Focus and semi-liquid manure – A specialist from the North
Due to specific demands of their customers Stroco Agro from Denmark has been building a special version of the Focus since 2009
Some customers wanted to combine spreading semi-liquid manure and sowing rapeseed. To be able to do this Stroco Agro modified the HORSCH machine with semi-liquid manure pipes, wider tines and corresponding wings. Due to the diameter of the manure pipes the tine width had to be increased from 3 to 5 cm. The machine is designed for a spreading output of between 50,000 to 180,000 m³ of semi-liquid manure. Therefore, it is particularly interesting for large agricultural farms and contractors. By now, Stroco Agro has sold more than 25 machines. The Focus for semi-liquid manure is very popular among contractors due to its durability and the long service life. Thus, the additional costs of more than 10,000,- € pay off for them in a relatively short time.
The Focus is mainly used for sowing rapeseed in combination with spreading semi-liquid manure and/or solid fertiliser, but also without sowing bar for cultivation with semi-liquid manure and/or solid fertiliser after the harvest. It has also proven its worth in cultivation before sowing maize combined with spreading manure at a row spacing of 75 cm according to the StripTill principle on light soils for 8-row systems like the Maestro / Maistro 8 CC. The Focus for semi-liquid manure is also used as a simple injector before barley, rapeseed, etc.
The farmers that so far have used the Focus for semi-liquid manure were completely enthousiastic as the yields are noticeably higher. Thus, in 2012 the harvest output for rapeseed that had been sown with the Focus for semi-liquid manure was 4.5 – 5.6 to per hectare. This year’s average in Denmark was between 3.5 to 5 to. The contractors are particularly convinced by the durability of the machine.
Further improvements are planned for the future. For example Stroco Agro wants to test the DiscSystem instead of a RollFlex packer as they expect even better results. Anyway, the traditional MulchMix coulters are equipped with carbide points to increase the service life considerably.
The Focus for semi-liquid manure is exclusively modified and sold by Stroco Agro in Denmark who only recently „exported” the first Focus for semi-liquid manure to Germany.