How much nitrogen?

[neilo]

The problem is I have met farmers who are worried they will be forced to change how they operate, reduce cow numbers or involve significant expense.

Unfortunately WAG are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but, some dairy farms have expanded numbers without regard to the slurry output, to the extent that they have 2 weeks storage FFS! They are the guys that have brought this down on everyone.

 

[ollie989898]

Unfortunately WAG are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but, some dairy farms have expanded numbers without regard to the slurry output, to the extent that they have 2 weeks storage FFS! They are the guys that have brought this down on everyone.

Ooooff!

You'll be wanting to borrow my TFF-approved stab vest after a post like that!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The problem is I have met farmers who are worried they will be forced to change how they operate, reduce cow numbers or involve significant expense.

Think a lot of the older ones who have no one who is keen to follow on will just pack in
But there is always lossers and winners when the government meddle with things

 

[Sid]

Unfortunately WAG are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but, some dairy farms have expanded numbers without regard to the slurry output, to the extent that they have 2 weeks storage FFS! They are the guys that have brought this down on everyone.

And then you'll get to the inspectors personal interpretation of the rules.

 

[ollie989898]

Think a lot of the older ones who have no one who is keen to follow on will just pack in
But there is always lossers and winners when the government meddle with things

I have no doubt some folk will jack it in once a 6 figure expense is involved. The job is hard enough as it is without that kick in the guts.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

You wouldn't be saying that if you had to spend 100K putting up a new slurry store because or some arbitrary rule change that affects you and not your neighbours mind.

I thought slurry storage was mentioned as a big target for subsidies under elms.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

With respect I don't think you have a clue . I have farmers in the office almost in tears with it

They must be using a lot of N?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

They must be using a lot of N?

The closed season for spreading slurry and the restriction then after on what you can apply. Good for me as one has already said he will be going back to loose housing for youngstock so will need a lot more straw

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

The closed season for spreading slurry and the restriction then after on what you can apply. Good for me as one has already said he will be going back to loose housing for youngstock so will need a lot more straw

Are these same farmers buying bagged n as well?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Are these same farmers buying bagged n as well?

They will be . Dairy farmers have traditionally used a lot of N apart from the organic ones that is , used to be 2 units n per acre per day when we were intensive dairy

 

[neilo]

They will be . Dairy farmers have traditionally used a lot of N apart from the organic ones that is , used to be 2 units n per acre per day when we were intensive dairy

Most of the industry has moved on from those dark days though.

It makes me cringe at the waste every time I see slurry tankers plastering the stuff on in the middle of winter, to ‘get rid of it’. Those nutrients are largely wasted as they leach out/run off, which means they are ending up in water.
If those people started viewing that slurry as fertiliser, they will find they reduce their fertiliser bills dramatically.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Most of the industry has moved on from those dark days though.

It makes me cringe at the waste every time I see slurry tankers plastering the stuff on in the middle of winter, to ‘get rid of it’. Those nutrients are largely wasted as they leach out/run off, which means they are ending up in water.
If those people started viewing that slurry as fertiliser, they will find they reduce their fertiliser bills dramatically.

Would not a dairy farm apply around 80 units N acre for a cut , sorry I still think in old money

 

[neilo]

Would not a dairy farm apply around 80 units N acre for a cut , sorry I still think in old money

Old money means little to me I’m afraid.

My point was that slurry/separated liquid applied in the growing season, rather than dumped all winter to get rid, could replace much of that bagged N. Price of fert where it is surely makes it even more sensible to replace it by using slurry more sensibly.

 

[Greythundercloudys]

I think pure n just takes an goodness out the soil that's in it, unless you dung it as well, l just put 25,5,5 on everywhere cut or grass, 3 hundred weight for cutn once and 2 on grass.

 

[neilo]

I think pure n just takes an goodness out the soil that's in it, unless you dung it as well, l just put 25,5,5 on everywhere cut or grass, 3 hundred weight for cutn once and 2 on grass.

N is just one nutrient, and obviously others have to be supplied in balance. Soil testing will tell you what’s best applied, but very rarely is the ‘farmers’ favourite’ of 20:10:10 or 25:5:5 appropriate according to my soil testing guy/agronomist, but a healthy premium is paid for the convenience of having that imaginary ‘all in one’ fert.
If you need Phosphate, apply it. If you’re short of Potash, apply it. However not many farms will need it in the ratios supplied in the above compounds.

Personally I always apply straight N (often with S) but have MOP for those (usually mowing) fields needing extra potash, TSP where extra phosphate is needed, and apply Fibrophos on rotation for maintenance P&K.

FYM is in short supply here as my stock spread their own as much as possible.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I always see it as Nitrogen taking money out of the bank and P & K back in , even if you don't soil test you will have an idea about your land by whats growing and whats coming off , straight N and no P & K is like robbing the bank

 

[Whinfield Herefords]

Thinking of putting some fert on our grazing land now how much 25:5:5 would you put on for cattle and sheep grazing. Thanks.

 

[harperfarmer]

Think they just wanted to know how much N to put on grazing land!

Personally I put on 125kg/ha of a N:S blend per month from April to August

Just seen this thread, are you saying you apply 125kg/ha every month?! So 625kg/ha (250kg/acre) in total through the season?! That's more than I put on wheat?! how high are your stocking rates to justify requiring that level of input?!

 

[N.Yorks.]

Just seen this thread, are you saying you apply 125kg/ha every month?! So 625kg/ha (250kg/acre) in total through the season?! That's more than I put on wheat?! how high are your stocking rates to justify requiring that level of input?!

Depends if he's talking about kg of N per ha or kg Ammonium Sulphate per ha...?

If he's talkin about 125kg/ha of actual fert, say 27% N & 12% SO3 then thats 34kg N/ha and 15kg SO3/ha.

 

[harperfarmer]

Depends if he's talking about kg of N per ha or kg Ammonium Sulphate per ha...?

If he's talkin about 125kg/ha of actual fert, say 27% N & 12% SO3 then thats 34kg N/ha and 15kg SO3/ha.

Yes but that's still every month for 5 months. So 170kg N/ha total. Which is bang on what I'd put on a wheat crop. Just seemed a lot for grassland to me?!