Yara looks to help farmers navigate change towards net zero through crop nutrition

Yara looks to help farmers navigate change towards net zero through crop nutrition

As the industry begins to focus more on protecting the environment, farmers are looking for the best advice on how to achieve environmentally friendly practices and protect their businesses.

With nearly two centuries of fertiliser experience, Yara will be attending the Midlands Machinery Show with the intention of helping farmers navigate a changing agricultural landscape.

“The landscape is changing now, and we’re starting to see farmers look to more environmental schemes,” says Chris Harrold, Head of Crop Nutrition Agronomy for Yara. “Farmers are taking a different approach to how they go about establishing their crops by utilising cover crops, moving the soil less, or having something growing or living in the soil on a permanent basis.

“If we can start joining all the dots together as a company, along with our existing advice, we can work with farmers and their agronomists to produce them a piece of advice that really involves all of that information.”

With significant challenges facing agricultural businesses, Yara is aiming to help farmers understand and tackle these issues head-on.

“With the change in what consumers are asking from their produce, and we know that carbon footprinting is now a big issue within the supply chain as well, I think farmers and agronomists have to work together to work out how can we get the maximum amount out of our inputs with having the least environmental impact,” says Chris.

“If we can get more yield from the same amount of nutrients that they were getting with minimal environmental impact, then that’s got to be a good thing.”

One particular issue Yara is looking to tackle is the movement towards net zero, and Chris believes that even with industry-wide collaboration, it will take time.

“I think getting to net zero within agriculture is going to be challenge for us,” says Chris. “Clearly we’re all embracing it as quickly as we can, but with the other challenges we’re facing slowing down the journey, it might just take us a bit longer than we first thought.”

The Midlands Machinery Show presents Yara with the opportunity to meet with its customers on a local level – a chance to engage with farmers about the issues they’re facing.

“I would really like farmers to come and challenge us about their crop nutrition,” says Chris. “We’re a knowledge-driven business and we want to share that knowledge with farmers and our customers.

“Engage with us, challenge us, and I’m sure we would be more than willing to try and help you get the most out of your fertiliser inputs this year.”

The Midlands Machinery Show will be held on 20 and 21 November at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.

Entry and parking is free, but visitors should pre-register at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.