Zero Cooperation with SFI until Autumn Spreading Ban Lifted.

[Samcowman]

"The Farm Yard Manure becomes ready for use in 4 to 6 months and on an average it contains 0.5%N, 0.2% P2O5 and 0.5% K2O. Application of 10 tons FYM to the soil gives 50Kg N, 20Kg P2O5 and 50 Kg K2O. Out of this 30% of N, 60-70% of P2O5 and 75% of K2O is available to the crop in the first year of application and the rest of the nutrient is available in the subsequent years.Considerable amount of N in FYM is lost during preparation and storage mainly as NH3 volatilisation and or NO3 leaching. The values normally reported as dry equivalent values and there was only superficial moisture removed."

So for each 10 tons of FYM spread;
15kg of nitrogen,
13 kg of phosphate,
37.5kg of potash
is available to the crop in the first year.

I guess that means it would be the equivalent to spreading an artificial NPK of 0.15/0.13/0.375.


While a "Considerable amount of N in FYM is lost during preparation and storage mainly as NH3 volatilisation and or NO3 leaching".

I always thought autumn spreading was very effective here.

On the volatilisation note. It is better to be spreading at cooler temperatures because ammonia volatilises more the higher the temperature is so in that respect it would be better to spread during the winter as long as ground conditions are right and there’s no chance of runoff.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

On the volatilisation note. It is better to be spreading at cooler temperatures because ammonia volatilises more the higher the temperature is so in that respect it would be better to spread during the winter as long as ground conditions are right and there’s no chance of runoff.

In my experience, uptake of nutrients is far superior during the autumn and winter when conditions are suitable than during the summer when the muck often simply dries up and seems to disappear.

 

[DrWazzock]

Well as usual we can all sit here arguing forever but I doubt anybody that can do anything about it will take any notice. So regrettably here there will be zero cooperation on any voluntary matter until there is a more considered approach by the EA. Obviously I will still be complying with legal requirements but any kind of voluntary effort that isn’t absolutely essential to my business (which includes SFI, ELMS, CSF etc) will be firmly on hold till we see some more pragmatic thinking from the EA.
Not sure what they’ll find to do for all their inspectors and staff, but might do them good to know what’s it like to have their income cut or business plans jeopardised.

 

[jendan]

Quite frankly if £10 an acre is between you and the poor house, I’d throw the towel in now.

I wonder how many young ones on the forum know what the poor house was?

 

[ajd132]

The ban has come in due to pollution issues
Some farmers and AD operations have taken big liberties and need policing. Everyone sees it every year and nothing is done to stop them
Has anyone actually checked the water leaving their land ? I swap straw for FYM and rotate it round the farm sensibly so an outright ban is not good
So thank you mr couldn’t give a toss need to get it on
Once again the hapless minority govern policy

Agree. Sadly I think we are all being punished due to certain areas not behaving responsibly and some of these AD companies/contractors also taking the pee.
I’ve seen quite a few videos of video of farmers, driving along a road because it’s so wet in the field, firing slurry or whatever over the hedge into a steep field in the pouring rain.

 

[Raider112]

The ban has come in due to pollution issues
Some farmers and AD operations have taken big liberties and need policing. Everyone sees it every year and nothing is done to stop them
Has anyone actually checked the water leaving their land ? I swap straw for FYM and rotate it round the farm sensibly so an outright ban is not good
So thank you mr couldn’t give a toss need to get it on
Once again the hapless minority govern policy

I was of the impression that we are to be stopped from spreading FYM on stubble before ploughing for a winter crop, that is very different to spreading that stuff on the surface, which I would agree isn't the best practice.

 

[DrWazzock]

Agree. Sadly I think we are all being punished due to certain areas not behaving responsibly and some of these AD companies/contractors also taking the pee.
I’ve seen quite a few videos of video of farmers, driving along a road because it’s so wet in the field, firing slurry or whatever over the hedge into a steep field in the pouring rain.

Well why dont they police that properly then, instead of ruining perfectly safe systems for everybody? They don’t ban all cars from the roads because some drive like idiots.
For me there is a hidden anti livestock agenda and it’s all too convenient for them to rush out rules that make life as difficult as possible for responsible livestock farmers under the auspices of it being “anti pollution”, while garnering public and media support by homing in a few localised problems. We expect better than that. We expect some political oversight and leadership. A moderating hand on tiller. But fat chance I suppose.

 

[DrWazzock]

And there will be folk within our own industry who will side with the antis, give them credence undermine the cause most likely because they’re alright Jack, don’t use organic manures or don’t keep livestock but really we ought to be showing industry wide solidarity just for once.
The EA need to come back to the table with a revised plan. Unilateral bans aren’t the sort of thing that an intelligent agency should be implementing and those within the EA with any sense know that full well.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Here in N shrops our rivers are very unhealthy and if the winter spreading ban helps, thats a good thing.
Our local AD plants sometimes spread on waterlogged fields, (dont know how they get away with it) That shouldnt happen.
I use a lot of strawy cattle and pig muck but do my best to make sure every kilo of nutrient is used by crops and grass.
Yes I am too tight to buy much NPK in.
So will probably take the£10 and spend the money on a better muck spreader, 18 metre please

So let's get this right.

You already know the cause of "Problems" which are not related to a Winter Spreading problem but an individual problem.

