§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will discuss with the appropriate Ministers in Holland the effectiveness of their policy of seeking to control and restrict the use of nitrate fertilisers on farmland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerI am satisfied that United Kingdom Ministers have adequate and appropriate advice on these matters.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent advice he has given to the agriculture industry on the use of nitrate fertilisers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerThe latest recommendations are about to be published in MAFF reference book 209, "Fertiliser Recommendations". Those for arable crops are contained in MAFF booklet 2191, "Lime and fertiliser recommendations: Arable crops 1983–84". The published recommendations take account of such factors as soil type, previous cropping, winter rainfall and crop yield level.
Both the amounts and the timing of nitrogen applications, whether as nitrate or as equivalent chemical forms, are aimed at optimising crop yields and maximising the uptake of nitrogen.