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Reducing Waste guide

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1. or oscillating spout spreader O Boundary device for pneumatic spreader Nothing Headland application devices or machine adjustments for spinning disc oscillating spout and pneumatic spreaders will alter the quantity of fertiliser and spread pattern to avoid hedgerows or field margins see machine operators handbook Do not spread fertiliser in areas under management agreements or under legal requirements that prohibit such applications 21 Wastes from Crop Production Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage Do you produce organic manure on your farm Farmyard manure Slurry Poultry manure e e Other organic waste Annual cost Nitrogen fertiliser Phospate and potash Other fertiliser mh Imh h h Total annual cost Do you use organic manure Farmyard manure Sewage sludge Slurry Other organic waste OIOIOIOIO Poultry manure Take account of any livestock manure and organic wastes e g sewage sludge in your nutrient management plan to make savings in purchased inorganic fertiliser See also the section on Nutrients from manures and silage effluent page 97 22 Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Is the use of nitrogen in autumn necessary Yes O No O Nitrogen should only be used in autumn where it will be fully utilised by the growing crop or locked up in the breakdow
2. Drain down area size Ys O No YesO No The size of dip bath is particularly important if it is over sized then more dip may be made up than is required and greater wastage may occur Is it completely watertight Is draining area covered Wastes from Livestock Production Used sheep dip What type of dip concentrate do you use Organophosphate Synthetic pyrethroids Other specify Do you use pour ons Yes No O Do you use injectables Yes O No O The choice of chemical will depend on operator preference and the parasites to be controlled Consider worker health issues and provide all necessary protective clothing for details see the HSE booklet AS29 on sheep dipping Consider environmental issues The range of chemicals available for use in sheep dipping is shown on page 52 One dip in an Organophosphate or Flumethrin should be adequate to control sheep scab and protect the sheep for a further period of time However some dips require two dippings 14 days apart and do not have any significant residual effect Do you further dilute the working strength used dip with water or slurry before disposal to land 0 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 O O O O 51 Wastes from Livestock Production Used sheep dip How long after dipping is the used dip disposed of 1 day O 1week O 1 month O 3 months Other specify If the dip is disposed of using a vacuum tanker
3. Can you avoid crop drying by attention to weather Yes O No O Dry by using cold air ventilation instead of heat Avoid drying unless necessary Can you reduce electricity used in lighting Yes O No O Optimising Use of Inputs Electricity Do you check control settings regularly Yes O No O Make use of natural light Use fluorescent lights Can you use deep straw bedding systems Yes O No O Deep straw bedding for pig housing saves heat input Can you install natural ventilation Yes O No O Automatically controlled natural ventilation avoids the use of fans in poultry and pig housing Could buying pre mixed feed be cheaper Yes O No O Buying in avoids energy use of 20 kWh tonne Waste Reduction Can you improve on equipment selection and maintenance Yes O No O System selection affects the accuracy of control Regular maintenance and calibration costs little Can you fit automatic temperature controls Yes O No O Automatic controls and correct settings can save 20 kWh per pig or 200 kWh per 1000 broilers per 1 C reduction Do you check control settings regularly for crop stores Yes O No O In cold stores inaccurate settings cost 40 kWh tonne Over drying grain by 1 costs 10 kWh tonne and also incurs loss of saleable weight Is your refrigeration plant design correct Yes O No O Effective cold store sealing saves 10 kWh per tonne stored Can you fit cooli
4. In field washing trimming packing O Ambient vegetable storage O O Refrigerated storage O Rapid cooling amp cold chain system With increased trade from overseas countries which have cheaper production methods or better climate fruit and vegetable crop production has become more competitive Consumer tastes have changed and a much wider range of foods is available to supply the demand This has generated new markets but decreased others To avoid mistakes it is vital to be certain about the markets for your produce 32 Do you have secured destinations for crops and produce Yes Local merchant takes itat harvest Store on farm sellonopen market Co operative type packhouse eieieie Z Own farm use animal feed forage Make regular appraisal of the various markets to enable new opportunities to be spotted and longer term contracts to be secured In some instances produce classed as out grade can fit into niche markets e g large baking potatoes What is the estimated crop and produce waste Tonnes Keep tabs on the value of crop losses including trimmings out grades and surpluses and don t forget to include the costs of waste handling and removal Losses are extremely variable depending on crop type post harvest treatment and quality requirements Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Do you consider crop production
5. rather than a rear spike to reduce mud splash from tractor wheels Collect and store the waste plastic straight after use using a covered storage area bin or trailer to keep it in a cleaner condition and to avoid wind blown litter Roll used silage wraps into tight sausages to reduce the surface area of the wrap open to further contamination Is waste plastic kept out of the dirt silage effluent rain mud soil Yes O No Is the plastic mixed with other materials before it is disposed of Yes No Keep the sheet wrap clean and separate from other rubbish because contaminants such as water soil and stone will significantly add to the weight of plastic to be recycled Such contaminants increase haulage and recycling costs that will ultimately be passed to the farmer Some recycling schemes will refuse to take highly contaminated plastic as they are unable to deal with it 39 Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet Review of current practice shrink wrapped or bagged big bales What surface are the bales stored on Field O Concrete O Store bales on a firm surface to help prevent the heap from slipping reduce the number of rips tears or splits and so minimise any need for re wrapping Bales stored on a concrete surface tend to be cleaner than those stored on a field surface Effluent can also be more easily drained to a suitable receptor from a concrete surface so reducing
6. then as a general rule it will need to be diluted threefold with water or slurry and disposed of at a rate not exceeding 20m ha But the requirements for disposal to land will be contained in the authorisation issued by the Environment Agency and must be followed Dip baths should be emptied as soon as possible after dipping to reduce the risk of leakage or overflowing due to rain How do you dispose of the used dip bath residue and washings Disposal contractor Apply to appropriate land Specialist treatment plant Area of waste ground 0 0 Soakaways If final disposal is to land or waste ground have you or your contractor obtained an authorisation from the Environment Agency Yes O No An authorisation is needed from the Environment Agency under the Groundwater Regulations 52 1998 before used dip can be disposed of onto land The Environment Agency has powers under the Regulations to prevent or place conditions upon activities which threaten to pollute groundwater and to prosecute if pollution occurs The Defra Groundwater Protection Code Use and disposal of sheep dip compounds PB5803 gives advice on complying with the Regulations Defra has also produced a sheep dip checklist PB5803A to summarise the main points Review of quantity and cost of treatment Estimate your chemical and labour costs per head for a single dipping add a proportion of any disp
7. 63 Wastes from Livestock Production Carcasses Typical mortality rates for various livestock Stock Annual Mortality Dairy beef cows 1 0 Bullocks heifers 1 5 Calves 8 5 Ewes 4 0 Lambs 10 0 Sows 4 0 Finishers 2 0 Piglets 12 0 Hens 5 0 Broilers 10 0 Take action if actual mortality levels are significantly higher than the typical industry standards given above 64 Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Do you have a stock replacement policy and health security policy Yes O No Take time to find out the health status of incoming stock Do you know the standards for stocking density Yes O No Follow legal requirements and the animal welfare codes of practice Do you have a good disease prevention policy with good practices disinfection programme improved stockmanship timeliness of spotting problems and alerting the vet Yes No Timely evaluation at death by a vet will enable you to take appropriate action and undertake precautions to avoid disease spread Do you have a good standard of livestock environment feeding water choice of buildings material ventilation ensuring correct nutrition Yes No Some buildings of general purpose design or of restricted height may cause physical problems or lead to poor ventilation Is automatic ventilation of livestock houses tested as required in the Welfar
8. Correct setting will save up to 20 energy compared to an incorrect setting Are your buildings insulated to current standards Yes O No O 10 energy saving by refurbishment 87 Optimising Use of Inputs Electricity Are lighting systems switched independently Yes O No O 30 energy saving Are you planning future investment in buildings or heating cooling Yes O No O Efficient designs gives 60 energy reduction in running costs for 8 increase in project cost Review of present electricity consumption Enterprise e g dairy Annual use of day rate electricity Energy used kWh Annual Cost Annual use of night rate electricity Annual total Note Repeat your review for each enterprise Enterprise Annual use of day rate electricity Energy used kWh Annual Cost Annual use of night rate electricity Annual total 88 Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Do you monitor all your energy usage Yes O No O More meters or hour meters give useful information Can you change to gas oil or LPG type fuel Yes O No O For heat these fuels reduce CO emissions by 66 Can you avoid having to cool down crops Yes O No O Harvest crops early in the day to reduce the amount of heat to be removed Can you pre cool produce with ambient air Yes O No O In refrigerated potato stores this may save 10kWh tonne
9. arising annually What is your waste packaging stored in Bin O Skip Plasticdrum Metal cage Pallet box O Bulk Old shed O Chemical store 0 e e What is your general policy Attempt to reduce incoming packaging Return it back to the place it came from Accept all packaging and dispose of it Accept all packaging and recycle it Accept all packaging and burn most of it DE BE BE DE Are the burnable materials segregated from non burnable materials Yes O No O Where does the waste packaging go Collected by a recycling scheme A contractor takes it away Taken to the landfill site Burnt in multi fuel boiler Sold Reused Returned to supplier ee 06 e e General Farm Waste Packaging Packaging Is disposal Estimated Estimated Category aproblem quantity per costs of year kg disposal Paper YONO f Cardboard YONO Foil aluminium YO NO Plastics film YO NO Rigid plastics YO NO f Polystyrene YONO Glass YONO Wood YONO 81 General Farm Waste Packaging Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Can packaging be avoided by using bulk delivery Yes O No O Use of bulk delivery and storage instead of bags can avoid waste packaging production Can packaging be avoided by using return trip containers Yes O No O Find alternative container types other th
10. following a nutrient management plan will help to optimise your use of fertilisers and other sources of nutrients Nutrient management planning saves 3 500 per year A 250 ha arable farm growing combinable crops on varying soil types began nutrient management planning by sampling fields for pH and P K amp Mg indices on a regular basis The farmer built up an accurate picture of soil fertility for every field atan initial cost of 300 The use of nitrogen fertiliser was examined and blocks of fields with similar soil type and previous cropping were sampled in the spring to establish available soil nitrogen This was taken into account in calculating crop nitrogen requirements In some situations this reduced nitrogen applications by up to 100 kg ha with no effect on yield or quality Wastes from Crop Production Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage Review of current practice Who decides the farm s nutrient policy Farmer Manager O Adviser Trade rep Supplier O O Is this person FACTS qualified Yes O No O Develop a Nutrient Management Plan for your farm this is one of the options in the Entry Level Stewardship scheme Keep good field records of cropping fertiliser and organic manure applications and update your plan at the start of each cropping year Take advice from a person qualified under the Fertiliser Advisers Certificate and Training Scheme FACTS They can provide detailed f
11. Farmer Manager O Stock person O Good livestock husbandry will reduce livestock mortality To start with check that livestock welfare housing design and conditions are satisfactory Being able to spot the early signs of sickness or disease enables corrective action to be taken before the situation becomes serious Someone should be made responsible for checking the well being and health of the animals see the animal welfare codes of practice on a regular basis and be aware of what to do in any given situation It is also important that the responsibility for calling in a vet is given to the right person to ensure there is no delay particularly when there is a higher than usual mortality rate Does the farm have a policy for casualty slaughter Yes O No O Many assurance schemes for supermarkets and other outlets now require that established procedures are in place for the careful handling of sick animals and the correct disposal of dead 62 ones A policy for the slaughter of casualty animals is often included in such protocols How are carcasses disposed of Hunt kennels other Knacker s yard Renderer Incinerator EL DL e e National Fallen Stock Scheme Burial and open burning is not permitted except in certain remote areas It is essential that dead animals are taken to a dedicated storage area as soon as possible after death in order to reduce any possibility of disease t
12. and storage On what basis do you select fertiliser Soil Crop requirement Price of material Availability Spreadability e e e Inaccurate application rate and a poor spread pattern from fertiliser soreaders can result in both fertiliser and crop losses Check the spread pattern annually by carrying out tray tests remember that some fertiliser will soread better than others SP rating Aim for a coefficient of variation of the spread pattern of less than 15 Check the calibration of liquid fertiliser applicators sprayers by paying attention to the flow from nozzles or dribble bars and the pressure settings together with travel speed Where are the empty fertiliser bags or containers stored Under cover O Outside O Other specify O How are the fertiliser bags or containers disposed of Recycled O Landfilled Other specify O Recycle fertiliser packaging bags Reuse containers but where this is not feasible these too can be recycled Separate and store plastics by type to ease collection i e the outer woven polypropylene plastic bag should be separated from the inner polyethylene bag Store the plastic securely under cover and away from potentially contaminating materials Further information is available in the Packaging section page 80 Hedgerow headland applications What do you use to reduce waste in this area Boundary device setting for spinning disc
13. area of the wrap open to further contamination Is waste plastic kept out of the dirt silage effluent rain mud soil Yes O No Is the plastic mixed with other materials before it is disposed of Yes O No Keep the sheet wrap clean and separate from other rubbish because contaminants such as water soil and stone will significantly add to the weight of plastic to be recycled Such contaminants increase haulage and recycling costs that will ultimately be passed to the farmer Some recycling schemes will refuse to take highly contaminated plastic as they are unable to deal with it Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet Review of plastics recycling disposal Where is the plastic stored Undercover O Outside O Other specify Over half of the weight of waste silage plastic can be water Therefore store the material undercover and keep it as dry as possible to reduce recycling costs significantly particularly for those schemes that charge by weight Plastic sheet should be folded and or rolled and stored in the dry ready for reuse How is the plastic disposed of Recycled O Landfilled Other specify O Ideally the plastic wrap sheet should be recycled to an approved scheme when no longer useable A number of local farm plastics recycling schemes have been set up around the country and the Government is looking to set up a National Collection Scheme for non packa
14. around the site The preferred option is to reuse the plastic on wide bed work the edges of the plastic sheet that touch the soil become dirty brittle and fail By removing the edges the sheet can be reused However when this is no longer a viable option recycle it through a recognised contractor Summarise annual amount of waste plastics Total annual estimated wastage Quantity Annual value 27 Wastes from Crop Production Plastic crop covers Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Have you considered alternative systems which avoid the use of plastic sheet Yes O No O Monitor the research work on new generation degradable plastics and organic alternatives straw and compost mulches Waste Reduction Do you check that the machine is properly set to ensure that the sheet is properly buried at the edges Yes O No O Wastage can be reduced where the sheet is not properly dug in at the edges and breaks free in the wind In such instances some of the sheet has to be re laid wasting not only sheet but time and money Do you check the machine settings to see the correct tension is being applied Yes O No O Take care with machine settings in order to avoid problems with the failure of the plastic film and therefore increased costs of disposal 28 Waste Reuse Can you reuse some or all of the sheet Yes O No O Investigate what width of film
