Fertiliser, manure and slurry spreaders
Published 13 June 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/farm-practices-survey-february-2024/fertiliser-manure-and-slurry-spreaders
The data below focus specifically on farmers who spread manure, slurry and fertiliser. More details on nitrogen fertiliser spreading practices are available in the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice.
Figure 1 Proportion of holdings spreading manure and slurry on grassland and arable land
| Year | Spread by farmer only | Spread by farmer and also contractor | Spread by contractor only | None spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 38% | 17% | 20% | 24% | 100% |
| 2021 | 39% | 15% | 25% | 21% | 100% |
| 2022 | 39% | 17% | 22% | 22% | 100% |
| 2023 | 43% | 16% | 22% | 19% | 100% |
| 2024 | 36% | 19% | 24% | 22% | 100% |
Notes:
- The sum of the components may not equal 100% due to rounding.
In 2024, 78% of holdings spread manure or slurry on their grass and arable land (Figure 1). Overall, proportions for the various spreading methods have remained similar between 2020 and 2024. Spreading is done solely by the farmer in 36% of holdings, by the contractor solely in 24%, and by both the farmer and contractor in 19%.
Figure 2 Proportion of holdings spreading fertiliser on grassland and arable land
| Year | Spread by farmer only | Spread by farmer and also contractor | Spread by contractor only | None spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 57% | 11% | 16% | 16% | 100% |
| 2021 | 57% | 12% | 15% | 16% | 100% |
| 2022 | 58% | 10% | 16% | 15% | 100% |
| 2023 | 57% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 100% |
| 2024 | 55% | 12% | 18% | 16% | 100% |
Notes:
- The sum of the components may not equal 100% due to rounding.
In 2024, 84% of holdings spread fertilisers on their grass and arable land (Figure 2). There was little change over the five-year period with the largest proportion of holdings, 55%, indicating that the fertiliser was spread solely by the farmer.
Figure 3 Frequency with which farmers calibrate their manure or slurry spreader(s)
| Year | Never | Whenever there is significant change in manure or slurry characteristics | Whenever manure or slurry is tested | Every year | Less often than every year | Other frequency | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 49% | 19% | 2% | 18% | 8% | 3% | 100% |
| 2021 | 43% | 15% | 3% | 24% | 6% | 9% | 100% |
| 2022 | 43% | 19% | 1% | 25% | 7% | 4% | 100% |
| 2023 | 40% | 17% | 2% | 24% | 9% | 8% | 100% |
| 2024 | 35% | 18% | 2% | 27% | 10% | 9% | 100% |
Notes:
- The sum of the components may not equal 100% due to rounding.
Calibrating fertiliser, manure and slurry spreaders can help to improve input efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Over the five-year period the proportion of farmers calibrating their spreaders at least some of the time rose from a half in 2020 to two thirds in 2024, although the frequency of doing so varies. For those farmers who are calibrating their spreaders in 2024, the most common frequencies are every year (27%) and whenever there is significant change in manure or slurry characteristics (18%). This has remained broadly unchanged in recent years (Figure 3).