/ag i allu ei ail ddefnyddio ar y fferm,” meddai.

“Bydd yn cymryd camau mawr tuag at leihau halogiad dyfrgyrsiau a materion eraill yn ymwneud â llygredd.”

Mae storio slyri’n broblem ar ffermydd llaeth, beth bynnag fo’u system, meddai. “Rydym ni’n defnyddio system eang yn seiliedig ar borfa, ond mae gennym ni lawer iawn o slyri i’w reoli yn ystod misoedd penodol.”

Dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru y llynedd y byddai’n ceisio sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng “mesurau rheoliadol, mentrau gwirfoddol a buddsoddiad” yn ei agwedd tuag at wasgaru slyri a gwrtaith.

Dywed Mr Owen y byddai gwaredu dŵr o slyri’n gallu cynnig un ateb.

“Mae’r diwydiant yn ceisio darganfod atebion i’r broblem ac os allwn ni brofi bod yr offer yma’n effeithiol, gobeithiwn y bydd y llywodraeth yn cefnogi’r diwydiant ffermio i fuddsoddi yn yr offer,” meddai.

“Ni fydd yn addas i bawb, ond gobeithio y bydd modd addasu’r cysyniad i weddu i bob system a buchesi o bob maint.”

Dywed Gareth Morgan o gwmni Power & Water mai canlyniad y prosiect yn y pen draw fydd y gallu i fynd i’r afael yn uniongyrchol â llygredd amaethyddol.

“Nod y prosiect i ni yw sicrhau bod gwell atebion ar gael i ffermwyr, er mwyn gallu rheoli eu slyri ar y fferm gan ddefnyddio’r arfer orau o ran storio, puro dŵr, maetholion ac adfer adnoddau,” meddai.

“Mae cryfder cydweithio o’r fath mor bwysig, er mwyn darparu atebion i broblemau ansawdd dŵr Cymru, a’r gallu i Gymru sicrhau Statws Ansawdd Dŵr “Da” dan y Gyfarwyddeb Fframwaith Dŵr (WFD) ar bob achlysur.”

Mae’r prosiect wedi’i ariannu gan Gymunedau Gwledig Llywodraeth Cymru – Rhaglen Datblygu Gwledig 2014-2020.

Yn ystod y diwrnod agored, bydd pedwar ardal benodol yn amlygu rheolaeth maetholion amgylcheddol ac arfer dda a’r ddeddfwriaeth sy’n ymwneud â stori slyri a chapasiti.

Am ragor o wybodaeth neu I archebu lle yn y digwyddiad, cysylltwch a Cyswllt Ffermio ar 08456 000 813 neu ewch i’n gwefan – https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/cy/prosiect-slyri-gelli-aur-310818-gelli-aur-slurry-project.