15. at the edges needs to be trimmed off in order to reuse the sheet Check to determine the amended crop bed widths needed to suit the reusable width Could you use a different type of sheet which lends itself to reuse Yes O No O Rather than slashing the sheet for ventilation evaluate whether a perforated sheet would give similar performance and lend itself to reuse Can you improve the storage of the sheet to keep it in better condition Yes O No O Collecting the sheet into containers for transport and storage means it can be handled and stacked up without increased damage to it Waste Recycling Can you keep the sheet in a cleaner condition so that it may go for recycling Yes O No O Recycling companies prefer clean plastic in order for it to be useful this means the absence of contamination Can you keep the sheet in a cleaner condition so that it may go for conversion to energy Yes O No O The plastic may be used in a properly licensed waste to energy scheme but it needs to be clean Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Anticipated savings 2 5 O 5 10 OC Greater than10 O Value of savings Wastes from Crop Production Plastic crop covers 29 Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produce waste 4 4 Crop and produce waste Crop and produce losses at harvest together with out graded material
16. booklet AS29 on sheep dipping is available from the HSE at www hse gov uk or by telephoning 01787 881165 Legislation UK legislation is available from the Office of Public Sector Information s website at www opsi gov uk or by telephone on 01603 723011 Details of some of the links to UK legislation are listed below e Groundwater Regulations 1998 SI 1998 No 2746 www opsi gov uk si si1998 19982746 htm e BSE Monitoring England Regulations 2001 SI 2001 No 1644 www opsi gov uk si si2001 20011644 htm Each of the Devolved Administrations have made Regulations for the Welfare of Farmed Animals they are as follows e England SI 2000 No 1870 www opsi gov uk si si2000 20001870 htm 113 Useful Information References e Scotland SSI 2000 No 442 www opsi gov uk legislation scotland ssi2000 20000442 htm e Wales WSI 2001 No 2682 W 223 www opsi gov uk legislation wales wsi200 1 20012682e htm Northern Ireland SR 2000 No 270 www opsi gov uk sr sr2000 20000270 htm The Waste Management England and Wales Regulations 2006 SI 2006 No 937 www opsi gov uk si si2006 20060937 htm known as the Agricultural Waste Regulations 2006 more information about these Regulations can be found at the beginning of this manual on page 6 A list of the waste management licensing exemptions that have been identified for farmers and growers can be found at www defra gov uk environment waste agforum meetings 2003 index htm
17. derived from protein polysaccharide and lipids Many of these are edible and all are biodegradable Photodegradable films are used on sweetcorn and maize in the UK during summer They degrade at a fairly reliable rate even though climatic conditions in the UK are variable at that time The material does not break up sufficiently well into small and uniformly sized pieces at the end of use and the larger pieces left over may cause a pollution and litter problem Is the plastic cover reusable Do you reuse some all for Yes No Asecond time O More than twice O O On wide bed work the edges of the plastic sheet that touch the soil become dirty brittle and fail By removing the edges the sheet can be reused Review of plastics recycling disposal Approximately what fraction of plastic is reused a second time lt 10 O 11 25 O 26 50 O gt 51 O Where is the plastic stored Under cover Outside in the open O How is the plastic stored Loose folded Rolled In boxes O How is the plastic disposed of Recycled Landfilled Other specify O Wastes from Crop Production Plastic crop covers The greatest drawback to plastics recycling is contamination by other wastes or by water Store plastic away from other wastes keep different types of plastic separate from each other and keep the plastic as dry as possible Waste plastic should be stored securely and prevented from blowing
18. expenditure Substantial environmental e Saves time and money involved in benefits were also found to be possible even as managing and handling waste a result of small changes By creating less waste your farm will be tidier and the time saved can be spent on more worthwhile tasks e Reduces your disposal costs You may already be paying directly to have someone take waste away Reducing such waste will help you to contain these costs Introduction e Increases the value of crops animals or produce for sale A production system that creates waste can often result in lower quality products For example poor control of grain drying will result in spoilt grain and lower prices e Reduces harmful effects on the environment Minimising the quantity of waste reduces the risk of causing water air or soil pollution Publications referred to in this manual including various Codes of Practice are listed in Useful Information References on page 112 Introduction Principles of waste minimisation So how does waste minimisation work The basic principle of Waste Minimisation is to identify opportunities for improvement by using the following six steps for each aspect of your farm enterprise Review current practice Carry out a review of your current management practices Evaluate the nature the quantity and the full costs of dealing with waste Identify the source and the current disposal route Pay greatest attenti
19. of waste tyres to dispose of all at once Typically this can be experienced by farmers using tyres on the top of silage clamps Summarise annual quantity of scrap tyres Quantity Annual cost Annual tyre number year of disposal costs Tractor tyres Machine equipment implement tyres f 77 General Farm Waste Tyres Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Can you use a contractor for heavy field work Yes O No O Contractor costs can be very competitive and they will have the right size of equipment available Can you use tracked vehicles for some types of work Yes O No O Tracked vehicles are much better at heavy draught work and do less damage to soil Are all road operations necessary Yes O No O High speed road use causes accelerated wear of lugged type tractor tyres Using rubber tracked vehicles on the road also increases wear Can you avoid keeping used tyres Yes O No O If a used tyre has no practical use on the farm then it is best to pay the small charge to return the tyre with the fitter 78 Waste Reduction Have you considered machine operator training Yes O No O Proper operation can result in improved efficiency of the tractor by 20 Optimum slip should be in the range 10 12 Have you considered use of a specialist fitter rather than unskilled labour Yes O No O In some cases a trained fitter will be able to fi
20. or spoilage in store can account for between 2 to over 25 of yield There is potential for making large reductions in crop and produce waste that will save significant amounts of money and for system improvements that will contribute to better marketing options Improved controls for grain drying saves 3 000 p a A penalty was being paid on some 40 of the crop which was over dried or under dried because ventilation control was poor in an on floor system Improved control of air humidity was identified as the key issue which when corrected would provide more even drying to predicted moisture levels and shorter fan running time Estimated savings were 3 000 p a for an investment of 1 000 in improved controls Savings estimated at 4 000 per year for improved potato and vegetable harvesting management and equipment Potatoes destined for processing need to meet high standards of quality On an arable farm crop value was being lost due to out grades of green potatoes resulting from soil erosion Stones and clods were causing bruised potatoes and mechanical damage was causing losses on the harvester and grading line The cost of losses and disposal problems were high Attention to production management together with machinery investment of 5 000 will produce an estimated 4 000 p a saving Furthermore a move to a field mobile packhouse system will enable all washing trimming and preparation to be completed in the field saving h
21. or telephone 01905 768862 For divisional Veterinary Managers go to www svs gov uk ahdo_locations htm or telephone the Defra help line 115 Further copies can be obtained free of charge Contact Defra Publications Admail 6000 London SW1A 2XX Tel 08459 556000 Published by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the BOC Foundation in April 2006 Printed on material that contains 100 recycled fibre for uncoated paper and a minimum of 75 recycled fibre for coated paper Crown Copyright 2006
22. p kg sum across FYM f Poultry Litter f Slurry Dirty water Not all nitrogen is available in the season following application actual value may be 10 50 of this NB All values depend on current fertiliser prices 101 Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent Review of current practice Silage effluent Who is responsible for deciding when to cut and harvest silage on the farm Farmer Manager O Adviser Contractor O Cutting a crop in dry weather and letting it wilt to at least 25 dry matter for clamp silos will significantly reduce the amount of effluent and reduce or eliminate the need for an additive Acidic additives can increase the amount and speed of effluent production Absorbents will decrease but may not eliminate the release of effluent When do you make silage Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov 6 Digestibility and dry matter content of the ensiled material depend on when the grass is cut Using a contractor may speed the harvesting but may necessitate working under wet conditions particularly in a bad season Avoid very early and late cuts of silage which are likely to be wetter and give rise to more effluent 102 For how many hours do you wilt the crop 0 4 6 6 10 10 18 18 24 24 36 O Cutting a crop in dry weather and letting it wilt to at least 25 dry m
23. to storage e Separate hazardous and non hazardous waste e Store waste securely and prevent it from escaping from your control e Safely store waste for no longer than 12 months before it goes for recovery or disposal elsewhere e Ensure that if passing waste to somebody else for disposal they are authorised to take it e Obtain a waste transfer note for each movement of waste off farm by third parties This must include a description of the waste e Keep copies of waste transfer notes and waste descriptions for a minimum of two years when a contractor removes waste e Ensure you are registered as a professional waste carrier with the Environment Agency when carrying waste on behalf of somebody else Agricultural Waste Regulations e Dispose of waste at licensed sites A list of these sites can be found at www environment agency gov uk e Make full use of licensing exemptions and register such exemptions with the Environment Agency e Burn small amounts of plant matter in the open if you have registered this exemption e Continue to use authorised animal carcass incinerators without the need for a waste management licence to burn carcasses only e Ensure hazardous waste e g asbestos batteries obsolete pesticides and veterinary products are disposed of appropriately e Read Section 5 of the Code of practice for using plant protection products thoroughly It will give you useful advice on preventing
24. training would be beneficial In businesses with only a few staff it is often the manager who assumes responsibility for waste and resource management In larger enterprises the person responsible may be the one most familiar with the work in that area for example the sprayer operator tractor driver herdsman or shepherd Insert name of person and identify their responsibility for managing waste or resource tick appropriate circles Insert the persons number in the final column where there isa need for training Pesticide application Inorganic fertiliser Plastic crop covers Crops and produce Plastic silage wrap sheet Feed Used sheep dip Veterinary products Carcasses Scrap metals Fuel oil and lubricants Tyres Packaging Electricity Clean water Manures amp silage effluent Training need insert info 111 Useful Information References 10 Useful Information References This section provides details of where to obtain more information and guidance that is currently available and has been referred to in this document British Crop Protection Council BCPC publications The UK Pesticide Guide is available from the BCPC Go to www bcpc org or telephone 01420 593200 for more information Crop Protection Association CPA represents members active in crop protection amenity home and garden with a strong focus on food production Go to www cropprotection org uk or tele
25. use potable water only for a final washing stage in vegetable preparation Then recycle this in pre washes 96 Can washing water by recycled for other purposes Yes O No O On site settlement and treatment of vegetable wash water enables potential reuse for irrigation needs Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Estimated level of savings 2 5 5 10 O Potential savings Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent 7 3 Nutrients from manures and silage effluent By using appropriate systems and careful timing of poultry manure farmyard manure slurry amp dirty water applications to land these materials can be turned into valuable resources Developing and following a Nutrient Management Plan will help to optimise your use of these livestock manures fertilisers and other sources of nutrients Silage effluent is one of the most concentrated potential water pollutants produced on farms and so must be safely contained Such effluent also contains valuable nutrients and typically is applied to land for benefit But minimising the quantity of effluent reduces the risks of pollution and the problems and costs of storage tanks and handling systems Developing and following a Manure Management Plan will reduce the risk of causing water pollution from land application 97 Farmer saves over 3 000
26. For details of all of the waste management licensing exemptions contact the Environment Agency on 0845 603 3113 European Union legislation is available from the EU Commission They can be contacted by telephone International number 00 8800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by viewing the Commission s website at http europa eu int index_en htm Defra has some links to European legislation from their web pages they are e The Waste Framework Directive www defra gov uk environment waste strategy leg_dir htm 114 e Animal By Products Regulation EC No 1774 2002 www defra gov uk animalh by prods legislation htm e The Waste Incineration Directive www defra gov uk environment ppc wast eincin index htm The National Proficiency Test Council provides training and certificates of competence regarding the use of pesticides and fertilisers go to www nptc org uk or telephone 024 7685 7300 The National Spray Testing Scheme Under a Voluntary Initiative aimed to minimise the environmental impacts of pesticides a commitment was made by the agricultural and horticultural industries to extend sprayer testing to the majority of field sprayers For further information go to www aea uk com sprayer nsts_scheme htm or call 01733 362925 Pesticides Safety Directorate PSD Contact PSD if you have any concerns with pesticides they can be contacted on 01904 455775 or by looking at their website www pesticides gov uk e The Code of practice for using plan
27. O Pre cooling O Rainwater O Dipping O Other specify O Other specify The cost of water varies a great deal depending on the source and the season of abstraction Consider storing water abstracted during cheaper periods as a way of saving costs in the long term 92 Do you have separate water meters for each enterprise on your farm Yes O No O There is alarge difference between livestock needs and irrigation requirements 220 cows may each drink 150 litres of water every day a total of 30 m day whereas a single irrigator will use 80 100 m hour for specific periods during the irrigation season Water is needed not only for livestock drinking but also for washing down especially in milking parlours typical livestock water requirements are shown below Ona large mixed farm separate water meters will enable water costs to be budgeted against each enterprise or livestock husbandry system Check water meters regularly to reveal leakages Do you have frequent problems with pipe freezing or burst water pipes Yes O No O Once water is abstracted and paid for check leakage and evaporation losses are kept to a minimum Protect pipework from freezing Do you use large quantities of water for washing Yes O No O Large amounts of washing water are used in livestock fruit and vegetable enterprises Consider ways in which these large volumes may be reduced Consider vegetable wash water reuse options Op
28. Production Veterinary products Do you weigh animals before dosing Yes O No O Some treatments require an accurate assessment of bodyweight Do you regularly monitor and record animal growth or output such as milk or eggs Yes No Good stockmanship and knowledge of veterinary issues pays Regular livestock monitoring linked to research findings and thresholds aims to maximise animal health and minimises medicine inputs Could you make better use of research findings newsletters warning bulletins Yes O No These are available from several organisations which can aid decisions on veterinary medicines use Can you improve stock control and management of veterinary medicines in store Yes O No Good stock control of medicines in store can minimise the quantity of expensive veterinary medicines on the farm Most importantly keep a check on use by dates and storage conditions Antibiotics kept above the maximum storage temperature can lead to much longer withdrawal times 59 Wastes from Livestock Production Veterinary products Could you provide improved facilities for isolation of sick animals Yes O No An isolation bay for sick animals will reduce the risk of disease spread and can lead to faster recovery times Could you provide improved facilities for reducing risks of importing disease Yes No O Reduce the risk of importing disease by attention to animal an
