Teagasc Warning on Silage Effluent
Issued 20th May, 2002
With the silage making season getting underway, Teagasc has appealed to farmers to take special care in managing and storing silage effluent.
Sean Regan, Chief Environment Adviser with Teagasc, said up to 20 million tonnes of silage will be made on farms over the coming months. Each 100 tonnes of silage produces up to 3,000 litres of effluent, giving a total of up to 600 million litres nationally.
"Silage effluent is a vicious pollutant. The effluent from just 100 tonnes has the same polluting potential as the daily sewage output from a town of 25,000 people. This highlights the need for careful management," he said.
He said major strides had been made in recent years in reducing fish kills. Last year, a total of 26 fish kills were recorded, the lowest figure for two decades. Eleven of these incidences were agriculture-related.
"Fish kills are essentially a summer phenomenon and silage effluent is a major factor. Water levels in rivers and streams are generally low and the warm summer temperature reduces the oxygen concentration.
"When silage effluent enters a river or stream, it leads to a rapid increase in bacteria and other micro-organisms who use up the available oxygen. As fish breathe in more water in an attempt to survive they also take in more of the poison," he said.
Sean Regan urged farmers to make sure that all effluent collection facilities are working effectively. Also run-off from the silage pit cover should be diverted away from the effluent storage tank. Otherwise, a sudden downpour may overflow the tank. He also advised farmers to regularly inspect drains and watercourses downstream of the farmyard once silage making begins.
