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Tools and advice for dairy farmers on new NVZ rules

24 September 2008

Defra

There are a number of sources of information available to farmers in NVZs to help them comply with the current Action Programme measures. Many of the following are currently being updated in readiness for the launch of the revised Action Programme later in 2008.

Helplines

The two main webpages are:

1. General Queries page - General queries relating to NVZs or the Nitrates Directive.



2. Action Programme Technical Queries page - Specific queries concerning the interpretation of the Action Programme measures

Additional contacts are:

• Defra helpline (08459 33 55 77) - for general queries.


• Environment Agency helpline (08708 506 506) - for help with the interpretation of rules and queries on the current Action Programme measures.


• Water Quality Division (nitratesdirectiveteam@defra.gsi.gov.uk) - for general queries on the Nitrates Directive and its implementation in England.

Further information is available as follows:

Guidelines for farmers in NVZs - England ** -This booklet explains in detail the steps that farmers in NVZs need to take to comply with the current Action Programme measures. Frinted copies are available from Defra publications by quoting publication code PB5505.

NVZ Manure Planning booklet - England** - This booklet contains information for both arable farmers importing organic manure and livestock farmers who need to comply with the requirements of the current Action Programme measures. It provides a step by step guide on how to calculate:

• Whether there is enough land available for spreading manure


• If there is enough storage for slurry; and


• The extent to which manure applications will reduce the requirement for fertiliser

Printed copies are available from Defra publications by quoting publication code PB5504.

** These two publications are being combined into one new publication entitled “Guidance for Farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones”, which will incorporate a folder with 7 or 8 leaflets. This is due to be available later in the year.

Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops - Defra Reference Book 209, 7th Edition, 2000 (ISBN 0 11 243058 9). This reference book describes the principles of crop nutrition and gives recommendations for the use of lime, fertilisers and organic manures for field crops and grassland grown in England and Wales. It is currently being revised and will be replaced by a new Fertiliser Manual which will provide essential guidance and information to enable compliance with the ‘crop requirement limit’.

It is a priced publication available from Stationery Office bookshops or direct from The Stationery Office on 0870 600 5522.

A new verison is due later in the year.

Managing Livestock Manures - Further guidance on how to integrate manure and inorganic fertiliser use to best advantage is provided in the Managing Livestock Manures booklet series.

Manure Management Plan - These guidelines have been designed to help produce a plan for spreading livestock manures, slurries and organic material on a farm. This plan will help to minimise the risk of causing water pollution.

Other Organisations

Planning Land Applications of Nutrients for Efficiency and the Environment (PLANET) - 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 recommendations for arable, horticultural or grassland crops in each field, each year, taking account of the crop nutrient requirement as well as the nutrients supplied from organic manures, soil and fertilisers. It allows the user to develop a nutrient and manure application plan for a group of fields covering the use of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5), potash (K2O), magnesium (as MgO), sulphur (as SO3), sodium (as Na2O) and lime. The plan can be modified during the season and actual applications recorded. Last year's field records together with other information can be used to generate next year’s RB209 recommendations.

Visit www.planet4farmers.co.uk for more information about PLANET, to download a copy or to order a copy of the PLANET CD-ROM.

Manure Nitrogen Evaluation Routine (MANNER) - Defra commissioned ADAS to develop a decision support system which 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 ADAS website.

‘MANNER-NPK’ will be launched in late 2008, and predicts the crop available amount of potash and phosphate as well as nitrogen..

The paper-based ‘Tried and Tested’ model for nutrient management planning. This is being revised by an industry group (NFU, CLA, AIC, FWAG and LEAF) with the livestock and dairy sectors in mind and is available in late 2008.

The ‘Dairy Wizard’ which is a nutrient management tool delivered on farm through DairyCo extension officers. The computer based system helps farmers manage cow housing, the milking parlour and slurry systems. These factors inextricably link with the management of nutrients on farm.

A booklet entitled “Guidance for Operators on Manure Management Planning for IPPC Installations” has been produced by the Environment Agency.

Scottish Executive

The Scottish Executive is in the process of finalising a new document entitled “Guidance for Farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones”, which should be available to the industry in the next two weeks.

Welsh Assembly

The Welsh Assembly is currently developing new literature and guidance, which will be produced following discussions with stakeholders, and this will be published in time for the implementation of the latest legislation.