Welsh farmers are being encouraged to realise the benefits of sourcing quality compost and biofertiliser, which will reduce the environmental impact of their businesses and could also lead to significant cost savings. Waste & Resources Action Programme Wales (WRAP Cymru) has launched a guide for farmers which puts forward the case for biofertilisers and demonstrates how to source and apply quality compost and biofertiliser.image expired

The guide, which is being heralded as the first of its kind for the agricultural industry, gives information on best practice, including information on odour control, safe and effective application and other considerations for farmers. WRAP Cymru said it produced the guide to create markets for the bio-fertiliser by-products of anaerobic digesters, numbers of which are on the rise in the UK.

WRAP Cymru's Lance Jones, commented on the rationale behind the guide, "While the use of livestock slurries is already well understood within the agricultural industry, there is less awareness among farmers about how bio-fertilisers work.

"WRAP has carried out extensive research programmes which have proved how bio-fertilisers can significantly improve soil nutrient values for crops and can be applied safely and effectively. In the past, there were concerns over odour levels, but our studies have found that when applied correctly, the material should be no more odorous than pig or cow slurry." 

The new guide is available here.