AHDB has confirmed plans to make changes to its nutrient management guide (RB209), following an industry-wide consultation last year.

More than 900 individuals engaged with its strategic review, through interviews and questionnaires, which the RB209 review steering committee has since analysed to determine its top priorities moving forward.

Amanda Bennett, senior environment manager at AHDB, said: “We are now planning how to improve nutrient management guidance and its interpretation to help farmers tailor nutrients for their specific situations.

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“The continued success of RB209 is likely to require a fundamental shift in the way nutrient management evidence is generated and how recommendations are implemented on the farm.”

Improved nutrient use efficiency was outlined as the highest priority work area for RB209, with higher input costs making it increasingly important that all nutrients are cost effective.

AHDB states that the greatest nutrient use efficiency benefits will come from good agronomic practice, and therefore it will encourage more on-farm meetings and field-based demonstrations for levy payers.

A second priority is to support nutrient management plans by making them easier to understand and more dynamic to change during the growing season.

Changes to the management of nutrients across rotations, the need for improved resources on manure, slurry, and cover crops, and improved data for grass and forage crops are also being considered.

Work has already begun in this area with the creation of an online tool to calculate the nutrient values of different organic materials.

The creation of an RB209 app is also being considered by the levy board.

Ms Bennet said: “When AHDB first published RB209 in 2017, we focused the guidance on productivity benefits.

“The review’s findings confirmed that this remains appropriate, and that all future work should align with RB209’s productivity commitment.”