Workshops focus on managing nutrients
GROWERS NEED more focus on managing nutrients in light of increasing fertiliser prices, Entry Level Scheme requirements and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, ADAS has advised.
“There are lots of reasons why farmers need to be focussing on nutrient management,” said ADAS’s Peter Dampney, who is involved with the PLANET software – a computerised version of DEFRA’s industry standard ‘Fertiliser Recommendations (RB209)’ book.
“As more farmers choose or are pressurised into planning nutrient use, then software such as PLANET is becoming more and more useful,” he said.
Farmers and advisors have shown strong interest in the package this spring and summer and there are now over 4,000 registered users, he said.
ADAS is organising further whole-day workshops in England to train delegates how to use the software. The dates and venues are shown below:
| Tues 25 October | Moulton College, Northampton NN3 7RR |
| Wed 26 October | Bateman Barns, Harleston, Suffolk IP20 0PZ |
| Tues 1 November | Sparsholt College (Wessex Centre), Winchester, Hants S021 2NF |
| Wed 9 November | Ibis Hotel, Lincoln LN6 3QZ |
| Thurs 17 November | Reaseheath College, Crewe, Cheshire CW5 6DF |
| Tues 22 November | Houghall College, Durham DH1 3SG |
| Thurs 1 December | IGER North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2SB |
The workshops cost £60 per delegate and attendance will attract FACTS (Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme) CPD points.
It is hoped that a second version of the PLANET software will be available by the middle of 2006, incorporating additional modules on farm-gate nutrient audits, whole-farm fertiliser and lime buying, slurry storage and NVZ organic manure nitrogen loading.
For more information on the software and training courses see www.planet4farmers.co.uk
