For 2008 we have introduced a new Manure and Nutrient Management Centre in the muck area of the event.
The proposed revisions to the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) legislation will make manure and nutrient management a key issue for all livestock farmers and contractors involved in manure management or manure applications to land.
In response to these changes, the new Manure and Nutrient Management Centre sponsored by the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) will address the issues and help farmers understand the implications for their business.
What will the Manure and Nutrient Management Centre offer farmers?
The aim of the Manure and Nutrient Management Centre is to help farmers understand how to balance crop nutrient requirements, in particular nitrogen with nutrient supply from soil, organic manures and manufactured fertilizers.
Supported by practical demonstrations, information and advice from key organisations, this area of the event will aim to provide answers and confidence that farmers currently do not have.
The centre will:
- Provide a new focal point for advice, technical information and promotion of key messages to the mutual benefit of all exhibitors and visitors to the event
- Highlight key changes in the revised NVZ and other environmental legislations
- Help farmers understand how these changes affect them
- Demonstrate the importance of application rate with different spreading systems on grass plots and, with trial plots on winter wheat, the impacts of manure nutrients on crop growth with and without fertilizer inputs
- Demonstrate how to estimate the content of a loaded spreader and the assessment of field application rate
- Consider low cost manure and slurry storage options
- Demonstrate software such as PLANET, ENCASH and SPREADS
- Demonstrate manure analysis including NIRS scanning of samples and discuss techniques for rapid on-farm estimation of slurry analysis
Free Muck Testing
For the first time, farmers will be able to bring samples of manure or slurry for free testing using NIRS technology (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy).
If you wish to bring a sample, follow the collection guidelines below:
- Mix a few samples from different parts of a manure heap in a clean bucket and then put a smaller sub-sample of up to 1kg in weight in a strong, sealed bag and label with manure type, name and contact details.
- For slurries, collect about 1 litre from a well-mixed tank/store in a clean plastic container.
Bring the sample to the ADAS stand at the Manure and Nutrient Management Centre for free testing. Results including dry matter content, nitrogen (total and mineral), phosphorus, sulphur and organic matter will be provided with interpretation.
Click here for the Manure and Nutrient Management Centre press release
Manure and Nutrient Management Centre Sponsor
Visit the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) on their stand providing the following services:
- A drop in centre to speak to the Catchment officers
- An opportunity to view and assess by simple methods various slurry dry matters/densities
- An opportunity to view how differing application rates of FYM look on the ground
- Loaded muck spreader to guess the value and also highlight how to calibrate it at the right rate
- Silage grass trial plots demonstrating the cost savings and similarity in growth of the slurry with top up N
The Manure and Nutrient Management Centre will be located next to the muck machinery demonstrations to the North of the event, providing visitors with a dedicated area focusing on best manure management and land application practices.
Sponsored by
