A productive brainstorming session at Pottinger has resulted in the neat idea of a silage additive tank for use with balers and forage wagons that can fulfil at least two other roles.

The Liquido F comprises a moulded plastic tank mounted on a heavy-duty frame with front linkage couplings.

Adjustable wings carrying hazard marker rods enable its overall width to be fixed at between 2.55m and 2.85m, while a set of LED driving and work lights complete the frame’s likeness to a “tractor bumper”.

And by filling the tank with water, the unit provides easily variable front ballast to counter the weight of heavy, rear-mounted implements and ensure maximum traction.

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For its principle role transporting and applying liquid silage additive, the tank has three compartments – one of 200- or 400-litre capacity, plus smaller water compartments for flushing the tank, pipes and nozzles, and for hand washing.

The standard setup comprises a nozzle header positioned between the baler or forage wagon’s pick-up reel and intake rotor, with on/off control either manual or triggered by the position of the baler or wagon’s pick-up.

A digital flowmeter displays the flow rate in litres per hour, adjustable in 10% steps from the tractor cab.

While the F 2000 can deliver rates between 40 and 245 litres/hour, the F 3000 can achieve up to 470 litres/hour by adding another two nozzles – and once set, the more sophisticated version has the option to regulate flow automatically in proportion to forward speed.