Services

If your farm is a predominantly grassland livestock farm, I can do your NVZ paperwork for £150.

The standard report includes:

1. Farm limit calculations

2. Slurry storage calculations (if needed)

3. Farm risk map

4. Field limit calculations (showing the previous year’s compliance)

5. Maps for the ‘4-Step Nitrogen Plan’, including:

a) ‘Soil Nitrogen Supply’

b) Crop N requirement

c) Crop available N from planned/potential spreading (incorporating Field Limits)

d) Any additional manufactured fertiliser required, according to RB209 recommendations

6. N-Max map

7. Farm spreading map for the year ahead, indicating high/low risk/priority (incorporating the risk map)

In addition to the required records, I include some maps that aren’t necessary but I think are helpful:

8. ‘Field Limits’ map

– This shows the NVZ field limits in terms of the total amount of nitrogen from organic manure that you are permitted to spread on any particular field. I find this is much more useful, in practice, than a notional average.

This total can be presented using any equivalent measure, such as ‘tonnes of FYM’ or ‘loads of spreader’ (if you can tell me the capacity of your spreader).

This is particularly useful for anyone in a ‘low input’ scheme, such as some Countryside Stewardship, where the limits are significantly lower than the NVZ limits.

9. ‘Previous Year’s Activity’ map

– A map showing (you guessed it) the previous year’s activity, in terms of grazing, cutting, and spreading. This is a useful management tool/reminder, particularly if you stack them year on year: it might help to explain any surprising soil test results or low yield.

As the method is still in development, I’m adding features as I go. I welcome any suggestions for any additions and I’m happy to work to whatever you might want or find useful.