29. Saving money by reducing waste Waste minimisation manual a practical guide for farmers and growers Saving money by reducing waste Waste minimisation manual a practical guide for farmers and growers ment for Environmen Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR Telephone 020 7238 6000 Website www defra gov uk Queen s Printer and Controller 2006 Copyright in the typographical arrangement and design rests with the Crown This publication excluding the logo may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright with the title and source of the publication specified Further copies of this publication are available from Defra Publications Admail 6000 London SW1A 2XX Tel 08459 556000 This document is also available on the Defra website Published by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Printed in the UK April 2006 on material that contains 100 recycled fibre for uncoated paper and a minimum of 75 recycled fibre for coated paper Product code PB 11674 A O D U Tick v 4 1 Pesticide application handling and storage 12 O 4 2 Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage 18 O 4 3 Plastic crop covers 24 O 4 4 Crop and produce waste 30 5 1 Plasti
30. Stewardship scheme Do you take manure samples and analyse them Yes O No O Use laboratory analysis or a rapid on farm slurry tests to check nutrient content What are the sources of dirty water Open yards Un roofed silage clamps Washing down water Run off from solid manure storage e e From clean roofs tracks or springs Minimise the quantities to reduce the costs of storage and spreading for example by eliminating clean roof water altering yard drainage and reducing fouled yard areas Consider roofing some areas 99 Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent How long do you store How is slurry dirty water applied to land FYM Slurry Dirty Dual purpose spreader O Wales Slurry tanker O 2 weeks O O ba Umbilical hose O 1 month O Splash plate discharge O 2 months O O O Boom discharge O 3 months O gt s Injector tines or discs O 4 months O O ba Dirty water sprinkler O 6 months O O Mobile irrigator O 1 year O O Band spreader O Draw up a Manure Management Plan to help you decide where and at what rate to apply solid manure slurry and dirty water to avoid causing water pollution and whether you have sufficient storage see the Code of Good Agricultural Practice Check the uniformity of the spread pattern and the application rate achieved Use band spreaders or shallow injectors to reduce ammonia
31. What types of sheets are used Yes No Polythene O Non woven film O O The two main categories of plastic film used are non woven fleeces and polythene sheet Non woven films are more expensive about 1000 ha than the polythene films 400 to 800 ha They do not give such high temperature lifts as the polythene but can remain on the crop for longer even up to harvest in some cases Alternatives to polythene films include paper mulches These are available as an option for use as weed suppressants but can really only be used with transplanted crops e g plug plants of lettuce brassicas etc The use of paper mulch is still very small in comparison to plastics as they are more expensive and heavier which entails heavier tackle for laying operations Wastes from Crop Production Plastic crop covers What width are the sheets Yes No 1 8 2 0m O 10 14m There are several specifications of each type of plastic film crop cover and the rolls may come in several widths appropriate to each crop For example carrot growers tend to use 1 8 to 2 0m wide film whereas most early brassica and salad crops are grown beneath 10 14m wide film this minimises the number of outside rows close to an edge of the film which suffer impeded crop development How is ventilation provided to the crop Yes No Perforations O Hand slashing of the plastic O The plastic sheets are used to achieve particularly ear
32. age system to a baled shrink wrapped silage system will involve extra cost for the wrap and additional disposal problems In the long term it may be cheaper to upgrade an existing silage clamp rather than pay the extra costs of wrap each year This will depend on the amount of work required to minimise pollution risks from the silage clamp 38 Review of current practice silage clamp sheet Who works out how much silage sheet is required Farmer Manager O Merchant Adviser The amount size and shape of the sheet required for clamp silos can be difficult to estimate given that overlaps and corners need to be accounted for Take a second opinion on what will be needed based on the number of silage cuts and anticipated yields Is the sheet generally required to be cut in order to fit the clamp Yes O No How many times does the existing system use the sheet Once Twice Measure rather than guess the length of plastic that needs to be cut off the roll and try to leave a sufficient length to cover a complete width or length Use the sheet a second year for covering the shoulders or as underlay to protect the new sheet Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet Is the plastic stripped off and removed to store straight away Yes No Is the plastic collected into a designated container or area Yes O No O Use a front spike for bales where possible
33. aid 1 000 for a training course and achieved the BASIS certificate of competence for crop protection and began a policy of monitoring fields regularly and spraying to thresholds As a result the annual pesticide bill has dropped to 31 000 which includes 1 000 paid annually to a consultant for strategic advice on pesticides In addition the sprayer was replaced with a direct chemical injection machine saving operator time and resulting in a further saving of 500 per year on operators wages An added bonus has been crop yield and quality improvement 12 Wastes from Crop Production Pesticide application handling and storage Review of current practice Who decides the farm s pesticide policy Farmer Manager O Adviser Trade rep Supplier O Is the person BASIS qualified Yes O No O Manage pesticide use carefully so that all applications can be justified Get information and help with decision making from trade representatives trade associations and independent crop consultants Read the Code of practice for using plant protection products particularly Section 3 on planning and preparation Also refer to the UK Pesticide Guide and check with the Crop Protection Association Seek advice from a qualified adviser such as those on the BASIS Professional Register For many pesticides applications must be carried out by a NPTC National Proficiency Test Council qualified spray operator unless that operat
34. an paper Instead of cardboard use reusable plastic or metal tray type containers Waste Reduction Could packaging be reduced by changing to larger sized containers or bags Yes O No O Instead of plastic fertiliser sacks use a bigger container size such as a big bag For all other types of packaging consider using bigger container sizes including bigger bottles and bigger boxes or cartons but don t over buy and watch the use by dates on bulk or large batches 82 Could waste packaging be reduced by better storage arrangements Yes O No O Avoid storing bagged powders or meal in damp conditions Store cardboard boxes off the floor Could better purchase planning reduce the amount of packaging Yes O No O Reduce wastage by sensible buying which includes attention to stock control inventory control use by dates and quantities etc Waste Reuse Can packaging be reused Yes O No O Sacks bags and pallets may be reused Could extra care be taken to keep packaging intact and enable longer life for reuse Yes O No O Reuse packaging materials by careful handling of the existing materials in the first place to avoid rips and tears of sacks or broken pallets Waste Recycling Have you assessed the recycling potential of your waste Yes O No O Refer to the Recycling Directory www wasterecycling org uk along with your local directories for further information Can paper and card b
35. an paying for disposal Can you utilise used metals for facing or repair of other items Yes O No Using metals available from other used components will save on the purchase of new metal resources Do you need to dispose of passenger vehicles or vans e g Landrovers and pickups from your holding Yes O No O End of Life passenger vehicles this does not include tractors combines and self propelled machinery can be taken to a designated permitted Authorised Treatment Facility list is published on the Environment Agency s website at www environment agency gov uk to be recycled or reused This is free of charge to the owner of the vehicle From January 2007 Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Anticipated savings f 71 General Farm Waste Fuel oil and lubricants 6 2 Fuel oil and lubricants Efficient use of energy makes good environmental sense and good business sense Fuel oil and petroleum products cost the agricultural industry more 450 million year To reduce these costs farm businesses increasingly need to practice good energy management One example is integrated crop management that by rationalising soil cultivations can achieve consistent savings in fuel costs Careful selection of cultivation systems can produce major fuel savings By careful tyre selection and choice of field operations a farmer has reduced trafficking in unsuitab
36. and disposing of pesticide waste e Use a pressure rinsing device or manually rinse pesticide containers three times so that they are no longer classed as hazardous waste e Consult the Environment Agency about licences permits for activities not covered by an exemption 10 Do not e Use farm tips dumps unless you have a landfill permit e Allow waste to escape from your control e Burn materials unless you have registered an exemption e Allow an unauthorised person to remove or handle your waste e Put agricultural waste in your household dustbin e Receive waste onto your farm unless you have a licence or the waste activity is registered as an exemption iia hala O oy AN ARN AT Wastes from Crop Production Pesticide application handling and storage 4 1 Pesticide application handling and storage Improved management and use of pesticides can produce significant savings Many assurance schemes and environmental bodies look favourably on well managed pesticide systems Reducing the use of pesticide decreases the amount of pesticide containers and washings produced Farmer saves 3 500 p a in chemical application and improves crop yield A 200 ha farm growing combinable crops potatoes and sugar beet with an annual pesticide bill 34 000 originally took advice from a pesticide supplier Yields were good but chemical input was high and application costs increasing The farm manager p
37. andling and storage costs and minimising field to field disease transfer odour and pollution risks Review of current practice Do you apply special quality management systems for production of vegetables and roots Yes O No O Identify staff responsibilities Modern management methods work on the principle of delegated responsibility Clear lines of communication enable the person responsible to look after commitments for any particular part of the crop production storage quality and marketing activities Identifying these responsibilities is fundamentally important and proper training is essential Do you prepare produce for specialist markets Yes O No O Do you keep abreast of new production and packing techniques Yes O No O Use consultancy press and merchant on line computer systems for keeping up to date with market intelligence Major downgrading of marketable value can occur if the appropriate markets have not been identified and their quality standards determined By gathering market intelligence of trends and prices paid crop or produce may be prepared to meet the higher value markets Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produce waste The higher prices for quality produce are generally paid by the supermarkets especially those operating quality or produce assurance schemes Of foremost importance is meeting the quality standards and keeping records of produce traceability Such schemes will a
38. ation details change this can be amended at any time Exemptions can be registered using Defra s Whole Farm Approach in England or directly with the Environment Agency ring 0845 603 3113 The following exemptions need to be registered with the local authority e Burning waste as fuel e Crushing grinding or size reduction of bricks tiles or concrete Management options There are five options for managing agricultural waste 1 Store your waste pending collection on the site where itis produced for up to 12 months Before the 12 month period expires you will have to do one or more of the following options 2 Take the waste yourself for recovery or disposal off farm at an appropriately licensed site 3 Engage a waste management contractor to handle the recovery or disposal off farm at an appropriately licensed site There are waste management companies who can visit your farm to do this 4 Register an appropriate licence exemption with the Environment Agency to recover or dispose of some of your waste on farm 5 Apply to the Environment Agency for a waste management licence or landfill permit to recover or dispose of your waste on farm Agricultural Waste Regulations Listed below is an overview of the do s and don ts of agricultural waste management Do e Use waste minimisation techniques to reduce both the environmental and financial burden of waste arisings e Segregate waste by type prior
39. atter for clamp silos will significantly reduce the amount of effluent and reduce or eliminate the need for an additive How many cuts 1 2 3 4 O Develop a Nutrient Management Plan for your farm this is one of the options in the Entry Level Stewardship scheme Keep good field records of cropping fertiliser and organic manure applications and update your plan at the start of each cropping year Estimate volumes and nutrient content of manures Take advice from a person qualified under the Fertiliser Advisers Certificate and Training Scheme FACTS They can provide detailed fertiliser recommendations Do you use additives Yes O No O Do you use absorbents Yes O No O Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent If you do dilute the effluent before application to land what ratio of water do you add 1 1 2 1 O Dilute effluent with an equal quantity of water before spreading to land Where silos are roofed the effluent may be much stronger and require more dilution How do you make use of the effluent Applied to fields By tanker O By low rate irrigator O Load into slurry store Use for animal feed O Effluent may be collected in an existing slurry or dirty water store but ensure that it is well ventilated and can resist corrosion such effluent can increase odour at spreading New silos should be provided with a dedicated effluent tank designed and co
40. by monitoring soil nutrient levels and making best use of manure A farmer has 300 ha of combinable crops roots and 100 dairy cows Previously fields were only soil sampled prior to root cropping every five to six years and soil indices were gradually falling Combinable crops received a blanket application across all fields of an NPK compound fertiliser although there were distinct variations between fields All organic manure was spread on land prior to planting root crops in the autumn and no account of its nutrient value was taken Subsequently some problems were seen on a regular basis in sugar beet with lower sugars and higher amino N Potatoes were also suffering due to excess nutrients The farmer has taken independent advice and developed a nutrient management plan taking full account of all organic manure for both previous and future applications All fields are sampled on a 3 year cycle and a combination of manure and inorganic fertiliser is applied on an individual field basis to meet crop requirements The new system has saved in excess of 3 000 and has made a positive improvement to farm performance Using a grass wilt programme reduced silage effluent by 85 A farmer with a herd of 120 Friesians makes 1200 tonnes of grass silage in a rooted clamp By moving from a six hour wilt programme to a 24 hour wilt the ensiled material has increased from an average of 20 to 25 dry matter and the amount of effluent arising has dropp
41. c silage wrap sheet 38 5 2 Feed waste 45 5 3 Used sheep dip 49 5 4 Veterinary products 55 5 5 Carcasses 61 6 1 Scrap metals 68 6 2 Fuel oil and lubricants 72 O 6 3 Tyres 76 O 6 4 Packaging except pesticide and fertiliser packaging 80 7 1 Electricity 86 O 7 2 Clean water 91 O 7 3 Nutrients from manures and silage effluent 97 O How to Use This Manual 1 How to Use This Manual Step 1 Refer to the contents page and place a tick against each waste or resource which is generated on your farm Step 2 Read e the Introduction which explains the principles of waste minimisation and e the section on the Agricultural Waste Regulations which identifies waste management options Step 3 Fill in your farm details at the bottom of this page This may prove useful when completing farm audits Step 4 Refer to the contents page where you have placed a tick against each waste or resource you have follow the colour banding and page number to the relevant section Complete your review of current practice with guidance notes provided Step 5 Identify potential savings by referring to Waste minimisation opportunities for savings at the end of each section Step 6 Transfer your conclusions from each completed section to the Action Summary Step 7 Identify who has responsibility for making decisions on waste and resource management and their training needs Step 8 Refer to the Actions Summary ona reg
42. city required to run piglet creep lamps resulted in higher than average sts for a pig enterprise By installinc s 86 Typical electricity usage on farms Enterprise Usage per assessment and assessment unit unit kWh Good Poor Dairy per cow 280 430 Arable per ha 89 183 Pig per head 51 79 Broilers per 1000 birds 250 300 Layers per 1000 birds 310 460 Grain drying per tonne 41 123 Potato storage per tonne 55 123 Review of current practice Have you considered alternative suppliers and tariffs Yes O No O You can negotiate favourable contracts saving up to 10 and could save 35 costs not energy with different tariffs Are all your appliances automatically controlled Yes O No O Automatic control can save 50 of energy usage Are any of your buildings metered separately Yes O No O Optimising Use of Inputs Electricity Separate meters make management easier Do workers switch off equipment and lights Yes O No O Switch off in breaks saves 12 in energy usage Do you consider the energy efficiency of motors Yes O No O High efficiency electric motors save 4 10 of energy usage Are low energy lamps used for continuous duties Yes O No O 75 energy saving possible Are smaller 26 mm diameter fluorescent tubes used Yes O No O 8 energy saving on 38 mm at reduced item cost Do you check thermostats regularly Yes O No O
