One Size Does Not Fit All: Toolbar Talk
By: John Yoder, Vice President of Waste Handling
Regardless if you are a custom applicator or a producer applying your own manure, the goal is the same; get the manure out, get it applied, and maximize its nutrient value. The factor that greatly differs is how you get it moved and applied. Just because your neighbor may have a 10,500 gallon tank with a 10 row bar, does not mean that’s the best solution for your own operation.
Before diving into the nuts-and-bolts of equipment specifics, you need to first evaluate tanks versus drag hose systems.
The manure tank route is great if your fields are spread out and your labor is limited. Plus, the initial investment cost of running a tank is cheaper than a drag hose system. On the other hand, drag hose systems are great when you are working within 1.5 miles of your pit/lagoon. One of the major advantages, is efficiency; you can cut application time in half! However, you will need at least 3 people to operate: one at the building monitoring ventilation, agitation, and pumping equipment, one checking and moving hoses, and one running the toolbar.
Once the decision is made on a tank or a drag hose system, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions to customize your equipment to your specific needs.
- What does the lay of the land look like? Are you applying on flat ground or do you have to tackle hills? Are your soil types sandy or clay? Contours or rocks?
- What are your tillage practices?
- Are you applying mostly on bean stubble and corn ground or pastures?
- How much horsepower does your tractor(s) have?
- What hose size best supports the scenario?
With those answers in mind, start looking at toolbar/tankbar options. Among our most popular offerings are the Bazooka Farmstar Phantom Unit and the DSI Dietrich Sweep & Shank.
Bazooka Farmstar Phantom Unit
Coulter style applicators have become the norm in many areas due to their ability to work in tougher residue with less horsepower and more efficient speeds.
- Works well applying into a cover crop stand.
- The ground tracker swivel option makes the phantom great for contoured ground.
- Classifies as no-till.
- Requires less horsepower to pull (About 8 hp per row to be exact).
- Fewer plugging issues because of clearance and style as a rolling coulter versus shank.
DSI Dietrich Sweep & Shank
- Can be either 8” or 12” sweep.
- Can apply at a higher gallon per acre rate.
- Also works well applying into cover crops.
- There is a Phantom option, which is necessary if you are doing no-till applications.
Moral of the story is I have seen many situations where there is a more efficient and effective equipment solution. One size does NOT fit all when talking manure equipment. Evaluating your specific needs and creating an individualized plan will help reach your operation’s goals.