Slurry spout swivels up the sales

Dermot Tobin’s German designed Moscha swivel spreader is ratcheting up the sales, as the slurry tanker attachment claims sales of more than 70 units.

Michael Moroney

28 January 2015

The Moscha swivel slurry spreader attachment is bolted on the rear of a slurry tanker with a special clamp system and claims to have a 12 metre bout spreading width of slurry droplets that are larger and create less smell than those from a conventional splash plate system.

This photograph shows a close-up of the Moscha spreader unit, which is made from stainless steel and supported on a galvanised structure that fits to all makes of slurry tanker.

Finol and the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) are continuing their partnership for the FTMTA events for the upcoming FTMTA Farm Machinery Show in Punchestown. Finol are again sponsoring the litter bins for the event. Pictured left to right; Sean Holland, managing director, Finol Oils and Gary Ryan, chief executive, Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association.

Jim Irwin, left, welcomes Dean Cashel from Ballinamallard to the team at Lely Center Eglish.

Dermot Tobin’s German- designed Moscha swivel spreader is ratcheting up the sales, as the slurry tanker attachment claims lower levels of nitrogen loss and more even spreading compared with the conventional splash plate system. Since introducing the attachment in May 2014, he has sold over 70 units across the country.Dermot, who is a beef, sheep and tillage farmer from Whitechurch, Carrick-On-Suir, Co Kilkenny, is the Irish and British agent for the device. He will be showing it at the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show next week. He claims the attachment has proved especially popular with contractors.

Dermot, who is a beef, sheep and tillage farmer from Whitechurch, Carrick-On-Suir, Co Kilkenny, is the Irish and British agent for the device. He will be showing it at the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show next week. He claims the attachment has proved especially popular with contractors.

The Moscha swivel spreader decreases the speed at which the slurry leaves the tanker. This is coupled with a unique nozzle design, which claims to create larger slurry droplets. Dermot says these droplets retain the gases within them to a greater extent than when slurry is spread with a conventional splash plate system. This is the reason for his claim of reduced evaporation of slurry gases, in particular nitrogen gases, immediately following spreading.

The slurry is claimed to leave the tanker at a speed of 29km/h compared with 42km/h exit speed from a conventional splash plate spreading device. The recommended forward speed is not more than 7km/h to give an even, non-streaky spread pattern.

The Moscha swivel spreader oscillates as it spreads, covering a spreading bout width of between 12m and almost 18m. Wider working widths can be achieved where two of the Moscha spreaders are mounted on a type of T-bar to the rear of the slurry tanker. The attachment can also be fitted as the spreader unit for an umbilical spreader, with equally good effect.

The appeal of the unit is enhanced by the fact that it does not require any additional power from the tractor. You simply replace a female/male coupling splash plate with the Moscha unit by clamping it on to the 6in (120mm) diameter outlet pipe on the tanker, with the existing coupling system. There is no additional hydraulic or electric power needed for the unit as its oscillating action is powered by the slurry as it leaves the tanker under normal pressure.

The design of the Moscha swivel spreader is such that its internal diameter is smaller than that of the tanker outlet. This is claimed to slow down the speed of the slurry, which is pushed upwards through 90° and hits a swivelling toggle within the shroud of the spreader.

Dermot believes the system leaves the grass surface cleaner than with a splash plate spreader. He also believes that because of this, the system has special appeal for tillage farmers who want to spread slurry on cereal crops.

Dermot (087-2540357) is selling the Moscha slurry spreading attachment on a 14-day cashback basis, similar to what is being offered in Germany. The price of the unit is €970 plus VAT, excluding courier delivery charges. The unit can be easily assembled on-farm with the minimum of tools. It has only three grease points for regular servicing. There are bushings and springs that are easily replaced and cost no more than €30 for a replacement set.

Partnership between FTMTA and Finol

Finol and the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) are continuing their partnership for the upcoming FTMTA Farm Machinery Show in Punchestown. Finol are again sponsoring the litter bins for the event. Pictured left to right – Sean Holland, managing director of Finol Oils, and Gary Ryan, chief executive of the FTMTA.

Dean appointed to Lely sales role

Lely Center Eglish has appointed Dean Cashel from Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh, as a sales representative with responsibility for Co Londonderry and Donegal. Dean is a former Greenmount College national diploma student and has a degree in Food Supply Management from Loughry College.

He is a familiar face on Northern Ireland farms, and has 10 years of agri-sales experience.