AgriSearch will be hosting a webinar next week to assist farmers across Northern Ireland to make the most of its new Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) farm impact calculator.
The calculator is being developed by AgriSearch to help farmers assess the impact of the measures proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) under NAP for 2026 to2029.
This includes a calculation of the organic nitrogen (N) loading, using the updated figures for dairy cows, which will determine if a farmer falls into the “intensive” category or will require a derogation.
AgriSearch
The calculator will also determine a farm’s proposed allowance for chemical N fertiliser and indicate if this is above or below the farm’s current usage.
Finally, the calculator will work out the farm’s phosphorus (P) balance and indicate how many extra hectares or the extent of the stocking rate cut needed to achieve both the 10kgP/ha and 8kgP/ha limit.
The calculator will be available for download from the AgriSearch website from Monday evening (June 2) just ahead of the webinar which takes place at 8:00p.m.
AgriSearch said the webinar will offer a practical, step-by-step guide on how to download and use the calculator and interpret the results. This will be followed by a question and answer session.
The event is for farmers, advisors, and industry stakeholders looking to understand how the proposed NAP proposals could impact farmers and the wider industry.
Those who want to register for the webinar can visit the AgriSearch website.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir , launched a public consultation on the NAP for 2026 to 2029, which he said contains “additional measures which have been developed based on scientific research”.
The main additional measures include further restrictions on use of chemical phosphorus fertiliser and a farm phosphorus balance limit for more intensive farms.