43. d 4 700 per year This was achieved by introducing a full and proper milking routine to optimise milk let down reduce milking unit on time improve teat condition and improve the condition of dry cows Under the previous management policy the herd of 200 cows averaged 80 cases of clinical mastitis and missed out on the monthly somatic cell count SCC bonus offered by the milk buyer on average twice per year The improved regime rewarded the dairy enterprise by reducing the clinical rate to 45 cases per year saving on antibiotic costs and reducing the amount of discarded milk The benefits included improved lactation yield per cow reduced time in the parlour and the monthly SCC bonus Additionally improved dry cow housing and management reduced calving difficulties and the level of metabolic disorders as well as reducing lameness 55 Wastes from Livestock Production Veterinary products Review of current practice Who is responsible for animal health and welfare on the farm Farmer Manager Stock person O Yes No Check what procedures and responsibilities are in place and identify any further ones that may be required Is this person correctly trained It is important that someone has responsibility for checking the well being and health of the animals see the animal welfare codes of practice ona regular basis and is aware of what to do in any given situation It is also important that the resp
44. d delivery vehicle movements rodent and wild bird entry Make routine use of vehicle wheel dips and wellington boot dips Issue visitors with farm specific protective clothing Biosecurity on your farm is under your control Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Savings level estimate 2 5 5 10 O Anticipated savings 60 Wastes from Livestock Production Carcasses 5 5 Carcasses There are significant benefits from making every effort to reduce animal fatalities Fallen stock now present a double cost the loss of the animal and in most cases a charge for collecting and disposal of the carcass These charges may increase as there are now fewer disposal contractors and they are faced with higher disposal costs Livestock mortality costs reduced by better stockmanship A novel approach to treating a long term disease problem on a large pig unit led to 38 fewer deaths per month in a finishing house This equated to an annual saving in stock numbers of 456 which when sold at mature weight would realise 36 024 In addition there was an annual saving of 2 280 from carcass collection costs making a net overall saving of 38 304 61 Wastes from Livestock Production Carcasses Review of current practice Who is responsible for fallen stock on the farm E g removal to central point arranging for disposal etc
45. e at least 4 sets during its life A 10 saving in tyre wear could save approximately 2000 over the life of a tractor Training in better tyre management saves money and time A farmer in Nottinghamshire sent his farm engineer on a tyres training course with the result that improved tyre choice and care led to reduced punctures and longer tyre life This saved the cost of repairs and downtime and increased the performance of tyres for traction work The farm s new policy is to send used tyres back to the tyre supplier as paying the small charge each time ensures environmentally acceptable recycling 76 Review of current practice Who decides the farm s machinery tyre selection and procurement policy Self Dealer O Adviser O Engineer O Tractor driver O Do you service your own tyres or use a specialist fitter Self O Fitter O Do you have a policy on waste tyres Yes O No O If yes what is your general policy Send used tyres back with fitter Send off farm for recycling Reuse on the farm e e e Other specify Are all your tractor drivers trained for efficient machine operation with regard to ballasting and tyre pressures Yes O No O Do you keep records of each machine s tyre sizes and pressure ratings Yes O No O General Farm Waste Tyres Do you have lots of tyres to dispose of Yes O No O Significant problems can occur when a farmer has a bulk
46. e found at www nationalfallenstock co uk If you use an incinerator is its capacity greater than 50 kg hr Yes No O There are different requirements for incinerators with burn rates above and below 50 kg hr Check with the local authority licensing department and the Environment Agency for guidance on the use of incinerators The State Veterinary Service is responsible for inspecting and approving all animal carcass incinerator plants in accordance with Regulation 1774 2002 Guidance on using incinerators to dispose of fallen stock is available on the Defra website and from local Defra Animal Health Divisional Offices Wastes from Livestock Production Carcasses Estimate annual livestock mortality costs Cost of lost Cost of carcass stock value disposal Dairy cattle Beef cattle Sheep Pigs Poultry f Under the BSE Monitoring England Regulations 2001 any bovine animal aged over 24 months found dead on a holding or in transit must be notified to Defra s appointed agent Rural Payments Agency within 24 hours of its discovery Such carcasses will be removed free of charge Equivalent measures have been introduced across the rest of the UK The costs of mortality include the lost value of the animal as well as the carcass disposal The costs of carcass disposal can be assessed from the contractor s invoices for removal or from the capital and operating costs for on farm incineration
47. e of Farmed Animals Regulations Yes O No Follow legal requirements with regard to lighting levels for stock inspection and fail safe ventilation hatches in case of power cuts Are pest and predator control measures in place Yes O No Examples are fox control for outdoor lambing or outdoor pig units Waste Reduction Can you reduce transmissible disease problems on your farm Yes O No Check public access visitors protective clothing washdown and showers farm security Can you increase cleanliness hygiene and disinfection standards Yes O No Check feed lorries stock lorries waste management vehicles other vehicles use different disinfectants e g in solid form Wastes from Livestock Production Carcasses Can you prevent injury by improved building maintenance Yes No Reduced pests vermin viruses Reduced slips broken limbs from slippery floors Can you improve procedures for prompt veterinary intervention Yes No Use of medication inoculation antibiotics either in feed or water or via injection Can you improve mechanical equipment reliability and efficiency Yes O No Identify improvements to ventilation fail safes alarms and manure management to reduce mortality risks Can you improve management procedures and vaccination medication effectiveness Yes No Supervise at specific times including synchronised births la
48. e of metal saves the costs of the new cultivator points A farmer in the East Midlands has a policy to reuse all metal off cuts and to weld used points and hardfacing onto soil engaging machinery such as cultivators and harrows This extends the life of the current points and saves on the purchase of a new set 68 Review of current practice Who decides the farm s machinery replacement and procurement policy Self O Adviser O Engineer O Accountant O Dealer What is your general replacement policy General Farm Waste Scrap metals Do you have a policy on waste metals Yes O No O What are your scrap metals stored in Bins Skips O Bulks O Secure piles O Are all your tractor drivers trained for effective and efficient machine operation Replace with new after 2 years 350 No eblace Wil A Veateolanlere yess e Are all your tractor drivers trained to service Replace with 5 year old after worn out O and maintain their machines Tick the types of machines you have Yes No Water pumping Tractors O Tick the types of equipment you have Combine harvester O Lorry O Ploughs Discs Space heating O Cultivators O Grain drills Other specify Potato harvester O Sugar beet or other root harvester O Do you have a service and maintenance policy for all machines Yes O No O Do you keep records of each machine s spares and repairs bills Yes O No O Ot
49. e possible remove plastic from bales under cover over a clean dry surface e Ensure string and waste silage is not adhered to the wrap e Donot allow other materials such as tyres bricks stones metal objects etc to be mixed with the waste plastic e Segregate silage wrap from silage sheet and ensure that all other types of plastic e g bales netting are stored separately e Prevent waste plastic from being blown around e Store waste plastic undercover in a dry airy environment within a sealable holder made of the same material e g low density polyethylene e If the plastic must be stored outside roll it up tightly e Keep storage of waste plastic away from animals and machinery Summarise annual production of waste silage plastics Tonnes Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Could you make less silage Yes No Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet Would deeper silage clamps be a possibility Yes O No This reduces surface area and uses less sheet Can you avoid plastic film wastage during wrapping Yes O No Different finishing systems for beef require less silage and more cereals grazing or use of roots Do you choose film rolls without plastic centres Yes No Use appropriate amount of pre stretch tension Check wrapping machine type and settings Can you reduce the volume the plastic occupies Y
50. e recycled to produce income Yes O No O Paper generally has a value by recycling to a normal paper recycler but card may also cover costs or be cheaper to recycle than to dispose of Can metal packaging be recycled Yes O No O General Farm Waste Packaging Can you recycle plastics Yes O No O Some plastics can go to recycling organisations Different types should be segregated Some sacks or big bags may be used as geotextiles See section on plastic silage wrap sheet on page 38 Could some materials wood paper and card be used in a waste to energy system Yes O No Combustible waste may be used in a multifuel boiler system Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Estimated savings potential Metal containers can be taken to a recycling centre or added to the pile of metal scrap Tin and aluminium are high value metals Can you recycle glass Yes O NoO 2 5 O 5 10 O Potential savings f Most glass bottles of whatever colour are recyclable but colours should be kept separate Take care with chemical medicine bottles jars 83 General Farm Waste Packaging 84 Optimising Use of Inputs Electricity 7 1 Electricity Agricultural use of electricity especially for ventilation heating and cooling is increasing annually However new increasingly efficient systems can save at least 10 on electricity costs slectri
51. e the amount required The draining pens should direct drainage from dipped sheep back into the bath If dip is lost from the bath with each sheep dipped then more dip will be needed Could you redesign the dipping bath and drain down area to reduce waste Yes No The dip capacity should be the minimum for your flock This reduces the dip concentrate needed and the amount of used dip for disposal Drain pipes draining back into the dip also enables the dip to be effectively reused Design for a 10 minute holding time for animals Could you make a better estimate of the quantities required and reduce the amount stored between dippings Yes O No See notes overleaf 53 Wastes from Livestock Production Used sheep dip When ordering dip concentrate take account of existing chemicals in stock and try to identify pack sizes which fit requirements This reduces the excess in store See label recommendations to check amounts required Can you improve your calculation of dilution rates Yes O No Check the details on the chemical pack for directions on dilution rates and replenishment Accurately knowing the volume of the dipping bath will make calculation of dilution rates easier Could you use pour ons or injectables in some cases to reduce dip requirements Yes O No Pour ons or injectables result in reduced wastage They may be preferred to dipping in some cases to avoid handling of pre
52. e the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Anticipated savings Value of savings Wastes from Livestock Production Feed waste 5 2 Feed waste The costs of feed waste can be high especially in the case of bought in concentrate feeds Improved manger dimensions lead to feed savings A poorly designed feed manger for dairy cattle allowed the cows to push 19 tonnes per annum of complete diet feed onto the floor A 200 modification produced a saving of 700 in feed costs and saved clean up costs of the waste Wastes from Livestock Production Feed waste Review of current practice What triggers ordering Stock level J Supplier O Time date of month etc Damage to bags by rodents will lead to spillages and losses Animal health risks occur from feed spoilage due to moulds or other pests Ingress of water will lead to moulds and spoilage Ventilation with cold dry air is beneficial Where is feeding generally done On the floor inside Good inventory control and slick ordering procedures avoid long term deterioration in store and help business cash flow How is delivery made In bulk In bags Bulk order economies can be false if the feed loses value as a result of deterioration Dead corners in bins may lead to feed which becomes unusable Maintenance and training prevents damage to sacks and spillage of valuable feed Do you have a fast turnove
53. e waste Do you take advantage of weather conditions to improve product quality Yes O No O Can you reduce deterioration in store e g ageing dead spots moulds etc Yes O No O Where crops e g salad vegetables need to be kept cool or marketed to a specific dry matter then harvest at coolest time of day or in suitable weather Can the system operation be improved to leave dirt and out graded residue product in field Yes O No O Harvesting rigs which also comprise mobile packhouses are available and have many benefits Can store management selection of storage temperature humidity calibration of controls and other store conditions be improved Yes O No O Losses due to heating and respiration in grain and vegetables may be high Humidity is difficult to control Check and re calibrate all sensors controls regularly 34 Good store design avoids unventilated corners and inaccessible residues Can you improve the design of handling equipment Yes O No O Poor handling equipment can lead to spoilage Handling systems should suit the type of crop Can storage of crops for home use be improved e g clamp silage and feed grain Yes O No O Attend to the sheeting and sealing of clamp silage Keep grain fresh by cold air ventilation Waste Reuse Are leaks and spillages cleared up and reused for other stock Yes O No O Certain spillages may be fed to sheep pigs or othe
54. ed by 85 This has minimised the risk of pollution saved costs of applying effluent to land approximately 140 year and reduced the need for additives Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent Review of current practice Manures Who is responsible for management of manure slurry dirty water Farmer Manager Stock person Tractor driver Adviser Identify someone to be responsible for manure management to make best use of manures to reduce risks of causing pollution and to consider improvements e e Do you have a Nutrient Management Plan Yes O No O Develop a Nutrient Management Plan for your farm this is one of the options in the Entry Level Stewardship scheme Keep good field records of cropping fertiliser and organic manure applications and update your plan at the start of each cropping year Estimate volumes and nutrient content of manures Take advice from a person qualified under the Fertiliser Advisers Certificate and Training Scheme FACTS They can provide detailed fertiliser recommendations Do you have a Manure Management Plan Yes O No O Draw up a Manure Management Plan to help you decide where and at what rate to apply solid manure slurry and dirty water to avoid causing water pollution and whether you have sufficient storage see the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water This is one of the options in the Entry Level
55. eon and specialist consultants This will include an action plan and monitoring of health and welfare An evaluation of livestock welfare housing design and conditions will also be appropriate Spotting the early signs of sickness enables early corrective action to be taken Can you improve some aspects of livestock environmental control Yes O No Inadequate ventilation is a major contributory factor for diseases such as pneumonia stress and spread of disease Environmental control is used to keep animals at appropriate levels of temperature and humidity Can you improve the control of disease imported to the farm Yes No Avoid importing disease by attention to the history of animals bought in Segregate new arrivals Waste Reduction Do you review medicines policy annually Yes O No O An annual review with your veterinary surgeon as part of the Herd Health and Welfare Plan can help formulate a medicines purchase policy that takes a more strategic approach Do you generally buy more medicines than you immediately need Yes O No O Take veterinary advice on whether purchases are necessary Is the use of all medicines essential e g precautionary treatments and wormers Yes O No Check with veterinary advice on the use of prophylactic and anthelmintics treatments Improved grazing management may lead to savings and prevent disease resistance to anthelmintics Wastes from Livestock
56. ertiliser recommendations How is application rate and timing decided Rate Soil analysis PK Soil analysis N Leaf analysis Timing Growth stage O Tsum 200 Identify soil nutrient status by sampling and analyses every 3 to 5 years and use published data for determining crop requirements Very useful sources of information include Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops Defra RB209 anda computerised version of RB209 called PLANET Apply nitrogen at the correct crop growth stage Use fertiliser timing prediction models e g T Sum 200 published in Farmers Weekly to improve decisions for applying nitrogen to grassland early in the year Do you apply nitrogen in the autumn Yes For oilseed rape No O In a compound fertiliser O Timing is important Applying nitrogen in autumn may in some cases have an adverse environmental effect such as nitrate being leached out with drainage water or travelling downwards into the ground aquifer below How much of the land you farm is in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone NVZ All Part O None O 19 Wastes from Crop Production Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage Areas within Nitrate Vulnerable Zones NVZs have special requirements for nitrogen applications in order to protect groundwater and surface water Full details of the Action Programme for England can be found on Defra s
