7 Questions to Ask Before You Order Agricultural Concrete

Ordering agricultural concrete is about more than choosing a product and arranging delivery. The right precast solution needs to suit the application, the loads and conditions it will face, the site constraints, and how it fits into the wider project. 

Making these decisions at the specification stage can help avoid costly changes later, make installation smoother and ensure the finished solution is suitable for everyday farm use. 

Whether the project involves livestock housing, retaining structures, storage, slurry infrastructure or other agricultural applications, the most suitable precast solution will depend on the specific requirements of the site and application. 

1. What application is the concrete being specified for?

Start with what the concrete needs to do. Precast concrete is used across agricultural settings for livestock housing, feed areas, silage storage, slurry systems, retaining structures, storage bays and other farm infrastructure. Each application can place different demands on the product, so the intended use should inform the specification from the start. 

For example, retaining walls for silage, grain, or aggregate do more than just separate spaces. The material being retained, the wall dimensions and the surrounding site conditions can all affect the specification. 

Flooring creates a different set of requirements. The specification may need to account for livestock movement, machinery use, cleaning arrangements, loading and the conditions within the building. Where specialist livestock flooring is being considered, the demands of each area should be assessed rather than assuming one surface will suit the whole building. 

Understanding the application first helps ensure you choose a product for what it needs to do, rather than selecting one based simply on size or appearance. 

2. What loads and conditions will it need to withstand?

Next, consider the conditions the concrete will experience throughout its working life. Will tractors, loaders or other vehicles regularly pass over or alongside it? Will livestock move across the surface? Will machinery create impact or abrasion? Could the concrete be exposed to moisture, slurry or feed? 

These factors can influence the specification. A surface carrying regular machinery traffic has different requirements from one with limited vehicle use. Similarly, a retaining wall needs to be specified according to the material being retained and the pressures created within the application. 

The dimensions of a product are therefore only part of the decision. Understanding how the concrete will be used and the conditions it will face helps establish whether a standard product is suitable or whether a different configuration is required. 

3. What does the site allow you to install?

A product may be suitable for an application but impractical for a particular site. New agricultural developments can usually incorporate precast concrete into the design from the outset.  

Existing farms may involve additional constraints, with buildings, boundaries, drainage, livestock, machinery and established infrastructure all potentially affecting delivery and installation. 

Access should be considered early. The delivery route, unloading area, available working space and lifting equipment can all influence what is practical. Restricted dimensions may also affect whether a standard product can be used. 

Discussing these constraints before manufacture means the proposed solution can be assessed against the real site conditions, rather than discovering later that a product is difficult to deliver, lift or install. 

4. Do you need a standard, customised or bespoke solution?

Standard precast products may provide the most straightforward solution where their dimensions, configuration and intended performance match the project requirements. 

However, not every agricultural project has standard requirements. A customised or bespoke solution may be more appropriate where there are unusual dimensions, restricted space, existing structures, an unusual layout or specific application requirements. 

This is important because trying to make a standard product fit an unsuitable site can create complications elsewhere in the build.  

Bespoke provision does not necessarily mean making the project more complicated. Where a standard or customised product cannot meet the requirement, a bespoke solution may provide a more appropriate fit for the application and site. 

A suitable precast supplier should assess the project requirements and help establish whether a standard, customised or bespoke approach is appropriate. 

5. How does the precast solution need to integrate with the wider build?

Precast concrete rarely works in isolation. Its specification and position can affect other elements of the agricultural project. 

Consider how it will work with foundations, drainage, access routes, buildings, livestock areas and slurry systems. The finished layout also needs to support the way the farm operates day to day. 

Concrete panels, for example, need to be considered alongside the building layout, supporting structure, access requirements and intended use of the finished area. Whether they are being used for livestock housing, storage or other agricultural applications, their position and specification need to be coordinated with the surrounding elements of the project. 

Considering these relationships before ordering can identify potential conflicts before manufacture and installation. It is particularly important on larger projects where farmers, contractors, consultants and other trades need to coordinate their work. 

6. How will delivery, lifting and installation be coordinated?

Delivery, unloading, lifting and installation requirements should be considered before an order is confirmed. 

Precast products can be substantial in size and weight, so delivery access, unloading arrangements and lifting requirements need to be established. The site may need suitable lifting equipment, working space and a clear route to the installation area. 

On a working farm, installation may also need to be coordinated around livestock, machinery and normal operations. If foundations, groundworks or other elements need to be completed first, the project programme should allow the site to be ready when the precast products arrive. 

Early coordination can help identify logistical constraints before manufacture and delivery are finalised. 

7. What needs to be agreed before manufacture?

Before ordering, the supplier needs enough information to understand both the product requirements and the conditions in which it will be used. 

Depending on the project, this may include: 

• Site dimensions 

• Drawings or sketches 

• Photographs of the area 

• Intended application 

• Required dimensions and configuration 

• Expected loads and frequency of use 

• Existing structures and infrastructure 

• Delivery and access restrictions 

• Lifting and installation requirements 

• Project timescales 

 

Providing this information early allows the requirement to be assessed before manufacture, while product details and project arrangements can still be clarified. 

It can also help establish whether a standard product is suitable, whether modifications are needed or whether a bespoke solution should be developed. 

Getting agricultural concrete specification right

Agricultural concrete is a long-term investment, so choosing a suitable solution involves more than comparing dimensions and prices. 

The application, expected loads, environmental conditions, site constraints, access, installation and relationship with the wider project can all affect the final specification. 

Wolfenden manufactures a broad range of standard agricultural precast products and can also provide customised or bespoke solutions where the application requires a different dimension, configuration or detail. 

Discussing these factors early means the concrete can be considered as part of the whole agricultural project, helping farmers, contractors and consultants identify a precast solution suited to the application, site and wider project. 

FAQs 

What agricultural concrete products does Wolfenden offer? 

Wolfenden manufactures precast concrete products for a range of agricultural applications, including cattle slats, solid covers, panels, retaining products and related farm infrastructure. Customised and bespoke solutions may also be available where a standard product does not meet the project requirements. 

When should I consider a bespoke precast solution? 

A bespoke solution may be appropriate where a standard product cannot provide the required dimensions or configuration. Restricted space, unusual layouts, existing structures or specific project requirements can all influence this decision. 

Discussing these requirements early allows the available options to be assessed before manufacture and helps avoid trying to use a standard product where it is not suitable. 

Why do access and lifting need to be considered before ordering? 

Precast concrete can be large and heavy, so delivery routes, unloading arrangements, available working space and lifting equipment can affect what is practical. 

Considering these requirements before manufacture helps ensure the proposed solution can be delivered and installed efficiently. 

What should be considered when choosing agricultural retaining walls? 

The intended application, retained material, wall dimensions, site layout, access and surrounding structures may all affect the choice of retaining-wall solution. 

A retaining wall for silage, grain or aggregate forms part of the storage system, so it needs to work with the surrounding layout and intended use of the area. 

Can Wolfenden help assess agricultural precast requirements? 

Wolfenden works with farmers, contractors, consultants and agricultural professionals to understand individual project requirements and discuss suitable standard, customised or bespoke precast options. 

Discussing the application, specification, site constraints, standard or bespoke options, delivery and installation requirements early can help ensure the chosen solution is practical and fit for purpose.