Manure Spreader Ideal For Low Rate Application

Manure Spreader Ideal For Low Rate Application MANURE HANDLING Equipment Steve Lalonde could have spent $25 000 to $50 000 on a new manure spreader for his Quebec poultry operation But instead he built his own to meet his specific needs for less than $15 000 The new spreader was designed to meet three main criteria: First it spreads as low as 1 ton/acre of manure to meet Quebec’s stringent manure regulations Second it’s not as tall as new models which allows Lalonde to drive through his 3-story poultry barn to load manure And third the homebuilt spreader doesn’t require a large horsepower tractor Lalonde used some parts from an old Massey Ferguson 205 spreader: the beater gearbox power shaft and frame which has tandem wheels Lalonde and an employee spent many hours making the box out of 3/16-in steel “We butt-jointed and welded on both sides and ground them off to be smooth ” Lalonde says “On the old spreader the steel overlapped and dirt got in it and corroded We wanted it to be easy to clean ” A hydraulic motor drives the gearbox and turns the shaft that drives the unloading chain The variable hydraulic flow valve is key because it allows Lalonde to reduce and change speeds from 0 to 300 rpm’s for low application rates Two crossbars in the box also help maintain a steady height to restrict the volume of manure that goes to the back at one time “I tried to build it so it would be strong and last and be simple and easy to fix ” Lalonde says “It also gave me an excuse to buy a MIG welder and a plasma cutter ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Stephen Lalonde 2890 Tullogorum Rd Ormstown Quebec Canada J0S 1K0 ph 450 829-3933; lamblalonde@gmail com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.