But accept everyone in the UK should be harmed ... sad.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Here in N shrops our rivers are very unhealthy and if the winter spreading ban helps, thats a good thing.
Our local AD plants sometimes spread on waterlogged fields, (dont know how they get away with it) That shouldnt happen.
I use a lot of strawy cattle and pig muck but do my best to make sure every kilo of nutrient is used by crops and grass.
Yes I am too tight to buy much NPK in.
So will probably take the£10 and spend the money on a better muck spreader, 18 metre please

I didn’t know that, which rivers in North Shropshire are you referring to?

 

[wanton dwarf]

The ban has come in due to pollution issues
Some farmers and AD operations have taken big liberties and need policing. Everyone sees it every year and nothing is done to stop them
Has anyone actually checked the water leaving their land ? I swap straw for FYM and rotate it round the farm sensibly so an outright ban is not good
So thank you mr couldn’t give a toss need to get it on
Once again the hapless minority govern policy

The ban has come in because it's "Fashionable" to punish agriculture.

There's already plenty of laws to stop pollution.

A general ban is moronic and has been created by morons who let Water Companies - who are VERY rich - pollute all over the UK.

 

[steveR]

No offshore company should be eligible for govt contracts

I can hear Rees-Moggs corporate buddies whinging already.....

 

[DrWazzock]

You also have to wonder if it’s no coincidence that this autumn spreading ban is being brought in at the same time as we are being pushed down the no till route. I’d always plough in or incorporate autumn manure so it doesn’t run off, but how’s that work with no till? Not very well. Manure left on sloping undisturbed stubbles possibly with wheelings over winter isn’t in a very safe place. Doesn’t fit their no till agenda though does it? Somewhat inconvenient. Bit of a problem there so let’s just ban autumn applications.

 

[DRC]

Here in N shrops our rivers are very unhealthy and if the winter spreading ban helps, thats a good thing.
Our local AD plants sometimes spread on waterlogged fields, (dont know how they get away with it) That shouldnt happen.
I use a lot of strawy cattle and pig muck but do my best to make sure every kilo of nutrient is used by crops and grass.
Yes I am too tight to buy much NPK in.
So will probably take the£10 and spend the money on a better muck spreader, 18 metre please

I didn’t know that, which rivers in North Shropshire are you referring to?

I was thinking that . We certainly get paid a bonus by Severn Trent because the water is tested below the metaldyhde level. I’m sure if it was that bad with other pollutants, they’d be on to us with more carrot schemes

 

[betternextyear]

I didn’t know that, which rivers in North Shropshire are you referring to?

The Tern and Roden . These 2 rivers are very poor, cant comment about west shrops rivers tho. I hope they are better, whats the Clun like?

 

[Will Blackburn]

You also have to wonder if it’s no coincidence that this autumn spreading ban is being brought in at the same time as we are being pushed down the no till route. I’d always plough in or incorporate autumn manure so it doesn’t run off, but how’s that work with no till? Not very well. Manure left on sloping undisturbed stubbles possibly with wheelings over winter isn’t in a very safe place. Doesn’t fit their no till agenda though does it? Somewhat inconvenient. Bit of a problem there so let’s just ban autumn applications.

Ploughing in just masks the problem to a degree.

 

[ajd132]

You also have to wonder if it’s no coincidence that this autumn spreading ban is being brought in at the same time as we are being pushed down the no till route. I’d always plough in or incorporate autumn manure so it doesn’t run off, but how’s that work with no till? Not very well. Manure left on sloping undisturbed stubbles possibly with wheelings over winter isn’t in a very safe place. Doesn’t fit their no till agenda though does it? Somewhat inconvenient. Bit of a problem there so let’s just ban autumn applications.

What nonsense. This has been bought about because certain areas have been lathering various manures on slopes with soil prone to erosion and leaching then letting it get into rivers. Farmers have caused this.

 

[CPF]

I have spread in the past when we had cattle fresh cattle muck and rotted muck Straight onto growing cereals in the spring it spreads out like a carpet through a Rolland tec muckspreader
It was the talk of the town when I did it I was asked if I trying to kill the crop . But the following spring my neighbours got my doing some for them The crops absolutely benefited from it if you don’t try things you never learn I wish I had some pictures
So I would suggest you spread some muck up a few tramlines and see now you get on with it
be one step head of ban
It’s not going to work for everyone
It save my a fortune in fertiliser .

 

[DrWazzock]

By the time it’s dry enough in the spring to take a loaded muckspreader onto a growing crop without incurring soil and crop damage then I’d say it’s going to be too dry for that muck to get to root zone before the following autumn.
I hope the public are ready for this shift to spring spreading and non incorporation. Going to be a fair old stink as it warms up in the spring with the poultry, pig and sewerage works lads leaving it on the surface on growing crops.

 

[CPF]

By the time it’s dry enough in the spring to take a loaded muckspreader onto a growing crop without incurring soil and crop damage then I’d say it’s going to be too dry for that muck to get to root zone before the following autumn.
I hope the public are ready for this shift to spring spreading and non incorporation. Going to be a fair old stink as it warms up in the spring with the poultry, pig and sewerage works lads leaving it on the surface on growing crops.

Have you done it ? As I said it’s not gonna work for everyone There’s plenty of land out there which will be dry enough and the crop damage is the minimum
I’ve got to say as well I’ve done it on rape as well