1. EUROSTAT FUNDED PROJECT ON IMPROVING FERTILISER DATA
June 2009

2. Introduction Project due to complete end August 2009
Data already collected through the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice
Main objectives
Investigating the usefulness of farm records
Alternative methods of collecting data
Investigate whether can model FSS responses using data from a dedicated survey
Improve data on organic fertiliser (manure)

3. Usefulness of farm records
Data collected for administrative purposes (primarily those required for the Water Framework and Nitrates directives) only has limited geographical and nutrient coverage
A third of commercial farmers store fertiliser records electronically
But types of data stored and formats vary considerably
Little scope in the UK for routinely using farm records for fertiliser estimates at present 3

4. Alternative methods of data collection
Current survey data collected by interviewers, which is expensive
There is potential for a nominal cost saving by moving some of the farms with fewer records to telephone
Moving to telephone is likely to introduce complexity and reduced accuracy disproportionate with the benefit
Postal data collection is not an appropriate option at all, and there is high resistance to this among farmers
The current face to face methodology offers the best option in terms of efficiency and accuracy 4

5. Modelling FSS responses
Work ongoing
Using existing data to build a model of Nitrogen applications to Wheat (to start)
Soil types (national soil map)
Amount of livestock on farm (proxy for organic fertiliser applied)
Region (proxy for soil types and rainfall)
Hope to apply this model to FSS responses
But initial work shows unexplained variation in fertiliser applied 5

6. Improving data on organic fertiliser
Confirmed policy requirements for data
Water Framework and Nitrates directives
Greenhouse gas emissions (also how stored and how applied)
Monitoring agronomic efficiency
Developed new question on fertiliser applications
Tested in 2008 survey
Re-analysed historical data and produced consistent time series where possible 6

7. Improving data on organic fertiliser7

8. Summary
There are strong policy needs for data on manufactured fertiliser and organic manure use
Data collection is complex and an interviewer survey is the best approach for all but the simplest of farms
Some data is available from farm records but not consistent
Modelling fertiliser usage is difficult – there are many factors involved in decision making
Farmers can provide estimates of organic manure use, though will sometimes be approximations 8

9. Recommendations
Consistent data on manufactured and organic fertiliser use is required to inform environmental policies
Collecting good quality data is expensive
There is limited demand for data at low geographical level and collecting it at this level would come at too great a cost (models may be sufficient)
In general, the FSS will not be the best route for collecting fertiliser data
Does not require the same large sample size
Postal survey in the UK 9