57. es to 3 per 1 000 m check with your local Environment Agency office for winter abstraction from rivers Make an estimate of the costs for each part of your business Estimated savings potential 2 5 5 10 Potential savings value Typical livestock Litres Typical wash drinking head water use water need day Dairy cows 45 150 18l cow day Sheep 2 5 5 Pigs 5 15 2l pig after each batch Poultry 1 000 birds 15 30 Beef 25 45 Consumption will be a factor of milk yield weight and availability of trough space 94 Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Do you supply irrigation water to crop requirements only Yes O No O Irrigation scheduling services avoid over and under application Could you change systems to avoid wastage of water Yes O No O Consider using potable water where only necessary e g for final rinse on a carrot washing line Waste Reduction Do you use controls sensors and meters Yes O No O Use meters to check on water consumption by each enterprise and to detect leakage Can you improve irrigation management Yes O No O Irrigation scheduling services avoid over and under application Tied ridges retain water and prevent soil erosion Night time applications will help minimise evaporative losses Optimising Use of Inputs Clean water Can you select irrigation equipment which uses water more efficien
58. es O No Cardboard centres are easier to dispose of Waste Reduction Can you match your sheet purchase to the needs for the site Yes O No Compress the plastic prior to disposal Waste Reuse Can you reuse sheet in non critical areas to reduce the amount of new sheet Yes O No Buy only the size you need for the clamp Check number of bale overlaps e g 50 overlap twice Can you maximise the dry matter conserved per unit of film Yes O No O Use of chopper feed mechanism on balers increases bale mass by 20 Square bales use more wrap Re use of sheet in the following year reduces amount of new plastic required 43 Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet Waste Recycling Are efforts made to keep sheeting as clean as possible during and immediately after use Yes O No Cleaner sheet is more suited to recycling Could you keep clean off cuts separate Yes O No Clean off cuts are easier to recycle or reuse Could the used plastic be kept cleaner during storage so that it may go for recycling or conversion to energy Yes O No Recycling companies prefer to take clean plastic It may go to a licensed waste to energy scheme Does your supplier offer a take back scheme Yes O No Check on the Recycling Directory www wasterecycling org uk or with the NFU or suppliers for schemes 44 Estimated annual cost savings Summaris
59. f wilt or an additional rowing up operation may be needed if a higher dry matter is required e g for big bale silage Can you use a mower conditioner more suitable to rapid wilting Yes O No O Certain designs of conditioner are better able to promote rapid wilting In heavy crops there can be a tendency for some material to pass through the conditioner with little treatment Can you use absorbents Yes No O The use of absorbents such as dried sugar beet shreds or rolled barley will reduce effluent production However absorbents cannot soak up all the effluent from very low dry matter material 105 Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent The use of straw bales in the base of the clamp has been practised on some farms Nutrient recycling Have you considered nutrient management planning to reduce waste by ensuring manure and slurry applications are calculated on a field by field basis Yes O No O Take account of soil indices previous cropping soil type crop yield potential and crop fertiliser needs Livestock manure slurry contain valuable nutrients PLANET software makes calculation and record keeping much easier Are you able to have your manure and slurry analysed for nutrients Could you use portable meters for this Yes O No O Slurry and manure analyses are best done using laboratory techniques Slurry analyses may be done using relatively inexpen
60. ge the recovery of waste and to enable the waste producer to manage their low risk waste activities Exemptions can only be made for e waste disposal at the place of production or e waste recovery They are subject to general rules such as size quantity and must not have adverse impacts upon the environment Twenty three of the existing licensing exemptions used by other industries may be of use to farmers and growers These are listed here e Burning waste as fuel e Waste for construction e Waste used as packaging or containers e Preparatory treatments of waste plant matter e Burning waste as fuel in small appliances e Crushing grinding or size reduction of bricks tiles or concrete e Waste for the benefit of land Agricultural Waste Regulations e Waterway dredging e Land reclamation e Baling compacting or pulverising e Preparatory treatments of certain wastes e Storing returned goods e Composting waste e Disposal by incineration at the place of production e Construction and soil materials e Burning waste plant tissue in the open e Manufacture of finished goods e Waste from sanitary conveniences with removable receptacles e Use of waste e Storage of waste not at the place of production e Storage of waste in a secure place e Storage of waste at the place of production e Wastes in secure containers A full list of exemptions can be found at www defra gov uk environment wa
61. ging farm waste plastics 41 Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet Review of material quantities The approximate amount of plastic sheet required for clamp silos is 0 16 kg per tonne of silage for wrapped bales it is 1 3 kg of film per tonne silage Make use of the recommendations to farmers on reducing contamination on silage plastic bale wrap and sheet These are based on research and development e Ensile grass at a high dry matter where possible to minimise effluent e Store silage bales on a clean well drained preferably concreted surface Where stored ina field consider using a silage sheet to stack bales on in order to minimise soil contamination e f rodents are a problem place suitable rodenticides around not within the stack e Store the bales undercover wherever possible Consider covering the bale stack with a simple roofing system e g corrugated sheets If stored outside ensure the stack is netted to minimise damage from birds and wind e Avoid placing the bale stack under trees e Where possible carry wrapped bales using a front spike avoid using a back spike or adjust the back spike to prevent the bale from dragging along the ground 42 e Donot allow the waste plastic to be dragged over mud or get caught under tractor wheels e Open the bale from underneath allowing any collected effluent to drain off in a safe manner before removing the wrap e Wher
62. gnant ewes 54 Waste Reuse After dipping has been completed used dip should not be reused but should be disposed of properly After use the used dip must be disposed of in accordance with the Groundwater Regulations 1998 unless it is consigned off farm to a registered waste disposal contractor All dip products are hazardous substances which may harm humans and pollute the environment Spreading thinly onto farmland is the usual route for disposal Even in very small quantities this requires written authorisation from the Environment Agency Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Savings level estimate 2 5 5 10 Anticipated savings Wastes from Livestock Production Veterinary products 5 4 Veterinary products Veterinary medicines are an essential part of livestock enterprises to ensure high standards of disease control and animal welfare Combined with veterinary fees total costs of vet and med are considerable It is estimated that the UK agriculture industry spends around 340 million per year on veterinary medicines Improvements to animal husbandry and management will benefit both animals and enterprise profitability as well as reduce the use of medicines Dairy farmer saves 4 700 p a on vet and med bills By following the Defra Mastitis Management Action Plan a dairy farmer was able to save aroun
63. group of animals treated and the number of animals treated The storage and usage of medicines on the farm should be controlled and monitored Do not purchase medicines unnecessarily or keep large amounts in store Do you take unused medicines back to the vet or agent supplier Yes O No Some veterinary surgeons suppliers operate a take back system Do you take used medicine containers back to the vet or agent supplier Yes O No Do you have a sharps container and disposal policy Yes No Separate your veterinary waste into different risk categories and identify a recognised disposal route Consult your supplier 57 Wastes from Livestock Production Veterinary products Review of veterinary and medicines costs Estimate all veterinary and medicine costs and compare to some typical costs see notes below Typical cost per animal of vet and medicines Type of animal Typical annual cost per animal High Average Low Dairy cow 70 40 30 Beef sucklercow 30 22 15 Ewe amp twin lambs 11 5 5 3 Sow 45 38 30 Taken from the Farm Management Pocket Book 2005 58 Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Can you improve animal husbandry to avoid the need for so much veterinary medicine Yes O No Prevention of sickness or injury is better than a cure You should have a Herd Health and Welfare Plan in place agreed with your veterinary surg
64. her specify 69 General Farm Waste Scrap metals Tick the types of waste metals you have Mild steel Cast iron Hardened steel O Stainless steel Lead batteries and pipes Copper wiring motors Aluminium castings or pipes Scrap machines vehicles Scrap equipment implements BE BE DE DE DE e Summarise annual wastes Quantity per year t Annual value Ferrous metals f Non ferrous metals Scrap machines equipment implements Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Can you use plastic materials instead of metals Yes O No O Plastic tanks plastic sheeting and plastic piping may be used instead of metals and will be resistant to corrosion 70 Can you use a contractor for some types of work Yes O No Using a contractor saves machine ownership costs and improves the utilisation of specific types of machine A contractor also brings expertise in the machine s use and looks after its maintenance Are all field operations necessary Yes O No O Cultivation operations are particularly expensive on metal wear and energy use Check whether all operations are necessary and whether they are correct for the soil moisture and structure Waste Reduction Have you considered altering machine settings Yes O No O Have you considered operator training for servicing and operation Yes O No O Trained opera
65. hods give tyres extended life General Farm Waste Tyres Waste Recycling Are you able to make better use of the tyre fitter dealer for recycling the tyres Yes O No O Most dealers fitters now offer a take back system There is a fee but it is usually much less expensive than trying to dispose of it yourself Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Estimated savings potential 2 5 O 5 10 Potential savings f 79 General Farm Waste Packaging 6 4 Packaging except pesticide and fertiliser packaging Many forms of packaging are used in agriculture and disposal costs may be significant for individual farmers and growers Without correct management the packaging which may include paper card and plastics can become litter Good opportunities exist and may be developed further for reusing and recycling these materials Improved arrangements for packaging recycling and disposal produce several environmental benefits Instead of paying 40 per tonne for rubbish taken to landfill a farmer now recycles some packaging materials Income is derived from waste pallets by selling them to other farmers who need them and paper sacks go for recycling for 10 tonne Even though the income from this is very small there is a reduction in environmental pollution and a saving in landfill disposal costs 80 Review of current practice Review of waste packaging
66. icide stock control Yes O No O Practice good store management by buying only what you need when you need it It helps with cash flow and reduces the risk of spoilage or loss in store Good store management reduces the risks of damage and or waste through handling extremes of weather fire or expiry of approval for use Read through Section 3 of the Code of practice for using plant protection products for ideas Waste Reduction Could you grow alternative lower Plant Protection products input crops Yes O No O The cost of pesticide use on crops such as wheat is by far the greatest input cost item Wastes from Crop Production Pesticide application handling and storage Could you use other cultural or biological control methods to reduce pesticide use Yes O No O Methods include cultivation crop rotation crop varietal resistance and inter cropping Do you make use of regular crop monitoring research findings and thresholds Yes O No O Regular crop monitoring linked to research findings and thresholds aims to maximise crop returns with minimum inputs Have you considered the use of specialist application machinery Yes O No O Specialist application machinery can assist pesticide application at lower application rates e g air assistance Have you considered the appropriate use of adjuvants Yes O No O Adjuvants are chemicals which help a pesticide to be more effective If you
67. ides Action to be taken by J Smith Proposed actions 1 Reduce pesticide inputs to crops by making use of independent advice at an earlier crop planning stage Aiming for 5 saving in first year 2 Decrease washing water from sprayer by fitting an internal tank wash system Date to review Spring 2006 Potential savings value 5 000 p a Subject Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Actions Summary Subject Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Subject Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Subject Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Subject Actions Summary Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Subject Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Subject Action to be taken by Proposed actions Date to review Potential savings value Responsibilities and Training Needs The following table provides a checklist for you to identify who has responsibility for the various activities on your farm Tick boxes are provided to prompt you to consider the qualifications and experience of that person for each area of work This will help you consider whether further staff
68. ing animals access to feed when it is not necessary This avoids recreational spillage of feed Waste Reduction Are feeders calibrated regularly Yes No Volumetric feeders must be recalibrated regularly and always when changing feed physical form Check also gravimetric feeders Do you check that access to feed is controlled Yes No O Wastage may occur by the action of the stock Could you improve the location of your silage clamp Yes O No Clamp location is an important factor in ensuring good quality silage and minimum runoff and spoilage Could you improve the sealing and storage of silage or improve the feeding arrangements if self feeding for example Yes O No For notes see overleaf 47 Wastes from Livestock Production Feed waste Silage can be lost in the clamp by poor feed face management e g too large a face area and or poor unloading methods that allow air into the clamp causing spoilage Could you modify mangers or replace old feeders Yes O No Correct dimensions of mangers and height settings will avoid losses Replace or repair broken feeders Could you improve control of vermin in feed stores Yes O No Use feed troughs or racks in the field in preference to tipping feed on the ground Does the feeding equipment damage the physical form of the pellets and cause excess dust Yes O No Poor handling equipment can lead to sp
69. le soil conditions and so reduced the need for remedial cultivations saving up to 6 per hectare in fuel cost alone This has also freed up labour and machinery leading to improved timeliness of other operations A further 40 60 of cultivation fuel costs has been saved by using combination implements to accomplish field work with fewer passes and non powered seedbed cultivators In addition this has reduced labour amp machinery costs and improved timeliness of operations 72 Who decides the farm s fuel oil procurement policy General Farm Waste Fuel oil and lubricants Are your oil fired heating systems thermostatically controlled Farmer Manager O Yes O No O Supplier O Do you have a service and maintenance Engineer O policy for all machines Are all tractor drivers trained to optimise on fuel use Yes O No O Tick the equipment you have which uses fuel oil Tractors O Lorry Combine harvester Grain drier O Space heating O Water pump Other specify Is the main diesel oil tank kept locked Yes O No O Does the diesel oil tank have a meter Yes O No O Do you keep records of each machine s specific use of fuel Yes O No O Yes O No O Summarise annual use Quantity per year l Annual value Heating oil Engine fuel oil Lubricants 73 General Farm Waste Fuel oil and lubricants Waste minimisation opportunities fo
70. lnerable Zones NVZ Detail of NVZ s can be found in the following publications both of which are available from Defra s publications line see above or on the website at www defra gov uk environment water quality nitrate nvz htm Guidelines for Farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones PB5505 Manure Planning in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones PB5504 Environment Agency The Environment Agency can provide information in most areas regarding the environment agriculture and waste go to www environment agency gov uk or telephone the Environment Agency s National Customer Contact Centre 08708 506506 Fallen Stock Collection Scheme If you have fallen stock that needs to be disposed of contact the National Fallen Stock Company on 0845 054 8888 or visit their website www nationalfallenstock co uk The Farm Management Pocket Book is written by John Nix and is regularly updated To request a copy telephone 01664 564508 Fertiliser Advisers Certificate and Training Scheme FACTS For further information about FACTS contact 01335 343945 or view website www basis reg co uk Useful Information References e RB209 Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops anda computerised version of RB209 called PLANET ISBN 0112430598 can be ordered from the Stationary Office on 08706 005522 or downloaded from the Defra website at www defra gov uk environ pollute envpoll htm Health and Safety Executive HSE HSE
