Now is the time for farmers to start preparing a nutrient management plan with all zones now open for fertiliser spreading and slurry already being spread on land for the past couple of weeks.
Taking into account the unpredictability of the weather, the price of fertiliser, and the constraints around how much fertiliser can be used, completing a nutrient management plan is more essential than ever.
For derogation farmers, completing a nutrient management plan is second nature, as they are obliged to create one. However, for many farmers who are stocked under 170kg nitrogen (N)/ha, a fertiliser plan is not always the priority.
When a plan is not in place, farmers often do not know their N and phosphorus (P) limits and end up spreading less than what they are permitted out of fear of being non-compliant.
Nutrient management plan
Completing a nutrient management plan will allow you to choose the most suitable fertiliser types and amounts for your farm.
Nutrient planning will allow farmers to maintain appropriate soil fertility by applying the right fertilisers in the right place, at the correct rate, and at the optimum time of the year.
There has been a higher uptake in soil sampling in recent years as, from January 1, 2023, all farmers stocked above 130kg N/ha are required to take soil samples.
Where soil samples are not taken, Index 4 for P will be assumed, so no chemical P or imported P can be used on these farms.
Soil samples are only valid for four years and if they are out-of-date, an index 4 will be assumed. It’s important to get them updated if needed in the coming days before more nutrients go out.
N and P allowances are not always straightforward and can often be confusing to calculate, which means your limits and a plan should be discussed with your advisor
With this in mind, it is important for farmers to complete a fertiliser plan so they can understand their fertiliser limits and what to apply to allow for maximum growth.
Although it might seem like a hindrance, completing a nutrient management plan will give you guidance as to what fertiliser type and amount can be used in 2025.
It will allow you to plan ahead and be comfortable while spreading, as you know you are not exceeding limits, avoiding the shock of finding out through inspection that you have spread too much fertiliser.
Completing a fertiliser plan should be a priority, as it will help you to make decisions without the worry of exceeding limits, allow for maximum grass growth, and will apply to your soil fertility status.
This means that you are maximising your output of fertiliser while minimising any wastage, as you are not spreading certain nutrients on paddocks that don’t lack or need them.
What do you need?
A Basic Income Support Scheme (BISS) application will be needed to show which crops are being grown and the areas they are being grown in 2024, as every crop has a different allowance for N and P.
When it comes to your grassland crops, the previous years grassland stocking rate (GSR) is used to work out the allowances for N and P.
This is calculated by getting the total N from grazing livestock and dividing it by the grassland area in 2024.
You will need to provide the total tonnage of concentrates fed to grazing livestock in 2024 and the total N from grazing livestock.
Having soil samples for your farm allows for easy allocation of fertiliser and slurry. In order to get an accurate understanding of the soil fertility status, you should have samples from the last four years.
You should also gathered information about the amount of fertiliser and type that was carried into 2025, while considering what has been bought so far this year.
Finally, you should also note the amount of organic manures that have been imported, or which you plan to import, into the farm in 2025.
