Case Study: Nutrient Management Plan

Nutrient Management Planning and Soil Sampling

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS PROJECT AT A GLANCE

Reduction in purchased Artificial Nitrogen by circa. £11k
Significant improvement in Carbon Footprint in line with Milk Buyer target resulting in premium price for milk

SCENARIO

Large 1000 acre/500 cow dairy farm
Artificial Nitrogen applied year-on-year at the same application rates
Significant volumes of slurry applied via splash plate
No soil analyses present
No manure analyses present

METHODOLOGY

✔ Soil sampling of the whole farm was undertaken and soil analysed

✔ On-farm organics sampled and analysed

✔ Detailed Nutrient Management Plan produced

KEY FINDINGS

Significant over-application of artificial nitrogen was highlighted
Under application of potash on multi-cut silage fields highlighted
Targeted applications of FYM and Slurry to priority fields
Significant lime requirement highlighted
Splash plate replaced with dribble bar

KEY METRICS

MILK

PREMIUMS

INCREASE 2 EUROCENTS / KG

£11,000

SPEND SAVED

Project Team Leader

4R Reassurance General Manager

General Manager

Nigel has a farming background, agricultural degree and experience of managing large-scale recycling operations together with training that includes; NEBOSH, WAMITAB, FACTS and many practical safety courses Nigel is well placed to support farms with improving their Health and Safety performance.

Nigel Box