Resources

Essential information

All government information about ‘Nitrate Vulnerable Zones’, including a map to check if you are in an NVZ, and official guidance on ‘using nitrogen fertilisers in nitrate vulnerable zones‘ and ‘storing organic manures in nitrate vulnerable zones‘, can be found from here.

All government information about the ‘Farming Rules for Water’ can be found from here.

The AHDB’s ‘Nutrient Management Guide (RB209)‘ contains lots of essential information and value tables.

Calculators

I’ve made some simple calculators to help with some of the NVZ paperwork:

Nitrogen Spreading Calculator (cattle only)

You can use this to help with your ‘Field Limit’ and ‘N-Max’ calculations, as well as your ‘4-Step Nitrogen Plan’: the calculator will show the kg N/ha of total and crop available nitrogen from cattle farmyard manure (FYM) and slurry, as well as manufactured fertiliser.

Nitrogen Spreading Calculator (full)

As above but including various other manures and slurries.

‘Livestock Manure Nitrogen Farm Limit’ Calculator (beef)

A simple ‘livestock load’ calculator: it shows the total N produced by the livestock on your farm, divided by your farm’s grazing area. (NB. This does not take into account any imported/exported manures.) Use this to help with your ‘Farm Limit’ calculation.

‘Livestock Manure Nitrogen Farm Limit’ Calculator (dairy)

As above but for dairy farms.

‘Livestock Manure Nitrogen Farm Limit’ Calculator (sheep, et al.)

A ‘livestock load’ calculator for sheep, goats, deer, and horses. Mixed farms can use this in addition to one of the above.

Other resources & calculators

The AHDB’s Slurry Wizard can help you calculate your farm’s slurry storage capacity and livestock nitrogen load.

‘Tried and Tested’ provide some free resources, including a ‘Soil Nitrogen Supply’ calculator.

DEFRA has recently released a free tool to help with nutrient management, available here.