The impact of EU directives on N-management in dairy farming

Transcription

1 The impact of EU directives on N-management in dairy farming Frans Aarts Wageningen-UR (NL) Innovative and practical management approaches to reduce nitrogen excretion by ruminants

2 European dairy farming is intensive Situated in densely populated areas High land prices >> high milk production/ha High demands for high quality feed High inputs of fertilizers and concentrates Feed en fertilizer suppliers nowadays are the main farm advisers Inputs higher than profitable (for the farmer)

3 N-balance common NL-dairy farm 1998 (kg/ha) Input Output (purchases) (sales) concentrates 131 milk 70 forage 8 animals 12 Mineral fertilizers 240 slurry (exported) 0 TOTAL 378 TOTAL 82 surplus 297

4 More milk, more surplus N surplus (kg/ha) Portugal Galicia South England Ireland NL Basque country Aquitaine Brittany Scotland Pays de Loire Project Green Dairy INTERREG Atlantique André Pflimlin et al., 2007 Milk production (kg/ha)

5 The surplus is causing the problem INPUT OUTPUT = SURPLUS Purchased feed Purchased fertiliser Milk Animals Ammonia (volatilisation) Nitrate (leaching) Nitrous oxide (volatilisation) Organic N (run off) Nitrogen (volatilisation) Organic N (accumulation)

6 Emissions Ceilings Directive Climate Change Programm losses of ammonia losses of nitrous oxide Nitrate Directive Water Framework Directive losses of nitrate losses of organic N

7 Extensification not the best solution for surplus reduction N surplus (kg/ha) Portugal Galicia Ireland South England Aquitaine NL Basque country Brittany Scotland Pays de Loire Milk production (kg/ha)

8 Efficient management should do the job N surplus (kg/ha) Portugal Galicia Ireland South England Aquitaine NL Basque country Brittany Scotland Pays de Loire Milk production (kg/ha)

9 Improved cycling of N can reduce inputs, without effecting outputs purchased feed cattle milk, animals forage manure purchased fertiliser Soil/crops

10 Income First steps in reducing the surplus financially profitable surplus Reduced purchases Income surplus Poor <<<<<<N management >>>>>>> perfect

11 Up to 50% reduction calculated to be financial profitable N surplus (kg/ha) Portugal Galicia South England Ireland NL Basque country Aquitaine Brittany Scotland Pays de Loire Milk production (kg/ha)

12 Main measures - low protein content purchased feeds - less feed needs/unit milk (lower replacement rate, higher milk produciton per cow) - less grazing - better use of slurry (time, dose, techniques) - less harvest and grazing losses - lower fertilisation level - early stop fertilisation grassland - crop rotation (ley farming) - catch crop after maize - producing concentrates cattle Soil/crops

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14 How to encourage farmers to change farming? Father G. van den Elsen (founder of the cooperatives Rabo-bank, Campina, etc.): It is impossible to convince farmers only with books and journals. The truth should be pumped into their heads by clear, visible examples. (Sociologie der Boeren, 1918)

15 Project Cows & Opportunities Cows & Opportunities Provides clear, visible examples of excellent nutrient management

16 Cows & Opportunities 1 experimental farm: De Marke (1987 >>) All improvements that are technical possible 16 commercial pilot farms (1999 >>) All improvements that are financially profitable Financed by the Dutch government (2/3) and the Dutch dairy farmers (1/3)

17 Experimental farm De Marke 640,000 kg milk 54 ha sandy soils (=12 tons milk/ha)

18 Commercial pilot farms clay peat sand DM loess

19 Project goals Improved resource management on dairy farms (= improved cycling of nutrients) Reduced emissions of nutrients Increased incomes Improved governmental legislation: effective and attractive for farmers

20 How? Combining knowledge of scientists with practical experiences of farmers and farm advisers Pilot farmers teach farmers A positive, cooperative attitude

21 Black: flows average common farm 1998 (kg/ha) Bleu: flows experimental farm De Marke 2005 ( kg/ha) purchased feed cattle milk, animals forage manure purchased fertiliser Soil/crops input output surplus %

22 N surplus (kg/ha) Portugal Galicia South England Ireland NL Basque country Aquitaine Brittany Scotland Pays de Loire Marke Milk production (kg/ha)

23 Position of experimental farm Income surplus 1-2 cents/kg 80% exp. farm Poor <<<<<<N management >>>>>>> perfect

24 Surpluses experimental farm(kg/ha) Common farms, 1998 (poor nutrient management) N 297 P 2 O 5 52 Experimental farm, 2005 (perfect nutrient management) % 1-98 %

25 Surpluses pilot farms (kg/ha) Common farms, 1998 (poor nutrient management) N 297 P 2 O 5 52 Pilot farms,2005 (excellent nutrient management) Experimental farm, 2005 (perfect nutrient management) % % % 1-98 %

26 Position of pilot farms Income surplus 1-2 cents/kg 52% Pilot farm Poor <<<<<<N management >>>>>>> perfect

27 Surpluses common farms (kg/ha) Common farms, 1998 (poor nutrient management) common farms, 2005 (good nutrient management) Pilot farms,2005 (excellent nutrient management) Experimental farm, 2005 (perfect nutrient management) N % % % P 2 O % % 1-98 %

28 Position of common farms Income surplus cents/kg 34% Common farm Poor <<<<<<N management >>>>>>> perfect

29 A NW European network! ( ) project DAIRYMAN

30 DAIRYMAN combines 9 experimental farms and 120 pilot farms Northern Ireland Southwest of Ireland West of France Germany (Baden Württemberg) Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia) Luxembourg Netherlands

31 Goals DAIRYMAN Improving the environmental and economic performances of dairy farms Providing examples of excellent practice Fast introduction of innovations Cooperation between dairy farmers and other stakeholders of the rural area Smart implementation of EU regulations

32 Income Fellow researchers: help us to decrease risks and costs of measures and to increase their effectiveness! surplus Poor <<<<<<N management >>>>>>> perfect

33 Contribution of REDNEX/EAAP Find out how to minimize feed input per kg milk under farm conditions (energy, N, P) Make results of feed analyses more reliable Deliver practical tools, to feed more precisely Provide the farmers with indicators, showing that feeding is not optimal Find out how to repair a disturbed herd Find out how to make profits from low quality feed (by upgrading or combining with other feeds)

34 Contribution of DAIRYMAN to you We can offer possibilities to test your innovations on a practical scale in a whole farm context We can contribute to a fast spreading of knew knowledge We will deliver you new problems, when the old ones have been solved.

35 This presentation has been carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, FP7, KBB It does not necessarily reflect its view and in no way anticipates the Commission s future policy in this area. Innovative and practical management approaches to reduce nitrogen excretion by ruminants