Defra has updated its online Nutrient Management Planning Tool (NMPT-GB).
The NMPT-GB tool now includes an accessible and user-friendly organic manure nutrient calculator, which replaces the now outdated MANNER-NPK (Manure Nitrogen Evaluation Routine – Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potash) tool. Defra says it makes it easier for farmers and advisers to understand the nutrient and financial value of organic manures to support decision-making.
MANNER-NPK was a Defra-funded software tool that estimated plant-available nutrients and financial value from organic manures like slurry or farmyard manure. Historically, MANNER-NPK was available as a standalone download, or accessed through PLANET / Planet4Farmers.
Its calculations are now integrated into NMPT-GB, enabling users to quickly estimate the crop-available nutrients supplied by organic material, and their financial value.
Like the rest of the tool, the new functionality is free to use and can be accessed without completing a full nutrient management plan – as is required for the full NMPT-GB.
Defra assures that only farmers and their appointed users will have access to personal and farm data from the tool. Regulators don’t have any access to farm-specific data and will not be able to use the information in the tool to monitor compliance.
MPT-GB is now live for England and Wales on GOV.UK, with a Scotland release planned for later this year. The MANNER-NPK standalone feature is already available across the three nations.
Defra developed this update alongside ADAS and RSK Business Solutions Ltd, with the support of the AHDB. Growers can access the new update on the NMPT-GB webpage.
