What is Your Soil Nutrient Plan for 2022? – Max Sealy (Chippenham)

Everyone will be well aware of current high prices of fertiliser whilst the market focus tends to be on the price of nitrogen.  The prices of phosphate and potash are also at or near record highs.  The recent fertiliser surveys showed the following results:

“Given the current fertiliser prices what are your intentions regarding fertiliser purchase and use for 2022?”

17 %                     bought early

66 %                     wait and see

12%                      buy now but reduce usage

5%                        buy now normal quantity

Clearly those people that have budgeted ahead and covered their costs will be in a stronger position, whereas those that have done nothing will need to consider their options.

At the same time a large number of farms are undergoing pressure on sustainability and carbon footprinting from suppliers and from their customers and really need to think hard about how soils are managed and nutrients are applied and utilised.  This is also impacted by the recent rules for water changes and will be further impacted by ELMS sustainable farming initiative and other forthcoming regulations.

The key to all of this is a well thought through nutrient management plan established with an independent consultant who can assess your current status, both of macro and micronutrients, PH and lime requirements and soil health.  This should be backed up with some physical analysis including texture and soil condition as well as chemical analysis. 

This then makes the basis of a good plan to base your fertiliser applications on.  If you are not currently doing a nutrient plan, now is a good time to start.  If you are doing one and the same recommendations are being repeated year in and year out, now is the time to challenge your advisor.

Think very hard about the yields that are actually being achieved on your farm of the different crops, in particular if you have a variety of soil types how that affects yields and plan your fertiliser accordingly.  A classic mistake is to always plan for high yields that are never achieved, or to underestimate soil nitrogen supply.  For example, this year, we don’t know whether we are going to have a wet or dry winter, but next spring would be an excellent time to assess soil nitrogen supply as residual nitrogen would form an important part of potential cost savings going forward.  This applies both to livestock and arable farms.  The former needs to grow sufficient food to feed livestock, particularly on an intensive dairy farm where the cost relationship between fertiliser and dry matter grown is still favourable even at current prices.  With judicious use of fertiliser and a well-integrated plan using up slurry (ensuring it is analysed) considerable cost savings can be made.

To help develop a nutrient plan to maximise resources on your farm, contact Max at maxsealy@fcgagric.com or your local FCG FACTS consultant today.