Nutrient Management

Last year provided Scottish livestock producers with generally kind weather for making silage. But do not assume the same will happen this year.

After taking over Hope Farm in 2000, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is using the land as a testbed to demonstrate how farmers can transition to more nature-friendly practices while remaining commercially profitable.

New rules on the use of urea fertilisers will be implemented from this year, Defra has confirmed.

If heavy rainfall and challenging ground conditions prevent T0 fungicide applications, industry experts advise growers to increase T1 application rates 

Arable farmers are being encouraged to make early foliar phosphate applications to give crops a much-needed development boost this spring. 

Simon Nelson advises farmers on a wide range of arable and forage crops across Cumbria, north Lancashire and into south west Scotland.

The ‘to do’ list for dairy farmers before first cut can be long, but key tasks must be prioritised to ensure high-quality silage.

Trials by ADAS show that sulphur-based fungicides can boost and protect new chemistry, is effective against mildew and can be mixed with other products used to combat yellow rust.

The first fertiliser applications were applied to the 2023 ADAS Nutrition Challenge sites last week, starting the race to be crowned the winner of the best spring fertiliser management strategy.