Earlier this year, Defra published their Code of Good Agricultural Practice (COGAP) for reducing ammonia emissions.

The code is a guidance document which explains how farmers, growers, land managers, advisors and contractors can minimise ammonia emissions from agriculture by making changes to:

• organic manure storage
• organic manure application
• manufactured nitrogen fertiliser application
• livestock feeding (sector specific)
• livestock housing (sector specific)

Advice in this Code is appropriate for all farming systems except for grazed, perennially-outdoor-reared livestock, which tend to have lower ammonia emissions compared to other systems and for which there are few ammonia mitigation methods.

This Code sets out where to get advice and financial support to reduce your ammonia emissions and signposts users to Tried & Tested for nutrient management resources. 

The Code comprises of the following sections;

• Introduction to ammonia
• Advice on the storage of organic manures
• Advice on the application of organic manures effectively and efficiently
• Details on the use manufactured nitrogen fertilisers effectively and efficiently
• Dairy and beef sector-specific measures
• Pig sector-specific measures
• Poultry sector-specific measures

  The voluntary measures within the Code do not override or change any current or future statutory requirements.

You can read Tried and Tested's article; 'Maximising nutrients through tackling ammonia losses' here.

You can download the Campaign for the Farmed Environment's guide; 'Reducing ammonia emissions on livestock and arable farms' here.