A new RSPB report called, “Force Feeding the Countryside,” which looks at the effects of nutrients on birds and other biodiversity, is “sensationalist,” says the NFU.

The report claims the UK countryside is being force-fed “dangerous” levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous, and says the increased use of inorganic fertiliser on farms is one of the main causes, the NFU said.

“We are disappointed the RSPB has chosen such a sensationalist title for this report and portrayed nutrients as ‘dangerous’,” said NFU President Peter Kendall. “Nutrients are essential for food production and farmers, like no other group, know their value. We need a serious and measured debate of this issue, with action to match.”

“This is a forward-looking industry that is embracing change at a rate never seen previously,” he said. “We would welcome the RSPB to join us in sustaining the change that we’re already seeing.”

“We need Government to look at all sources of pollution in the countryside, including air pollution from transport and sewage treatment works, as well as those from farms,” he said. “The NFU is taking the discussion seriously and is working with other parts of the industry to improve the standard of manure and fertiliser management in farming.”

“Many improvements in the use of nutrients in inputs and manure have been made by the industry over the last few years, attributed to better dissemination of responsible practice techniques, extensive research and awareness raising, but we need to accelerate this rate of improvement,” he said. “Farming is not, and never will be, a no impact industry. We can only ever impose a low impact because of the weather.”

While the report claims levels of nitrogen in the environment have doubled since the industrial revolution, in the same time the UK’s population has increased roughly six-fold, the NFU said. The success and efficiency of farmers in the UK has also meant that large amounts of space have been made for wildlife and habitat conservation.

As an example of efforts to improve fertiliser management in farming, the NFU launched an environment plan for dairy farming with the Environment Agency and Milk Development Council last month.

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