
Huge rewards are possible for growers who embrace the full potential of nutrient planning – rather than adopting a simple compliance mindset.
A basic plan may meet legal requirements, but higher profits, greater productivity and long-term sustainability can be achieved by a more in-depth approach, says Allison Arden of Navigate Eco Solutions.
“People think about nutrient planning from an inspection point of view – whether it’s the Environment Agency or the Rural Payments Agency – that it’s about keeping nutrients out of water, clean air and managing the soil. But that’s not the full story.
“Remember that RB209 is the initial step in nutrient planning, but it serves as guidance only. You have the flexibility to create your nutrient plan according to your farm situation, but it must be evidence-based.
Better management
Investing in a more comprehensive nutrient plan will help reduce production costs, says Ms Arden. It will also increase nutrient recovery and helpmanage organic resources such as muck, digestates and slurry.
“It’s also a way of lowering the carbon footprint of production, which is a key aim of government in achieving its net zero targets but also likely to attract marketing premiums in the future as grain buyers strive to reduce their scope 3 emissions.”
AHDB head of farming systems and agronomy Ollie Johnson says a key part of responsible nutrient planning is about safeguarding against the possible implementation of future legislation in the area of fertiliser use.
“We are seeing more laws coming in around protected ureas, for example, and that is all to be respected and it certainly means farmers are getting more out of their urea.”
Mr Johnson says he is keen that government avoids introducing additional legislation about how growers and farmers can do this. Farmers can make the correct decisions themselves around fertiliser use – and recognise that the value of doing it is not just to the environment, but also to them, he explains.
“We are seeing the same thing in the Plant Protection Products sector where there is the Voluntary Initiative which fulfils this exact role and acts in lieu of extra legislation in that area by encouraging best practice.
Manure calculator
“Growers are keen to make more use of organic sources too, and with this in mind we have already developed a new manure calculator on the AHDB website which will allow farmers to more easily calculate the financial value of these and this should be available for use in the coming weeks.”
Ms Arden says other new technologies can now be used to both simplify the process of nutrient planning and improve its value to the business.
“If you’ve never done a nutrient plan or have but not really followed one in the past, using a simple digital system to take the complexity out of the process is a real benefit to growers.
“NavigatePro, for example, digitally connects to RB209 so users can access all the experience and research that goes into that, but they also have the flexibility to adapt their plan to match their own farming situation.
“So, if you know your farm produces higher yields than RB209 suggests, for instance, and you are working with a FACTS trained advisor who can provide supporting evidence to justify this, you can tailor your plan accordingly.
Bespoke approach
“While RB209 provides the default guidance, the software allows you to input specific analytical data, such as soil, manure, and fertiliser analyses so the resulting nutrient management plans are tailored specifically to meet farm or field requirements.
“We also have functionality coming online shortly that analyses your cropping, soil analysis and system and looks on the market for optimum products in the correct ratios to best match the nutrients required by the crop, so you are not at risk of over or under supplying nutrients.
Empowering
“It also ranks these on their carbon intensity so you can choose the best product analysis for the job as well as being able to select the ones with the lowest carbon footprints, says Ms Arden, who believes such knowledge is truly empowering.”
Good nutrient planning can fundamentally improve your business for the better – it’s not just about a tick box exercise to meet current legislation, says Ms Arden.
“It can have a major impact on your short-term profitability as well as long-term sustainability.”
Thousands of farms could face inheritance tax raid
News Feb 11, 2025
Big Farmland Bird Count
News Feb 5, 2025
Farm prospects ‘steady’ for 2025
News Feb 5, 2025
A breed apart: Farm shop success for Sam Steggles
News Jan 23, 2025
Experts explain Budget impact to conference
News Jan 23, 2025
Chancellor under fire after autumn Budget bombshell
News Jan 23, 2025