Challenges between terrain, time pressure and legal requirements
Spreading manure in alpine locations is a logistical and technical challenge. The growing season in mountainous areas starts late and is short. This requires precise timing on the part of farmers. Steep slopes and rough terrain make it difficult to use machinery, and many meadows are sensitive to soil compaction. Accessing the plots via narrow paths is also a challenge, and distributing the manure evenly over uneven surfaces is technically demanding.
Curdin Graf from Brail in the Engadin, a high valley in the southern Swiss Alps, is very familiar with this situation. Like many mountain farmers, he too has to organise manure spreading on his meadows each season in such a way that it is efficient, protects the soil and complies with legal requirements. Since 2024, Swiss legislation has required the use of emission-reducing methods such as drag hose systems for many areas, including mountain regions – with a few exceptions.
Two machines, one solution: precise and gentle on the soil on slopes
For the rough terrain around Brail, Curdin Graf relies on a combination of the Aebi TP 470 Vario and an Agrar DF 3600 pressure tank with drag hose distributor. The continuously variable transporter offers optimum traction, high manoeuvrability and a large payload. The automatic roll stabilisation and lateral stabilisation ensure optimum safety in every situation. The compact pressure tank from Agrar impresses with its simple and robust design. It forms a unit with the Aebi transporter and, in combination with the vehicle, adapts to even the most demanding terrain. The drag hose system is designed to achieve precise, even and close-to-the-ground application.
Aebi and Agrar – a strong partnership for mountain farming
For Curdin Graf, it is important that technical support is available quickly when needed – expert and nearby. That is why a reliable, local contact person is particularly important to him. He found this in Konrad Joos & Mirco Rada from Kohler Landmaschinen in Zernez. Joos advised him on the right combination of transporter and pressure tank. For him, the coordination of vehicle and superstructure is the key to success: "The machine must not only be powerful, but also precisely suited to the topography, size of the farm and the work at hand. Aebi offers the right transporters for this – Agrar supplies the precisely matched slurry tanks and loaders. The result is a complete system that works safely in the field, operates efficiently and brings real long-term benefits to the farmer and his business."
Curdin Graf is relying on a well-thought-out solution for the Engadin: Aebi transporters with matching pressure tanks from Agrar.