10/05/2005 - A recent
survey for the Environment Agency shows that
two-thirds (66%) of farmers do not attempt
to accurately calculate the quantity of manure
applied to land, preferring instead to apply
"what seems appropriate". In practice,
what may seem like an appropriate amount may
be well beyond the nutrient levels required
and can lead to the pollution of rivers.
At Grasslands 2005 (18-19 May), Environment
Agency advisers will be on hand to share best
practice on muck spreading. Farmers visiting
the Environment Agency stand at Grasslands
can get advice on planning their manure applications
to ensure they keep within the legal nitrogen
limits and so avoid the risk of losing part
of their single farm payment. Advisers will
also introduce farmers to easy-to-use calculating
tools such as MANNER and PLANET to help them
use manure efficiently.
Of those surveyed, livestock farmers showed
a low commitment to calculating muck spreading,
with only 25% attempting to apply a measured
amount per hectare. The research also concluded
that 70% of farmers within Nitrate Vulnerable
Zones were applying what "seemed appropriate".
Hannah Bartram, Agricultural Policy Manager
at the Environment Agency, says: "It’s
incredible that so many farmers are not bothering
to calculate the right of manure to spread
on their fields. Manure is such a valuable
resource and needs to be treated like any
other fertiliser. Without measuring the amount
of manures used per hectare you can’t possibly
know how much extra fertiliser is needed or
how much you could save.
"Farmers within Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
who guess how much manure to apply risk jeopardising
their single farm payment by not complying
with the Action Programme. The Environment
Agency stand at Grasslands 2005 will have
the theme ‘use it or lose it’. We’d like as
many farmers as possible to visit our stand
and to start using nutrient and manure management
plans to ensure both – and the environment
– don’t lose out."
Both the nutrient management plan and manure
management plan can earn points in the Environmental
Stewardship entry level scheme.
The Environment Agency’s tips for best practice
on muck spreading include:
know exactly how much manure is being applied
and calibrate spreaders accordingly
spread muck evenly across land to ensure absorption
apply manure or slurry as close to spring
growth as possible – less will be lost to
water through leaching and so more can be
used by the crop.
ensure clean water does not enter manure stores
use planning tools such as MANNER or PLANET
use a nutrient management plan to avoid runoff
of manures and unnecessary build-up of nutrients
in the soil.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Environment Agency will have a stand
at the agricultural event Grasslands 2005,
Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 18-19 May
2005.
A telephone survey of 450 farmers was conducted
for the Environment Agency in December 2004
found that 66% of those surveyed did not attempt
to calculate the quantity of manure applied
to land but apply "what seems appropriate".
The purpose of this survey was to measure
understanding amongst farmers of agriculture’s
contribution to diffuse pollution and to see
what measures they have taken or are planning
to take in order to help reduce such pollution.
Agriculture is responsible for 70% of nitrates
in our water and 40 - 50% of phosphates.
Over half our rivers have high phosphate levels
and a third have high nitrate levels. Almost
3 in 5 river Sites of Special Scientific Interest
are in unfavourable conditions due to excessive
nutrients (mainly phosphorus).
Nitrate levels in groundwater have been rising
for the past 20 years. The UK is the 16th
poorest out of 20 European countries for the
proportion of groundwater sampling sites exceeding
the drinking water standard for nitrate.
Groundwater provides more than 75% of public
water supply in south east England and over
one-third in England and Wales as a whole.
Water companies in England & Wales in
the years 2000-2005 alone will have invested
£5.3 billion on water treatments in
order to address environmental impacts related
to the discharge of pollutants. In Ofwat's
final determinations published in December
2004, it has allowed £288m capital expenditure
'to reduce high nitrate levels caused by diffuse
pollution present in sources of water used
for the drinking water supply' for the period
from 2005 to 2010.
Planning Land Applications of Nutrients for
Efficiency and the Environment (PLANET) is
a computerised version of Defra’s industry
standard ‘Fertiliser Recommendations (RB209)’
book. It provides farmers and advisers with
a quick and easy way of obtaining RB209 fertiliser
recommendations for arable, horticultural
or grassland crops in each field, each year,
taking account of the crop requirement and
nutrients supplied from organic manures and
soil. Further information on PLANET can be
seen on the website www.planet4farmers.co.uk
Manure Nitrogen Evaluation Routine (MANNER)
is a decision support system that predicts
the plant availability of manure nitrogen
(N) following land application. The ADAS MANNER
software draws together the latest UK research
information on factors affecting manure N
availability to crops, and N losses via ammonia
volatilisation and nitrate leaching. The MANNER
software tool needs only a few inputs to run
and is available free of charge via the www.adas.co.uk/manner
