Silage Clamp Optimisation and Compliance
At Silostop, we are passionate about great silage making, and our products are designed to optimise performance. While clamp compliance is essential, we’re interested in prioritising improving your farm and making your silage production as cost effective as possible. That said, it is essential farmers understand both why clamps must be compliant, but also how upgrading an older clamp can improve your businesses’ bottom line as a valuable, generational investment decision.
As the Slurry Infrastructure Grant Round 1 closes to applicants, the focus of the Environment Agency (EA) swings round to clamps, with a notable increase in improvement notices being served on silage clamps across the UK considered non-compliant.
Why is it essential that clamps are compliant?
Silage effluent has a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of up to 200 times that of raw sewage. If silage effluent is allowed to enter a watercourse it rapidly strips oxygen from the water, killing fish, plants and other aquatic life. The EA’s increased attention on watercourses, as well as public outcry and increased media coverage has increased scrutiny on the agricultural industry over silage management. While most farmers comply with regulations, taking some time to optimise a silage clamp setup is a good use of management time. Additionally, farm businesses measuring their LCA in a bid to reduce emissions would do well to consider a clamp upgrade, following the strategy of marginal gains.
Additionally, silage clamp leachate, when not properly managed, poses a significant environmental threat. This leachate is extremely harmful to watercourses and has an aggressive acidity that, over time, can erode any surface it comes into contact with. In its neat form, silage clamp leachate is one of the most environmentally damaging liquids on a farm, underscoring the urgency for compliance and effective management.
Traditional silage clamps are coming under increasing scrutiny, particularly earth-walled clamps. Many are receiving improvement notices due to non-compliance with SSAFO (Silage, Slurry, and Agricultural Fuel Oil) regulations.
Upgrading your clamp could improve your bottom line
It’s our baseline that ARK clamps offer SSAFO-compliant solutions, approved by the EA. Instead, our focus is on providing an effective and efficient way to not only maximise your silage storage, while meeting regulatory demands.
ARK clamps offer a comprehensive solution, combining innovative design features with tailored consultation and proven reliability. Whether you’re a dairy farmer or an AD plant operator, ARK clamps provide the tools you need to ensure the long-term success of your silage management system, improve operational efficiency, and meet regulatory requirements.
If you’re dairying, a modern clamp can really make sense when it comes to quality and capacity of silage storage. ARK clamps are robust, high-capacity designs featuring 3m high sidewalls and a patented sloping wall that reduces oxidation losses and improves silage preservation. The open-ended design and rear access facilitate better compaction and efficient removal of older cuts, optimizing feed quality meaning more and better milk.
For those running AD plants, investing in a high-capacity clamp to handle large volumes of feedstock is importnt. ARK clamps can be customized to meet specific capacity needs, including the integration of additional tanks if required. ARK clamps ensure that AD plants meet SSAFO regulations, including the necessary leachate management systems.
By choosing ARK clamps, you can confidently navigate the regulatory landscape and focus on what you do best: running your farm or AD plant efficiently and sustainably.
ARK: Leaders in Silage Storage
- 3m High Sidewalls: Provide substantial storage capacity and robust structural integrity, ensuring durability and long-term reliability
- Open-Ended Clamps: Allow for better compaction, which is essential for maintaining the quality of silage and minimizing spoilage
- Multiple Clamps: The flexibility to use more than one clamp enables efficient blending of first and second crops, optimizing operational flexibility and silage management.
- Rear Access: Manage first and second cut silage better, clearing out the old cut before clamping the new
- Patented Sloping Wall Design: This innovative feature helps mitigate oxidation losses from the front face of the clamp, preserving the nutritional value of the silage and reduces waste
- Integrated Leachate Drainage: ARK clamps come with built-in perimeter drains and effective leachate management systems, crucial for preventing environmental contamination and ensuring compliance with SSAFO regulations
- Versatile Installation Options: ARK clamps can be installed without replacing the existing base, depending on its condition. Temporary walls like concrete Lego blocks or A walls can also be used as short-term solutions to meet regulatory requirements
Understanding SSAFO Regulations
SSAFO regulations are designed to prevent pollution and ensure that silage clamps meet stringent environmental standards. These regulations apply to any new or significantly altered clamps built since March 1991 and cover:
- Minimum Environmental Standards: Requirements for the design, siting, and construction of silage clamps to prevent pollution
- Leachate Handling and Drainage: Systems required to manage and mitigate the effects of silage clamp leachate, which can be highly damaging to watercourses
- Notification Requirements: The process for informing the EA or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before constructing or altering a clamp
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant financial penalties, legal action, and operational disruptions – and there have been many examples of this in the farming press of late.
Earth-walled silage clamps are increasingly coming under scrutiny due to their non-compliance with SSAFO regulations. Common issues include:
- Lack of Interception Drains: Earth banks often lack proper drainage systems, leading to contamination of groundwater
- Soil Contamination: Soil from earth banks can mix with silage, compromising quality and safety
- Environmental Risks: Uncontrolled leachate from earth-walled clamps can cause significant environmental damage, including pollution of watercourses
ARK: Experts in Your Field
ARK clamps are tailored to the specific needs of each farm set up. This customization begins with an expert consultation to assess the farm’s parameters, crop types, and business plans. Based on this assessment, our team can provide clamp capacity recommendations, optimal surcharge heights, and detailed costings.
ARK also works closely with farmers or their chosen groundworks companies to build out the clamps, ensuring that every aspect of the installation meets exacting standards for performance and compliance. ARK’s team is also available to liaise directly with local EA offices to facilitate the compliance process.
If you receive an enforcement notice from the Environment Agency regarding your silage clamps, or if you need to prepare for upcoming regulations, contact ARK Agri as soon as possible. Our team will help you find a solution to make your clamps compliant and satisfy the EA. For any questions regarding SSAFO regulations, please call us at 01206 585090 or use the contact form.