71. loss and odour problems for the Protection of Water This is one of the How much of the land you farm is in options in the Entry Level Stewardship scheme a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone NVZ All Part None O Areas within Nitrate Vulnerable Zones NVZs have special requirements for nitrogen applications including manures in order to protect groundwater and surface water Full details of the Action Programme for England are available on the Defra web pages www defra gov uk environment water quality nitrate default htm 100 Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent Estimate manure volumes and associated nutrient amounts and write them in the table below FYM Poultry Slurry Dirty Litter water Annual quantity tonnes tonnes m m Total nitrogen kg kg kg kg Total phosphate kg kg kg kg Total potash kg kg kg kg Estimates of livestock manure quantities and nutrient content are published in Defra RB209 and Managing Livestock Manures booklets Free Defra software packages MANNER calculates available nitrogen for manures depending on manure type spreading rate and date and post spreading management and PLANET calculates N P K S and Mg availability to crops from manures Now estimate the value of these nutrients Multiply the estimated kg of nutrients previous table by the appropriate financial value below Nitrogen Phosphate Potash TOTAL value 36 p kg value 29p kg value 21
72. lso require records of chemical inputs and environmental aspects Field vegetables or protected cropping produce have relatively high value and is generally required for a fresh produce market New crop production storage marketing and packaging methods are continually being implemented to extend the season of production Keep abreast of these techniques and changes in order to meet the demands of future markets Implement operator training at the beginning of harvest and at regular intervals to maintain job satisfaction and consistent standards of work quality Do you use the following for cereals Yes No High temperature drying of cereals O O Long term cereals storage period O O Grain cleaning sieves drums O O Cereal prices have dropped dramatically in recent years and therefore premiums paid for quality are more important Maintaining a strong relationship with dealers is essential and using techniques to enhance quality will be beneficial However because of lower overall cereal prices the premiums 31 Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produce waste must be balanced against the additional costs of the drying cleaning or grading operation together with any reductions in saleable weight due to the out graded fraction Use test methods to determine grain or seed out grade ratios and enable better decisions to be made when drying or grading large quantities Do you do the following Yes No
73. ly crops but the system is risky in that the temperature may be too high under the film causing damage to the crop The film must have ventilation provided either by holes pre punched in the material at the factory this ranges from 60 500 x 1cm holes m or by hand slashing of a non perforated material in the field as the crop develops Hand slashing makes reuse impractical 25 Wastes from Crop Production Plastic crop covers Are the plastic covers used with one overlying the other Yes O No O The two types of cover may be used together in a double cover system with the non woven laid directly over the crop and the polythene laid over the non woven cover The polythene sheet is removed at the standard time according to crop development and the non woven cover may be left on until harvest Earlier cropping is achieved by combining the high temperatures from the polythene with the longer term benefit of the non woven cover Is the polythene film Yes No UV photo degradable O O Biodegradable by water O O Trigger agent degradable O O Plastic film can be manufactured to be photo degradable and biodegradable either by reactions to ultra violet UV light or water A chemical agent can be sprayed onto the plastic either to trigger or enhance the reaction and after treatment the plastic can be ploughed into the soil Research has been done on organic films 26 Biopolymer films are
74. m or being spread from animal to animal Good ventilation and temperature control in livestock buildings can be very effective for both non intensively and intensively housed stock Provide a sick bay hospital pen or separate housing for sick animals so that the temperature may be regulated and risks of disease spread are reduced Such facilities are likely to be a requirement of quality assurance schemes Isolation facilities are required for sick or injured animals under Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations Wheel and foot dips will reduce the risk of importing disease Make routine use of wellington boot dips Do you have the following O Medicines purchase policy Prophylactic treatment policy Anthelmintics treatment policy Medicines storage policy Secure medicine store Large stocks in store e e elele e x e e e e e e Much out of date medicine stock You must maintain records of the purchase of medicines It is a legal requirement that medicines used on farm should be recorded in a standard format You can use this information to establish the efficiency of certain treatments in specific situations As a minimum you must record the Wastes from Livestock Production Veterinary products name of the animal medicine used the name and address of the supplier the date of purchase the date of administration the total quantity of animal medicines used the identity of the animal
75. mbing Can you improve carcass removal containment and removal to an isolated storage area Yes O No See notes overleaf 65 Wastes from Livestock Production Carcasses Removing carcasses quickly will reduce the chance of disease spread Can you dispose of carcasses by incineration Yes O No Incineration is a very effective means of disposal Check legal requirements Waste Reuse Can you use a licensed knackerman Yes O No Continually review charges for disposal Can you send to hunt kennels zoos circuses or maggot breeding farm Yes O No Continually review charges and options for disposal Have you considered use of Renderers Yes O No O Review this option for disposal Have you considered use of the National Fallen Stock Scheme Yes O No Review this option for disposal 66 Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Anticipated savings ZA a ieee po BELID rT aa aata Se General Farm Waste General Farm Waste Scrap metals 6 1 Scrap metals Sending redundant machinery to an authorised scrap metal merchant is a way of converting waste into cash Metal tubes pipes and panels may have many uses and so also have a value The disposal of certain vehicles that have come to the end of their lives will be free of charge if disposed of using a designated route Reus
76. n independent voluntary inspection and testing scheme for a variety of equipment used to apply pesticides A valid test certificate to a recognised industry standard provides evidence that application equipment is working correctly Wastes from Crop Production Pesticide application handling and storage For more information go to the NSTS website at www nsts org uk A built in tank wash system using a rotating spray jet can significantly cut down on the amount of water used Refer to the handbook when changing sprayer settings and carrying out regular servicing and maintenance This will ensure accurate application How do you fill your sprayer Closed transfer systems O Induction bowl O Direct into tank hopper Where do you dispose of tank washings Previously treated crop O Pesticide treatment system O Disposal contractor O Authorised area of land O Use sprayer filling facilities e g induction bowls hoppers to reduce spillage waste of concentrated pesticide Tank washings cleanings can be disposed of by spraying out over the crop provided you comply with label recommendations To dispose of washings to other areas of land you must have an authorisation from the Environment Agency under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 Soakaways are no longer permissible Check with the Environment Agency if you are considering a pesticide washings treatment system 15 Wastes from Crop Produc
77. n of straw and crop residues which would otherwise have a detrimental effect on crop growth Can you reduce fertiliser waste during storage Yes O No O Fertiliser storage should be sufficient to eliminate wastage due to the effects of weather and rodents to aid handling and to prevent the pollution of a watercourse in the event of fire Do you use soil analysis results to adjust phosphate and potash application rates Yes O No O Past applications of organic manures and fertilisers have built up soil phosphorus levels in many soils Around 50 of arable soils have phosphorus levels above the target level for arable crop production where reduced or nil rates of phosphate application are recommended Wastes from Crop Production Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage Have you considered using bulk solid or liquid fertiliser Yes O No O Bulk solid or liquid fertiliser avoids packaging wastage However not all farms are capable of handling bulk supplies But on farms which can the use of bulk supplies may increase the field efficiency of the spreader output and therefore improve timeliness of operation and optimise nutrient uptake Waste Reduction Have you considered nutrient management planning Yes O No O Nutrient management planning aims to reduce waste by ensuring applications are calculated accurately on a field by field basis It takes full account of soil indices previous croppi
78. nderestimated Consider any large roof areas first Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent Can the amount of washing water be reduced Yes O No O Remove excess dung from parlours and yards with a brush or squeegee before hosing down Reduce washing water by reducing the time for which the hose is used per day Can you improve the manure collection and storage system to reduce the exposed area which collects rain water Yes O No O Due to their shape and relatively shallow depth lagoons and compounds collect much rainwater Stack FYM high in middens to reduce exposure Consider roofing FYM stores Can you adjust storage periods and store size Yes O No O Improve the time period available for spreading by planning access to grassland or maize and spring cropping or land coming out of set aside Waste Avoidance and Reduction Silage Can you substitute maize for grass silage Yes O No O Maize silage normally matures to a dry matter level where no effluent is produced Can you use a local weather forecasting service to help determine a better choice of cutting date Yes O No O Reduce effluent production by ensiling grass at high dry matter contents Can you encourage better wilting by extending the wilting period Yes O No O In favourable weather conditions wilt in the field for 24 hours to raise the dry matter content to at least 25 Longer periods o
79. ng soil type crop yield and any organic manure applied Could you improve your spreader sprayer calibration and thus reduce crop lodging and associated losses Yes O No O Calibration and maintenance is essential to ensure accuracy of application to reduce environmental impacts and the incidence of crop lodging and or areas of under nutrition Waste Recycling Do you recycle your waste fertiliser packaging Yes O No O A number of farm plastics recycling schemes will collect waste fertiliser packaging Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Savings level estimate 2 5 O 5 10 10 15 O Anticipated savings 23 Wastes from Crop Production Plastic crop covers 4 3 Plastic crop covers In recent years there has been an increase in the area of vegetable crops including potatoes which are grown under plastic film covers or planted through plastic mulches laid on the surface of the soil Effective use and disposal of plastics is expensive and therefore the opportunities for savings are large Plastic crop covers are recovered and reused Re using plastic covers saves money A brassica grower in Lincolnshire uses non woven films more than once and puts them in bulk boxes to keep over winter A celery grower in Cambridge recycles crop covers so they are used more than once 24 Review of current practice
80. ng controls in the dairy Yes O No O 1 C overcooling of milk costs 40 kWh cow year Can you reduce air or water leakages Yes O No O Leakage means lost product and energy loss Can you save lighting energy costs Yes O No O See notes overleaf 89 Optimising Use of Inputs Electricity Use PIR sensors low energy lights dimmers or zoned switching of lights Can you pre cool milk using water and improve the efficiency of your bulk tank Yes O No O Milk pre cooling reduces energy usage by 50 Select refrigeration plant correctly to save 80 kWh cow year Can you change washing systems Yes O No O Cold wash systems will save one hot wash per day Can you use high efficiency motors Yes O No O Use high efficiency motors for long running motors Could you install better insulation Yes O No O Save 200 kWh per 1000 broilers 2 kWh per piglet and 20 kWh per tonne in cold stores Waste Reuse Can you re circulate warm cold air Yes O No O This reduces heating or cooling requirements 90 Waste Recycling Can you recover heat from milk cooling water Yes O No O Can you recycle process water Yes O No O Recycle heated water for wash water Save up to 14 kWh cow year Use final hot rinse water for other washing Can you recover heat from cooling plant Yes O No O Heat recovery units can recycle heat from warm air Can you incorporate heat recovery uni
81. nstructed to comply with the latest regulations What is the silage system Roofed clamp O O Un roofed clamp Large bales O In high rainfall areas un roofed clamps will give rise to alarge amount of dilute effluent if rainfall occurs during or immediately after ensiling On the other hand big bales are normally ensiled at 35 dry matter or more producing no effluent What is the average dry matter of ensiled grass Dm 10 15 15 20 20 25 25 30 30 35 Wet O O O O O Dry What is the effluent tank capacity m The total likely effluent production for a range of grass dry matter contents is Use the figures in this note and those in the estimates quantity of silage below to estimate quantities of effluent arising calculating tonnages of dry matter of each cut separately if necessary Dry matter 15 18 20 22 24 26 110 733 45 25 1 Type of crop ensiled silage conservation system and storage facilities will each have an effect on the volume and nature of effluent arising Further advice on dealing with effluent is given in the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water Litres per tonne 150 103 Optimising Use of Inputs Nutrients from manures and silage effluent Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Estimated quantity of silage What is the estimated annual quantity of silage First cut Second cut Clamp 1 Clamp 2 Clamp 3 Grass unle
82. oilage Choice of conveyers and feeders should reflect the form and type of feed Change to more stable pellets Check maintenance change equipment train staff Waste Reuse Are leaks and spillages cleared up and reused for other stock Yes O No 48 Certain spillages may be fed to sheep pigs or other stock fed outdoors Can you feed left over feed to other stock e g feed grain cleanings and broken pellets to gamebirds Yes O No By feeding in feeders in the first instance left overs may be reused as described above Waste Recycling Could you spread waste feed to land Yes O No Recycling waste feed with FYM can be beneficial and is often better than disposal Have you considered feeding silage effluent Yes O No O See Section on silage effluent page 97 Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings 2 5 O 5 10 Potential savings value Wastes from Livestock Production Used sheep dip 5 3 Used sheep dip Sheep dipping showering is carried out in the UK to control sheep scab lice ticks keds and blowfly Proper control of these parasites is an essential part of good animal husbandry while lack of control leads to ill health in the neglected animals and economic loss to the farmer Dipping more than is necessary however is expensive and increases any potential risk that dip chemicals may
83. on to the more significant issues Vv Avoid waste See if the waste can be avoided from the outset Consider alternative materials or the use of alternative techniques v Reduce waste Where waste cannot be avoided then consider how it may be reduced Look at all the options Consider technical changes to the system or the use of other management techniques Consider staff qualifications and training vy Reuse waste Some waste materials may be reused as the raw material for another process vy Recycle waste Many waste materials can be recycled for a secondary purpose Check the Recycling Directory at www wasterecycling org uk or check local directories and web sites for recycling centres or specialist contractors vy Take action Compile a shortlist of potential improvements and take action in order to make the savings work 5 Agricultural Waste Regulations 3 Agricultural Waste Regulations The Waste Management England and Wales Regulations 2006 SI 2006 No 937 referred to in this manual as the Agricultural Waste Regulations will be in force in England and Wales from 15th May 2006 These Regulations have significant impact on farmers and growers and the way that they manage their business 1 Agricultural waste is now controlled or industrial waste and subject to the same legislative controls as waste from other industries Historically farmers and growers have taken waste disposal into their own hands wi
84. onsibility for calling in a vet is given to the right person to ensure there is no delay Being trained to handle a sick animal is equally important not only due to the risk of further injuring the animal but also the risks of injury to farm staff in the case of heavy pigs or cattle etc Who decides the farm medicines policy Farmer Manager Stock person Vet Consultant ME DE DE e Trade rep supplier 56 Veterinary medicine applications should be recommended by a qualified individual vet or pharmacist All administrations should be justified by seeking appropriate professional advice All prescription only medicines POMs will be supplied by the veterinary surgeon for the farm while others on the Prescribed Medicines List PML may be obtained from a variety of sources Do you have the following policies Yes No High health status O Farm disease import prevention Checks on feed drinking water quality O Checks on ventilation control where applicable Do you have the following facilities Yes No Isolation bay for sick animals O Vehicle wheel dips and footbaths O Many assurance schemes require that established procedures are in place for well managed and supervised use of medicines and the correct disposal of veterinary waste Health risks can be reduced and welfare improved by attention to biosecurity i e minimising the risk of diseases being brought on to the far
