Sustainable nutrient management is vital

Tessa Mills

Farmers have always been the nutrient brokers of the world.

They use plants to capture nutrients from soil and air which are then either fed directly to people or to animals which in turn produce milk, meat and fibre for human consumption.

Before the advent of modern fertilisers farmers often struggled with the depletion of soil fertility, animal and plant health issues due to trace element deficiencies, and overall low yields.

Fertilisers have, over the past 50 years, supercharged our agricultural industry. Yields that have become routine were at one time just fantasy.

Fertilisers underpin New Zealand's export economy. We export a huge amount of nutrients off-shore every year in products such as milk and meat. If these nutrients were not returned to our soils through the application of fertiliser then we are in fact mining our soils and undermining our economy. This would be hugely irresponsible and clearly not sustainable.

Fertiliser represents the biggest single cost item to farmers and farmers need assurance that the fertiliser they apply is of high quality and is applied exactly when and where it is needed. Fertiliser that misses its target not only represents a waste of money but is likely to become an environmental contaminant and benefits.

The science of nutrient management has made significant advances in the last 10 years.

There is now more than ever a real pull from farmers wanting to both understand the science behind sustainable nutrient management and to ensure they get the best results from their fertiliser spend.

In November 2013, a nutrient management adviser certification programme was launched.

Federated Farmers along with 16 other pan-sector stakeholders make up the advisory group overseeing this certification programme. The programme defines standards which must be met by those wishing to provide nutrient management advice to New Zealand farmers.

Fertmark and Spreadmark initiatives administered by the Fertiliser Quality Council along with leading edge advice, should ensure that our farmers become the very best nutrient brokers in the world.

Tessa Mills is Federated Farmers' regional policy adviser