The future is a shared challenge. Therefore, there is always close contact, exchange of ideas, honest and open cooperation between Hyldahls Maskinstation in Højslev and SAMSON AGROLIZE.

Frank Hyldahl, owner of Hyldahls Maskinstation in Højslev between Viborg and Skive, operates in a livestock-proof area. With three SAMSON slurry trailers, two SAMSON PG II 28 HWD and one SAMSON SG gooseneck trailer, the contracting company delivers large amounts of slurry every year.

- Yes, and we also move a lot of slurry with trucks. Not least because I own and operate the biogas plant Vinkel Bioenergi next door together with four others. In this context, I have many transportation tasks with slurry and deep bedding.

Ahead of the 2021 season, Frank Hyldahl has, as usual, made some adjustments to his slurry equipment. Always keeping in mind that equipment and methods are constantly evolving - either because of slurry handling regulations or because the technical possibilities now offer a new advantage for customers.

Treading carefully

- From this year, all wheels on Hyldahls Maskinstation's slurry equipment run on VF tires. Although the outer dimensions of the tire are the same 800 millimeters, which doesn't make the vehicle wider when driving on the road, it still increases the tread area by 10 centimeters in both width and length when we can drive with a tire pressure of around 1.0 bar. This means quite a lot for the ground and the accessibility of the vehicle. Not least when we spread slurry right after mowing," explains Frank Hyldahl.

The two three-axle SAMSON PG II HWD are wheel drive, which further increases efficiency in hilly terrain and is a great advantage when driving with a down fence.

- My large Claas Xerion tractor and the SG trailer also have an external axle, and when I dogwalk with the tractor, the tread expands dramatically in width. This is a particularly big advantage when we apply slurry after cutting grass in the pastures.

In Frank Hyldahl's experience, the number of crossings on the same track has a significant impact on field damage.

Checked and trimmed

Here at the start of the slurry season, Frank Hyldahl's three SAMSON slurry trailers are long since trimmed and ready for a long, intense season.

- Before Christmas, Samson Agrolize was out here to get everything ready for the season. The winter inspections take place here in the heated workshop at the machine station and the people from Samson Agrolize do all the work on it. They know the equipment better than anyone and are specialists in getting all the important things checked," says Frank Hyldahl.

- For example, in the old days, a pump house was not a typical wear part, but it has become so because of the sand slurry. The thickness is checked so we don't have to wait during the busy season.

Frank Hyldahl refers to the special requirements for slurry equipment that sand slurry requires.

- There is a difference in the types of sand used in the cubicles. Some of it we simply can't stir up, but have to grab it with a grab at the bottom of the tank and lift it directly into a muck spreader. In total, I would say that the cost of sand slurry is three to four kroner more in wear parts per cubic meter of slurry when it has to be handled," is the honest assessment.

Believe in degassed slurry

Working with Samson Agrolize on the slurry bedding, both the current and future rules for slurry handling and the utilization of the nutrients in slurry come into play. We try to adapt the slurry and biogas plant to the farmers with so-called designer slurry. For example, we can take the fiber fraction with high phosphorus content out of the slurry. The fiber fraction can then be transported further away, while we can offer the biogas slurry with high nitrogen and low phosphorus content to local farmers.

- Of course, I am one of those who expect and hope that degassed slurry will eventually replace acidification. Whether it's one or the other, it's of course always a challenge for farmers, who are unlikely to get more for their milk no matter what happens. After all, they get the same price for their milk as they did 20 years ago.

However, Frank Hyldahl sees an opening in what is happening in Germany, where dragline booms are recognized as a slurry deposit.

- Acidification of degassed slurry is quite costly.

- I hope that Danish legislation will soon recognize degassed slurry on an equal footing with acidified slurry. I hope this will also happen in Denmark, and I look forward to Danish manufacturers of slurry equipment producing a Danish version of a drag shear boom. This technique brings the slurry down between the plants and we avoid both contaminating the feed and a disc cutter trap cutting the plant roots into pieces," says Frank Hyldahl's honest and sincere collaboration with Samson Agrolize.

Years of experience

- We inspire each other, and when Samson Agrolize District Manager Bjarne Greve has been out here, I learn something new. It's also my impression that he often brings home questions that he needs to investigate.

Frank Hyldahl is greatly inspired by being in such close contact with Samson Agrolize, the exclusive Danish distributor and supplier of SAMSON slurry equipment.

- I first drove a SAMSON vacuum cleaner in 1988. A single-axle 12,000-liter truck with a six-meter rotor trap. A lot has happened since then, and we've all had to learn a few lessons. But I like to be at the forefront and catch some of the first balls when things develop," says the dedicated contractor.

800 millimeter wheels

The contracting company also experiences customers who ask for slurry to be delivered with the truck that has an external axle.

It's when a field has unfortunately gotten a little too high on the tracks. In some situations, we can press the edges down again in the same workflow so they don't bother you later in the season," he explains.

Henrik Nielsen has gained a lot of experience with slurry spreading. Including self-driving systems with dogwalk that can distribute ground pressure in wider lanes.

But we need to look at the cost of slurry delivery, which is why today I only use tractor-drawn solutions. Already in 2005 I had a trolley with an external axle. But back then, the wheels could only be pushed out half as far. Today, we use 800-millimeter tires and the axle is extended by 800 millimeters," he says.

24 meter system

Today, Henrik Nielsen has 7 slurry trailers, 4 25-ton and 3 28-ton slurry trailers and a single truck for moving slurry.

85 percent of the slurry is picked up directly from the tank with the trucks and only about 15 percent of the slurry is transported to the field with the truck. On the other hand, the truck moves a lot of slurry during the year. In general, we use a 24 meter system and almost all customers have fixed lanes in the hayfields.

As mentioned, we have 2 trolleys with wheel drive and it makes sense around here, where there are a lot of hills. The fact that the price is only a third of the additional cost of a wheel drive trolley is also a factor in our decision to buy a trolley with an external axle. And I hope customers will appreciate the situations where the quality of slurry delivery improves when it's done with a truck with an external axle," he says.