85. or qualifies for the grandfather rights derogation Details of certification including continued professional development via the National Register of Spray Operators NRoSO and BASIS are available How is application rate and timing decided Previous experience Crop monitoring threshold levels Research finding warning bulletins Protective prophylactic spraying Press articles e e e Product label For up to date information refer to the research findings newsletters warning bulletins available from several organisations Threshold guidelines have been developed for several crops for disease weed and pest levels above which a pesticide application can be justified or pesticide doses optimised How often do you calibrate your sprayer When applications are inaccurate Beginning of every season When changing water volume nozzle When changing wheels tractor Every 100 ha Calibrate your sprayer to ensure accurate application of pesticides Research has shown significant benefits if sprayers are calibrated not only at the start of the season but also when changes are made to the volume applied wheel e e e 13 Wastes from Crop Production Pesticide application handling and storage sizes or types of nozzles used The National Spray Testing Scheme NSTS is an independent voluntary inspection and testing scheme for a variety of equipment used to a
86. osal authorisation costs If you use could use a contractor how much does he charge per head for plunge dipping p add a proportion of any disposal authorisation costs Note 1 Organo phosphorus compounds a Diazinon 2 Synthetic pyrethroids a Flumethrin b Cypermethrin Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Can you avoid dipping by use of pour ons Yes O No O A wide range of pour on preparations are available for the effective treatment of ectoparasites but none are effective against sheep scab Can you avoid dipping by use of injectables Yes O No O Currently 3 licensed injectable products are available for controlling sheep scab Be sure to follow the manufacturer s instructions carefully Other measures may be required as some products do not provide much residual protection Can you introduce a quarantine and checking system Yes O No By operating a closed flock system and retaining strict control on the movement of other sheep or carriers problems can be vastly reduced or avoided Wastes from Livestock Production Used sheep dip Waste Reduction Can you reduce the frequency of dipping Yes O No O The frequency of dipping may be reduced by choice of chemicals and reduced sheep movements Can you buy less but be more efficient Yes No The type of chemical and method of dipping can maximise the chemical efficiency and thereby reduc
87. person Read the Groundwater Protection Code Use and Disposal of Sheep Dip Compounds 50 When do you dip your flock Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Dipping is frequently carried out in May June July as a preventative measure against blowfly strike and many shepherds would protect their flock from sheep scab in the autumn typically before the autumn sales Segregate and treat all replacement stock on arrival at the farm to eliminate the possibility of infection of the whole flock Markets and stock transport vehicles are potential sources of the sheep scab mite Who does the dipping Farmer Manager Head shepherd Shepherd Contractor Do any of the above hold a certificate of competence for sheep dipping Yes O No Use qualified or trained persons to carry out the dipping A certificate of competence is required National Proficiency Tests Council Do you have a dip chemical purchase and storage policy Yes O No Do you have a large stock in store Yes No Do you generally use up all the dip bought at one time Yes O No O If dip facilities are available on farm then purchase only the appropriate chemical in the required amount from the local agricultural supplier or veterinary surgeon Avoid purchasing excessive quantities and keeping them in store Review of the system and operation Dip bath Type Age Capacity
88. phone 01733 294228 for more information Defra Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Defra Help line 08459 335577 General website is www defra gov uk Some publications can be obtained from the website at www defra gov uk corporate publications or by contacting the free publications unit on 08459 556000 The free publications unit might ask for a PB reference number this is unique to a publication and where known is provided next to the publication 112 e Animal Welfare Codes of Practice These are available free from Defra Publications and on Defra s website at www defra gov uk animalh welfare farmed index htm Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for Air PB0618 Soil PB0617 Water PB0587 Summary of all three codes PB4029 These codes of practice are being revised and are only available from Defra s website at www defra gov uk environ cogap cogap htm Entry Level Stewardship scheme Environmental Stewardship is a new agri environment scheme which can provide funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land The scheme is open to all farmers and landowners For further information you can view the website at www defra gov uk erdp schemes es default htm or telephone 0845 603 7777 The Groundwater protection code Use and Disposal of Sheep Dip compounds PB5803 Check list Poster PB5803A Sheep Dip Check List PB5803B e Nitrate Vu
89. pose to human health and the environment The Groundwater Protection Code Use and Disposal of Sheep Dip Compounds aims to help people avoid polluting groundwater and to comply with Regulations Shepherd saves 1 150 per year by reduction in dipping A shepherd was determined to save time and costs of dipping a flock of 1 250 sheep To ensure that scab did not re enter the flock from exterior sources the timing of dipping was checked and with expert help it was decided to reduce from two dips per year down to one The shepherd was aware of the need to be more vigilant for other parasite infestations At an average dipping cost with synthetic pyrethroids of 0 60 per sheep and the lower costs of labour and dip disposal the shepherd saved 1 150 per year Wastes from Livestock Production Used sheep dip Review of current practice Is advice and guidance in the Groundwater Protection Code followed Yes O No Who decides when to dip the sheep on the farm Farmer Manager O Vet O Shepherd O Is this person trained YesseQ NoO Is this person qualified YeosO No Why do you dip Scab Blowfly Other specify O Whether to dip or not will depend on the parasite identified the availability of a dip bath or the accessibility to a mobile dip facility alternative treatments and the associated practicalities and legislation Seek advice from your veterinary surgeon or other suitable qualified
90. pply pesticides A valid test certificate to a recognised industry standard provides evidence that application equipment is working correctly For more information go to the NSTS website at www nsts org uk Do you have a large stock in store Yes O No O What do you do with unused concentrated pesticides Disposal contractor Apply to an appropriate crop Take into account any chemicals currently in stock and try to match your order to pack sizes This will reduce the amount of pesticide being left over and reduce the amount of packaging waste Where more than 200 kg or 200 litres of pesticides are stored for sale or supply to others there are additional legal obligations Guidance is available in the Yellow Code Return unused or unapproved pesticides to the supplier or dispose of them by a licensed waste disposal operator 14 Sprayer Make write in Machine 1 Machine 2 Machine 3 Last calibrated write in date Machine 1 Machine 2 Machine 3 Tank wash system Handbook available Machine1 YesO NoO YesO NoO Machine2 Yes NoO YesO NoO Machine3 YesO NoO YesO NoO Calibrate your sprayer to ensure accurate application of pesticides Research has shown significant benefits if sprayers are calibrated not only at the start of the season but also when changes are made to the volume applied wheel sizes or types of nozzles used The National Spray Testing Scheme NSTS is a
91. r of feed stocks Yes No O Rotation of stocks maintains freshness of feed Mould and dust may entail health risks to staff Is delivery and storage Yes No Vermin proof O O Waterproof O Well ventilated O 46 On the ground outside In troughs or mangers DE DE OE In feeders or racks Losses from floor feed systems can be considerable but are not easily measured Feeder and drinker design can affect losses to floor or to slurry system Is the full cost of feed preparation carefully assessed Yes O No Energy used in feed preparation and handling is also wasted if the feed is not eaten Are rations carefully formulated Yes No Correctly formulated diets ensure that stock are fed the required nutrient balance with less waste Feed as of production cost Lowlandsheep 40 Egg layer 70 Pigs 90 Dairy 70 18monthbeef 46 Review of feed wastage value Estimate Annual Cost of Feed Wastage Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste Avoidance Can you reformulate rations easily Yes No Keeping rations simple reduces the likelihood of surpluses Formulate to use up surpluses Can you modify your feed storage to improve it Yes O No Losses in store should be avoided by design Wastes from Livestock Production Feed waste Can you install transponder or timer activated feeder systems Yes No O Some systems avoid giv
92. r savings Waste Avoidance Is the use of all fuel oil necessary Yes O No O Avoid use of machines for journeys or tasks which themselves are not productive or which could be dealt with by internet email telephone or mail order Can you change fuel Yes O No O Consider other fuel types including gas electricity LPG See section on electricity page 86 Do you know where all your energy is being used Yes O No O Records of fuel usage by individual machines helps identify inefficient use and enables action to be taken Can you improve oil and lubricant storage Yes O No O Some losses or leaks are avoidable Using locks and pass codes for drawing fuel oil will deter theft and improve fuel efficiency 74 Can you avoid crop drying by attention to weather Yes O No O Selection of harvest conditions can reduce drying need Grain for rolling may be stored at a higher moisture content by using alternative techniques Waste Reduction Can you improve on tractor and equipment selection and maintenance Yes O No O Regular maintenance and servicing will improve efficiency and economy Can you fit heating controls on driers and heating systems Yes O No O Over drying grain by 1 costs around f 1 tonne Spacing heating to an extra degree can cost 10 more Can you increase fuel efficiency by altering machine settings Yes O No O Check plough or cultivator settings Cul
93. r stock fed outdoors Can you feed left over feed to other stock e g feed grain cleanings and broken pellets to gamebirds Yes O No O Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produce waste Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Estimated level of savings 2 5 5 10 Estimates savings potential By feeding in feeders in the first instance left overs may be reused as described above Waste Recycling Do you use out grades or residues as feedstuffs for animals Yes O No O Have out graded cereals milled or other products ensiled to produce feeds for livestock Do you consider niche markets for out graded produce Yes O No O Out graded produce may be suitable for pet foods 35 Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produce waste 36 Waste from Livestock Production gt iy R mJ Wastes from Livestock Production Plastic silage wrap sheet 5 1 Plastic silage wrap sheet Recent estimates suggest that approximately 25 000 tonnes of non packaging plastic materials are supplied to UK farmers and growers each year They are often used only once are bulky to handle and frequently contaminated by soil and feed residues Contamination makes plastics more expensive to recycle Clamp silage saves plastic costs compared to baled silage Changing from an existing clamp sil
94. ransferral With pigs and poultry livestock mortalities occur on a regular basis throughout the year and so an ongoing procedure for carcass disposal is required For other livestock the mortality rate is seasonal e g at the peak period of lambing or calving and specific measures need to be taken at these times Dispose of fallen stock without undue delay in accordance with the Animal By Products Regulation Regulation EC No 1774 2002 A number of disposal routes for fallen stock are permitted by the Regulation including rendering incineration or sending the carcasses to a knacker or hunt kennel Consult local Defra Animal Health Divisional Offices for advice Burial and open burning is only permitted as a disposal route for animal by products in this case fallen stock in certain remote areas parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland the Scilly Isles and Lundy Island and during outbreaks of notifiable disease if there is a lack of capacity at rendering plants and incinerators or if transport of the carcasses would spread disease To help farmers source an approved disposal route and obtain value for money an industry led Fallen Stock Collection Scheme backed by Government funding started on 22 November 2004 An information pack containing details of how to join is available and farmers may obtain a copy or find out more about the scheme by telephoning 0845 054 8888 More information about the Scheme can also b
95. requirements with attention to the security of the markets Yes O No O Where manual quality control is required it maintains a high standard of training and consistency among CQ inspectors and operators Do you consider the entire enterprise and crop production system at the outset Yes O No O Budget for the likely quantities of out grade and cost in the necessary associated disposal costs Do you plan for inventory control and marketing strategy Yes O No O Plans or strategies should avoid excess long term spoilage and assist business cash flow Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produce waste Waste Reduction Have you considered staff training for the quality control QC decision maker Yes O No O Where manual quality control is required then maintain a high standard of training and consistency among QC inspectors and operators Are you careful in selection of product harvesting date and technique e g field trim select Yes O No O Monitor the crop as harvest approaches as harvesting a few days either side of optimum may result in poorer quality or more out grades Do you consider the machine settings of the harvester and subsequent graders and cleaners Yes O No O Monitor machine settings and vary them to suit conditions Harvest losses can be 2 10 Set equipment to avoid crushed grain and sliced bruised roots 33 Wastes from Crop Production Crop and produc
96. sive and simple meters Waste Reuse Can you use the effluent as a feed Yes O No O Feed value will vary depending on dilution but will be around 14 5 MJ kg dry matter If all effluent is to be fed then a relatively large 106 purpose built long term storage facility such as proprietary flexible bag will be required Waste Recycling Can you recycle effluent to land as NPK fertiliser Yes O No O Typical analysis per m 3 kg total N 1 kg POs 4 kg K O Defra Booklet RB 209 Can you employ improved techniques for land spreading to reduce crop damage and give better results Yes O No O Consider tramline width slurry spreaders trailing shoes shallow injectors and umbilical systems Check settings to improve nitrogen utilisation Estimated annual cost savings Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Annual savings Estimated potential for savings in fertiliser by better use of manure Estimated labour and equipment savings by improving system Actions Summary From the earlier sections it will be apparent that some opportunities exist to make improvements and reduce costs The purpose of this section is to summarise the more important opportunities and actions to be carried out Pages 107 to 109 may then be copied or taken out and used as an action list for the appropriate member of staff to attend to when the time is right Subject Pestic
97. ss wilted can produce large volumes of effluent whereas maize or whole crop cereals if harvested at an appropriate state of maturity will be sufficiently dry to produce little effluent Estimated volume of silage effluent What is the estimated annual volume of silage effluent See note above What is the estimated annual cost of making use of silage effluent Typical handling costs using a tanker might be 1 50 2 00 m based on a 7 m tanker handling 3 loads per hour at a total tanker tractor and driver cost of 25 hour Add the additional costs for handling the water used for dilution 104 Waste Avoidance and Reduction Manures Does any run off from fields or roads reach the slurry or dirty water system Yes O No O Particularly on sloping sites run off from fields and roads above and adjacent to the dirty area may enter the system Wherever possible divert this drainage Can any open yard areas or silos be roofed over Yes O No O Roofing over existing yard or silo areas may be considered for high rainfall areas Capital costs of 30 40 m must be weighed against savings in handling costs and other factors such as protecting cattle and stored silage from the elements Do any gutters or downpipes need repair Yes O No O Gutters and downpipes should be regularly inspected and maintained Additional water volumes arising from poor condition of these items is usually u
