Cost Savings For Farmers

4th November 2010

A £400,000 software package to help farmers go greener and save money has been launched.

Available free of charge at www.planet4farmers.co.uk, the PLANET Scotland software will enable farmers to input information about their fields and soils to generate information on recommended fertiliser levels.

PLANET (Planning Land Application of Nutrients for Efficiency and the Environment) Scotland will help farmers produce individualised nutrient management plans and save money through more efficient fertiliser use. The software will also provide compliant record keeping for those farming in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs said: "This software offers multiple benefits. It provides the information needed to allow farmers to make the most efficient use of expensive fertilisers, improve their business and help the environment.

"By adopting best practice regimes crop production can be maximised without unnecessary and wasteful applications of nutrients which have the potential to cause environmental damage including pollution of the water environment and release of greenhouse gases.

"Saving money and protecting the environment can only be a win-win situation."

Go to www.planet4farmers.co.uk