Waste more, fert. less! Event Summary
3 October 2017Interested in using distillery by-products as a fertiliser?
This popular event saw 40 gather at Mulben Mains to see a demonstration of the use of distillery digestate as a fertiliser & compare broadcast / bandspread applications.
Gavin Elrick of SAC Consulting showed an example of soil compaction, before discussing soil texture, structure, how to minimise the risk of compaction and how to deal with it. Gavin later gave a detailed presentation about soil structure and compaction – you can read the slides from this part of the meeting here.
Dr. Audrey Litterick of Earthcare Technical Ltd. gave a very comprehensive presentation on getting the best from distillery by-products for both the farmer and environment. Covering the key properties, application methods, timing of applications and environmental considerations. Read the presentation slides from this part of the event here. 
It was cle
ar that distillery by-products are good fertilisers and some are also soil conditioners. They can save farmers money but care has to be taken on when they are applied to get the most from them and minimise any environmental issues.
You can download free software to help plan and manage your nutrient budgets from www.planet4farmers.co.uk. This software
For more information on how to improve your soil health and manage your nutrients effectively, or on how this can help improve your farm productivity and reduce your carbon footprint, visit the Farming For a Better Climate website.
- Technical Note (TN656): Soil Information, Texture & Liming Recommendations
- • Web based access to information on your soils on your farm is described. • Soil texture classes of mineral soils are described and identified by hand texturing. • Liming recommendations for different soils and managements are tabulated.
- Topics: Soils
- Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Soil Management
- Topics: Soils
- Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Alleviating Soil Compaction
- This Practical Guide gives some ideas on how to alleviate soil compaction.
- Topics: Soils
- Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Field Drainage
- Topics: Soils and Water Management
- Farming For A Better Climate: Practical Guide – Improving Soil Quality
- This Practical Guide concentrates on how we can improve soil quality to help us to adapt to climate change.
- Topics: Soils
- Farming For a Better Climate: Practical Guide on Optimising Organic Nitrogen
- This Farming For a Better Climate document was included as part of the delegate pack for those who attended the FAS event 'Waste more, fert. less!'.
- Topics: Climate Change
- Practical Guide: Nutrient budgeting I – The Benefits to your Business
- This practical guide looks at the benefits of creating and using a nutrient budget for your farm business.
- Topics: Climate Change
- Practical Guide: Nutrient Budgeting II – Getting Started
- This practical guide looks at what factors you need to consider when making a nutrient budget for your farm, fertiliser recommendations and how to get the most out of your nutrient budget.
- Topics: Climate Change
- Practical Guide: Soil sampling I – How to take a soil sample
- This practical guide details what is required to take a soil sample for analysis that is representative of the area sampled.
- Topics: Climate Change, Soils and Water Management
- Practical Guide: Soil sampling II – Benefits to your business
- This practical guide details how soil sampling can benefit businesses by increasing productivity and create efficiencies on fertiliser inputs through better nutrient planning.
- Topics: Climate Change, Soils and Water Management
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