98. ste agforum Agricultural Waste Regulations There are two new exemptions specifically designed for use in agriculture they are e The deposit of waste milk diluted by water or slurry by spreading to land for agricultural or ecological benefit e The deposit of plant tissue on land to allow it to rot down e g crop waste from handling grading and storage Proposals for other new exemptions are being considered for agricultural waste in 2006 How to register an exemption The person carrying out the exempt waste management activity must register the exemption For example a farmer burning hedge trimmings must register the exemption burning waste in the open Usually it will be easy to determine who the responsible person should be but it is something you will have to consider if involved in contract farming or employing a contractor to do some work for you If you are employing a contractor you should ensure that you make it clear who Is responsible for registering the exemption This will depend on how much control you retain over the activities of that contractor If you are engaging in contract farming we recommend that you discuss and agree waste management responsibility when setting the contract Most exemptions need to be registered with the Environment Agency but there are some that need to be registered with your local authority Most exemptions will only need to be registered once If your registr
99. t Yes O No O Heat pumps can extract heat from warm water air Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Anticipated savings 5 10 O 10 15 O Potential savings Irrigation water use is reduced by better equipment selection An old style hose reel irrigator wind in mechanism was wasting water at the headland giving uneven application as well as uneven droplet sizes from its rain gun applicator leading to run off and soil erosion Using a new turbine type machine with speed regulation a boom with sprinklers is now used to produce better water distribution prior to crop canopy cover This has reduced erosion saved water and improved potato crop quality by decreasing greening Bite type pig drinkers saved 10 water charges A pig farmer identified that large spillages and recreational play with nipple drinkers were leading to losses and increased slurry volume By installing bite type drinkers losses decreased saving 10 of drinking water charges and reducing the cost of slurry spreading Optimising Use of Inputs Clean water Review of current practice Tick the relevant features of the systems used on your farm Source Storage Point of use O Public supply O Storage tank O Irrigation O Private supply O Reservoir O Livestock drinking O Borehole O Dyke O Cleaning washing River canal O Other specify O Domestic O Well or spring
100. t protection products Available from Defra see above as both a free CD and a priced publication 15 00 It is also available from the Pesticides Safety Directorate website at www pesticides gov uk Useful Information References e Training for personnel engaged in the sale Veterinary Medicines Directorate VMD supply and use of Pesticides For information about veterinary medicines you Information on training can be found on the can contact the VMD by telephone 01932 PSD website at 336911 or by viewing their website at www pesticides gov uk safe_use asp www vmd gov uk id 626 e The Yellow Code Can be obtained from the PSD website or by telephoning Defra s free publications The title Suppliers of Pesticides to Agriculture Horticulture and Forestry PB3529 Rural Payments Agency RPA The RPA is a major delivery body for Defra providing a range of services in support of the Departments objectives Key services include making rural payments carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing Further information can be obtained from the website at www rpa gov uk or by telephoning the RPA Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777 State Veterinary Service SVS The SVS is the Government s delivery agent responsible for animal health and welfare in the UK itis divided into regional Defra Animal Health Offices where divisional veterinary managers can be contacted For information on the SVS go to www svs gov uk
101. t the tyres with less risk of bead damage and reduced risk of slippage on rim or misalignment Is care taken to choose the correct type of tyre Yes O No O Consider load weight pressure ballast soeed rating design size tracking speed ground pressure gearing front rear balancing and road use requirements Help from an advisor or tyre engineer will save problems later Savings could be of the order 10 15 Is care taken to make the correct choice of machinery for the job Yes O No O Choosing tractors which can work at speed rather than a high torque and draught will improve efficiency and reduce strain on tyres Is care taken to ensure the correct matching of tractors to implements Yes O No O Tractor size should be matched to implement speed width and depth settings Workrate can be improved by 10 15 and tyre slip and wear reduced Do you give attention to machine settings Yes O No O For ploughs cultivators and subsoilers the draught force increases quickly with depth of setting Using shallower settings decreases the stress and wear on tyres considerably Waste Reuse Have you considered reuse of some types of tyre on other equipment Yes O No O Use some vehicle tyres as tractor front tyres as implement land wheel tyres or packer rollers Tractor tyres can be made into yard scrapers Have you considered remoulding or re treading of tyres Yes O No O These met
102. th the majority disposing of waste in on farm tips dumps and by open air burning This is no longer legal unless the farmer has the necessary waste management permits licences or registered the relevant waste management licensing exemptions Waste management licences involve demanding requirements and fees are charged It is unlikely that it will be appropriate for farmers and growers to seek permits or licences in most cases The alternative is to remove the waste from the farm and use licensed waste facilities capable of dealing with the waste generated Some waste management facilities and contractors can be found by viewing the National Recycling Directory at www wasterecycling org uk The Directory is an internet site developed by the Environment Agency and the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders Forum to help farmers and growers find ways of recycling or disposing of their waste Farmers and growers will need to log on to the above website enter their postcode select the types of waste they wish to recycle or dispose of and it will search for the sites nearest to the postcode given for each waste type selected Only waste management companies who choose to be listed on the site are shown If farmers and growers do not have internet access or are unable to log on to the site they can contact the Environment Agency on 0845 603 3113 who will then search the site for them What are exemptions Exemptions are designed to encoura
103. the amount of water trapped by the plastic Are the bales shrink wrapped Yes O No O Are bags used Yes O No O If so are they reusable Yes O No Shrink wrap cannot be reused whereas bags can be if the grade of plastic is suitable 40 What shape are the bales Square O Round What density are the bales High Medium Low O The bale shape makes a large difference to the amount of wrap needed but density is more important because large volume high density bales will require less wrap per tonne of silage made Is the pile of bales protected using further plastic cover net Yes O No Is the pile of bales fenced against dogs or other livestock Yes O No O Are bird rodent control measures used Yes No Protect the heap from animals birds and rodents This will reduce torn wraps and perforations reducing spoiled silage and minimising the need for re wrapping Is the plastic stripped off and removed to store straight away Yes O No Is the plastic collected into a designated container or area Yes O No Use a front spike for bales where possible rather than a rear spike to reduce mud splash from tractor wheels Collect and store the waste plastic straight after use using a covered storage area bin or trailer to keep it in a cleaner condition and to avoid wind blown litter Roll used silage wraps into tight sausages to reduce the surface
104. timising Use of Inputs Clean water Do you use a commercial irrigation scheduling service e g consultant marketing group Yes O No O Crop irrigation is by far the greatest consumer of water and good system management can reduce consumption by 10 for overhead irrigators and 20 30 for trickle systems Excessive use of irrigation will greatly increase energy and labour costs increase the risk of soil erosion and reduce the quality of the crop e g green or misshapen potatoes Do you use direct measurements of soil moisture deficit to assess irrigation requirement Yes O No Traditionally potatoes have shown the best economic response to irrigation and irrigation is often essential for good quality high yielding crops Check actual requirements with an agronomist and predictions are based on crop type soil type crop coverage air temperature humidity and wind speed together with expected rainfall Do you monitor irrigation applications Yes O No O Remember there are often differences between planned and applied irrigation rates due to pressure fluctuations application uniformity and the effects of wind 93 Optimising Use of Inputs Clean water Summary of annual costs of water Proposed actions Irrigation Drinking Washing Domestic f Total f The costs of water ranges from approximately 0 50 m for mains water price will vary between water compani
105. tion Pesticide application handling and storage Review quantities types and costs of pesticide As from 1 January 2006 it has been a legal requirement for all food and feed producers to record their pesticide and biocide use The Code of practice for using plant protection products also suggests that you evaluate the effectiveness of your pesticides You can use this new requirement and advice to your financial advantage by assessing your costs and input effectiveness year on year Make a note of the known or estimated quantities or values of pesticides used each year over the farm Include herbicides fungicides insecticides molluscicides seed treatments and growth regulators Include physical formulations of pesticides including liquids granules pellets powders and tablets Enter the values in the boxes below and consider what financial savings may be possible if pesticide used could be cut by 5 10 or more Annual cost Spray pesticides Granules pellets and powders Other pesticide Total annual cost Value of 10 saving 16 Waste minimisation opportunities for savings Waste avoidance Do you have to use a pesticide Yes O No O If the problem can be tackled in another way you will save the costs of application and avoid any waste disposal difficulties Make sure you know about integrated crop management and integrated farm management Can you improve pest
106. tivating too deep uses disproportionately more fuel Careful ballasting and speed settings will also save fuel Farm transport is a major user of fuel Can journey distances for materials be reduced Yes O No O Ensure all journeys are necessary Use fuel efficient vehicles and double up loads or utilise return trips Can air or water leakages be reduced Yes O No O Leakage means lost product and energy loss Could you install better insulation Yes O No O Insulation to the latest recommended levels will save money over the longer term Waste Reuse Can you re circulate warm air Yes O No O General Farm Waste Fuel oil and lubricants Waste Recycling Can you recycle oil to oil specific recycling schemes Yes O No O Recycling waste oil avoids the risk of localised pollutions and enables beneficial reuse Can you use waste oil for the overwintering of machinery in storage Yes O No O Waste oil can be used for applying to the wearing parts of machinery provided rubber is avoided Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Estimated savings potential Re circulation of heated air reduces energy requirement 2 5 5 10 O 10 15 Potential savings f 75 General Farm Waste Tyres 6 3 Tyres Use of tractors on the road increases tyre wear Tyres represent 8 15 ofthe cost of a tractor and an average tractor will requir
107. tly Yes O No O Use trickle irrigation to apply water closer to the root zone Choose irrigators and settings to give uniform coverage Use booms with sprinklers on tender crops or bare soil Avoid older piston bellows drive reels which discharge water at the headland Can you reduce cold water running to drains when filling hand basins and sinks Yes O No O Several litres of water are wasted before taps run hot Instant hot water heaters save water and energy Could your use of valves trigger nozzles and hand lances be improved Yes O No O Avoid misuse of hose pipes and pressure washers Check flow pressure relationship for cleaners Steam cleaning may be better Can you employ a good storage system design Yes O No O Use professional reservoir design to ensure ground impermeability or liner standard is good 95 Optimising Use of Inputs Clean water Could you use tank covers Yes O No O Covers prevent algal growth and evaporative losses Do you check for leaks regularly Yes O No O e g check for leaks on remote water troughs Could you install stock drinkers which avoid spillage Yes O No O Use bite types for pigs nipple and cup for poultry Waste Reuse Can you reuse water Yes O No O Reuse cooling water rainwater for washing or stock Waste Recycling Can washing water be recycled within the process Yes O No O Where hygienically practicable
108. tors will be able to set equipment to reduce wear and tear and will ensure all maintenance aspects are looked at Do you select the correct machine for the job Yes O No O Machine selection to suit the job is important especially in cultivations e g where discs or cultivators may produce similar results to a power harrow but much faster and with less energy cost Have you considered heavy duty machines rather than light duty Yes O No O Where the task is particularly demanding due to soil type or period of operation it will pay to use heavier duty equipment to reduce breakdown and machine fatigue Have you considered re tipping of cultivator points hard facing Yes O No O There are many options for tip replacement Using metal or hard facing will reduce the weight of metal being wasted Waste Reuse Have you considered antique value Yes O No O Some old machines may be collectable and could realise a better value than the scrap value Can you sell equipment to a neighbour dealer or even third world machinery exporter Yes O No O It is better to sell an old machine while it is still working either for export or spare parts General Farm Waste Scrap metals Waste Recycling Can you use an authorised scrap merchant for ferrous and non ferrous metals Yes O No O It is better to segregate your scrap metals from other types of wastes and take the going price for metal recycling rather th
109. ular basis as a reminder of where and when you can make savings by minimising waste Introduction 2 Introduction Opportunities for saving money Warte Lilly LESS Tel e Helps you to comply with waste It has been shown that considerable savings can legislation be made by adopting simple cost effective Farmers and growers are now faced with the techniques for minimising industrial waste during responsibility of managing their waste according the production processes to the Waste Management England and Wales Regulations 2006 commonly known as Agricultural Waste Regulations Anumber of previous practices undertaken on the holding will no longer be allowed This manual will help your business comply with these Regulations Research projects sponsored jointly by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and The BOC Foundation were set up to investigate whether these benefits could be realised in agriculture The results revealed many opportunities for savings in animal feeds water e Reduces the quantity of raw materials energy sprays fertiliser field crops and produce you buy in the store Reducing the amount of waste means making better more efficient use of the raw materials you have bought If these are expensive you will soon begin to save a lot of money Savings in some cases were considerable and in many cases the changes necessary to improve resource efficiency or reduce waste required little or no
110. use an adjuvant with products for which they are approved you may be able to improve pesticide effectiveness at lower application rates Can you better target the pesticide Yes O No O You might be able to lower the amount of pesticide used and therefore any waste by applying the product as a spot patch or varied dose treatment or using weed wipers Check the approval allows for this and that it is safe Have you considered the use of direct injection spray application Yes O No O Direct injection machinery reduces the amount of pesticide washings because the sprayer tank is not used for mixing the chemical Can the dosage be reduced or chemical strength changed Yes O No O Check differences between brand names to see if reductions can be made Waste Reuse Can you reuse tank washings Yes O No O Compatible tank washings may be added to the tank water for the next mix Check approvals Summarise the most appropriate actions in order to minimise waste and make savings Estimated annual cost savings 17 Wastes from Crop Production Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage 4 2 Inorganic fertiliser application handling and storage Inorganic fertiliser can account for up to 60 of variable costs for arable and forage crops Badly timed or excessive fertiliser applications result in crop losses reduced income and nutrient losses that can damage the environment Developing and
111. web pages at www defra gov uk environment water quality nitrate default htm How do you store fertiliser Outside uncovered Under cover Bulk hopper e 8 e Bulk tank liquid How do you handle fertiliser Big bags 50 kg bags Containers Bulk solid e 0 e e Bulk liquid Storage losses can be high due to damp split oroken bags and rodent damage Ideally store fertiliser in big bags under cover with effective rodent control Liquid fertiliser offers certain benefits in handling but secure storage to avoid leaks is essential 20 Application machinery Make write in Machine 1 Machine 2 Last calibrated write in date Machine 1 Machine 2 Handbook available Machine 1 YesO NoO Machine 2 Ys O NoO Inaccurate application rate and a poor spread pattern from fertiliser soreaders can result in both fertiliser and crop losses Check the spread pattern annually by carrying out tray tests remember that some fertiliser will soread better than others SP rating Aim for a coefficient of variation of the spread pattern of less than 15 Check the calibration of liquid fertiliser applicators sprayers by attention to the flow from nozzles or dribble bars and the pressure settings together with travel speed www defra gov uk environment water quality nitrate default htm Wastes from Crop Production Inorganic fertiliser application handling

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