A fertilisation plan is required if applying chemical fertiliser to grassland, high phosphorus (P) manures or digestate to any land. Derogated farms must prepare and maintain a more comprehensive fertilisation plan. Where a fertilisation plan is required, you may be asked to provide a copy prior to approval/payment.
What are the CAFRE Nutrient Calculators?
The CAFRE Nutrient Calculators are online tools which assist you with the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) measures on storage requirements, nutrient limits and record keeping. The CAFRE Nutrient Calculators are easy to use, secure and confidential. The calculators help you with farm management planning and decision making, and are designed to help you meet the requirements of NAP.
The Nitrogen (N) Loading Calculator helps you to calculate the nitrogen loading for your farm and check if you are below the 170kg N/ha/year limit or, if operating under a derogation, below the 250kg N/ha/year limit. Nitrogen loading is based on the nitrogen from the average number of livestock kept on the farm over the year and the land area that is actively farmed and also takes manure imports and exports into account.
The Manure Storage Calculator helps you to calculate the weekly slurry, dirty water, manure production and current storage capacity. Allowing you to check if you have 22 or 26 week storage requirement, and whether any additional storage is necessary. Livestock numbers are required for this to be accurate, and the ‘Nitrate Animal Count’ function on APHIS Online should be used to obtain an accurate record of cattle numbers.
The Crop Nutrient Calculator will help you to comply with nutrient limit requirements and create a fertilisation plan for your farm. It can assist you in determining the N, P2O5 and K2O crop requirements, calculate nutrient supplied by organic manure and chemical fertiliser and retain information for record keeping. It can help you to improve soil fertility, optimize application rates, increase crop yields and reduce chemical fertiliser costs through targeted application.
Logging in and using the Calculators
The CAFRE Online Calculators can only be accessed using DAERA Online Services. You can log on to www.daera-ni.gov.uk/onlineservices using your 12 digit Government Gateway account number and password. After selecting ‘CAFRE Online Calculators’, a home page will appear showing the Online Calculators, where you can select the relevant calculator.
Written guides and YouTube video links on how to complete the N Loading and Manure Storage calculators are available below.
Agent Access (Agent Access is being enabled)
An agent can access the CAFRE Nutrient Calculators to complete your Nitrogen Loading, Manure Storage Calculation or create a Fertilisation Plan on your behalf. To allow this to happen you must share your Business ID with your chosen agent and complete an Agent Access Application form. Please be aware that this will allow the agent to enter data on your behalf on the CAFRE Nutrient Calculators and they will not gain access to any other applications, such as APHIS Online or Farm Business Planner. The agent should log into the system using their own Government Gateway credentials, but enter your Business ID.
Link to Nitrogen loading calculator and Manure Storage calculator video guides
CAFRE Manure Storage Calculator