Nitrogen: The essential element

SASCHA GRIERSON , PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT | SAC CONSULTING

Nitrogen is everywhere. We use it on all farms, in both inorganic and organic forms. It is critical for productivity, and for profitability, and is one of the essential building blocks of life.

Used well, it will deliver many on farm benefits. However, it is also a major pollutant and green house gas, and can be lost in agricultural systems. Excess nitrogen, when lost as ammonia, can cause air pollution, and pose a threat to human health. Excess nitrogen can also lead to nutrient leaching, biodiversity loss, acidification of soils, and affect our water systems. Addressing these challenges is not just an environmental imperative but a financial one, as the optimal use of nitrogen can save costs for farms.

In June 2023, the Scottish Government released experimental statistics from the Scottish Farm Business Survey, shedding light on greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen usage on farms. This data has been a crucial step towards filling a data gap in the establishment of the Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet (SNBS) and reflects the government’s commitment to monitoring and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).

It is important to understand why these statistics matter. Traditionally, the agricultural sector faced data gaps in nitrogen balance assessments. The new experimental statistics provide a farm-level perspective on NUE and allows for a more nuanced understanding of nitrogen flows under different farming systems. This then enables the industry eventually to set benchmarks, identify outliers, and drive improvements.

This is of vital importance at an industry level, by providing invaluable insights and allowing for the development of NUE averages, it acknowledges the inherent differences between livestock and arable farms. The dataset therefore serves as a starting point for industry-wide progress. For example, outliers within the data can pinpoint areas for improvement, and facilitate targeted interventions, as well as knowledge exchange. Agriculture has been identified as having a large data gap in the SNBS, but with these statistics we are seeing the beginning of the process to fill that data gap.

As nitrogen losses face increasing legislative scrutiny, businesses must prepare for changes in farming systems to mitigate any environmental impacts. The economic and environmental sustainability of farms are intertwined, so by addressing the complexity of nitrogen usage we can support profitability. By showcasing the industry’s commitment to sustainability, the wider supply chain can attract more environmentally conscious consumers, paving the way for new and more robust markets.

The Scottish farming industry is navigating the nitrogen challenge and is taking proactive measures to address this. Balancing economic and environmental sustainability is not only a responsibility but can be a pathway to profitability. By continuing to leverage our available resources and embrace sustainable approaches, we are creating a more resilient and prosperous future for farming.

If you want to discuss this further, SAC Consulting offers a wide range of services to support resource management on farms. Please get in touch if you would like to know more or have any questions.

Get in touch

sascha.grierson@sac.co.uk