Responsible nutrient management is central to the sustainability of farm business – this is just one of the key messages from a joint NFU workshop held with CLA, FWAG, LEAF and AIC.
The workshop drew together experts from each of the stakeholder organisations to discuss nutrient management. During Tuesday’s event advisers, levy body representatives, researchers and farmers debated the current state of knowledge and understanding of nutrient use in agricultural inputs and animal manures.
Farmers also discussed the advice and guidance available to them on nutrient management and solutions which would encourage a wider industry uptake, which included highlighting the financial benefits.
NFU Head of Policy Services Andrew Clark said: “Efficient management of nutrients – whether in feeds, fertilisers or animal manures – is good practice but in the current climate it is also critical to the long-term economic and environment sustainability of farm businesses.
“Many improvements in the use of nutrients in inputs and manures have been made by the industry over the last few years, attributed to better dissemination of responsible practice techniques, extensive research and awareness raising, but we need to accelerate this rate of improvement.
“Current and upcoming environmental legislation, such as the Water Framework Directive, presents a real challenge for farmers. As an industry we need to cooperate now to ensure the balance is maintained between profitable farm business and protection of the environment.
“Today’s workshop focussed on a discussion of farming systems which integrate the use of manures and fertilisers, with the aim of building on existing industry tools, identifying gaps in scientific knowledge and to see how these can be addressed.”
From the workshop industry experts concluded that:
· Farmers need more assistance to help them utilise the nutrient value of their manures, particularly in relation to variations in dry matter and access to reliable test facilities
· Nutrient efficiency must start with soil and integrated management of manure and fertilisers and
· Clear and consistent advice is needed to achieve wider uptake of existing tools.
