July 19 2010
From: http://aplus.adas.co.uk/Services/agriculture/ADAS-Resource-Efficiency-Delivered-for-Farms.aspx
RESOURCE efficiency is about managing a business’s resources, energy and water in order to minimise waste.
Avoiding waste or unnecessary expense on farm resources is an easy way you can make significant impact on business performance - often straight to the bottom line.
ADAS has over 30 years' experience providing resource efficiency advice and process improvement for farms. Businesses that have worked closely with ADAS have found significant financial benefits.
Fuel and Electricity
In the majority of recent cases simple changes to farm practices have resulted in fuel and electricity savings; the average annual energy savings were £1,700 and for some farms represented over 50% of their electricity bills.
Water
Water savings can be very high for some users, in one case a saving of over £15,000 has been achieved through moving away from mains supply. ADAS Principal Consultant Phil Metcalfe states ‘In our experience average savings will be around 20% of the farms water bills’.
Nutrient Management Planning
In addition to energy and water use on farm, our resource efficiency team look at nutrient management planning and according to ADAS consultant Steve Ford “now is the time to check that the right fertiliser rates are being applied, by using manure and fertiliser nutrients effectively, farmers stand to make instant returns on investment”.
Having developed the PLANET software ADAS consultants are able to ensure effective nutrient use.
"Identification of energy and water useage within a business is essential to identify where possible savings can be made" says ADAS business consultant Kelly Hewson-Fisher. ADAS consultants can help businesses identify areas where energy and water can be used more efficiently. For larger businesses, we can also - using latest monitoring equipment - analyse exactly how energy is being used and how different management, technological adaptation or improvements will increase the savings.
Energy and water prices look set to increase over coming years. Following on from an audit, ADAS are able to advise on the solutions for saving and minimising use, as well as adopting new approaches. For example renewable options for the business may be considered if appropriate. Our specialist team will advise on latest technologies available.
As a first step why not check the energy status of your business now? Click Here to use the free ADAS on line farm energy efficiency tool which benchmarks your business against 900 other farming businesses. The tool will help you to assess and potentially reduce energy consumption.
To discuss a water or energy audit or nutrient planning, please contact Ruth Kendal on 01524 273637 or 07966 072603 or email ruth.kendal@adas.co.uk
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Promar also run a similar service which is subsidised for North West livestock farmers as part of the Northwest Livestock Programme - looking at