ABOUT PLANET AND ENCASH

What is PLANET?
How do I get hold of a copy of PLANET version 2.0?
What help is there be for PLANET users?
Who has developed PLANET?
What is ENCASH?

What is PLANET?

The PLANET (Planning Land Applications of Nutrients for Efficiency and the environmenT) Field-level Planning and Record Keeping module is a computerised version of Defra's ‘Fertiliser Recommendations (RB209)' publication (7th edition, December 2000). It provides farmers and advisers with a quick and easy way of obtaining RB209 recommendations for arable, horticultural or grassland crops in each field, each year, taking account of the crop nutrient requirement as well as the nutrients supplied from the soil, and applications of organic manures and manufactured fertilisers. It will allow the user to develop a nutrient application plan for a group of fields covering the use of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5), potash (K2O), magnesium (as MgO), sulphur (as SO3), sodium (as Na2O) and lime. The plan can be modified during the season and actual applications recorded. At the end of the season, details of actual cropping, soil analysis, organic manure and nutrient/lime applications to each crop are recorded. These records together with other information will be used to generate next years RB209 recommendations. PLANET reports can be viewed and printed off.

The Field-level Planning and Record Keeping module may also be used to help comply with some of the rules established by the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008 for land in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). These rules require you to plan all applications of nitrogen to a crop (whether the nitrogen be present within manufactured fertiliser, organic manure, or any other nitrogen-containing material) and to keep a record of all applications.

PLANET version 2.0 also contains the following new calculation modules to help farmers comply with the NVZ Action Programme Regulations that come into force on 1st January 2009;

• The livestock manure N farm limit - calculates the N capacity and N loading of a farm (NVZ compliance tool).
• Organic manures inventory - calculates the quantities of slurry, dirty water and solid manure produced on a farm and their NPK content. Calculates the minimum manure storage requirement of a farm (NVZ compliance tool).
• Existing manure storage capacity - calculates the capacity of existing slurry, dirty water and solid manure stores.
• The N max limit - calculates the average N max limit and average nitrogen application rate for a crop type grown on land in an NVZ (NVZ compliance tool).
• Farmgate nutrient balance - calculates the farmgate balance of nitrogen, phosphate and potash (not required for NVZ compliance).

The 7th edition of RB209 is under revision. When the revised recommendations are available, some recommendations generated by version 2.0 of PLANET are likely to change. Farmers should take account of these changes when planning their nutrient use – if in doubt, seek advice from a FACTS qualified adviser (Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme).

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How do I get hold of a copy of PLANET version 2.0?

The PLANET software is available free of charge. You can request a copy of PLANET version 2.0 in any of the following ways:

• Email planet.admin@adas.co.uk (please include your name, address telephone number and email address for future contacts).
• Telephone the PLANET helpline on 08456 023864.
• Download the software from www.planet4farmers.co.uk. Make sure you follow the instructions.

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What help is there for PLANET users?

There are several sources of help for using the standalone version of PLANET.

Help files

Each of the PLANET modules has a help file which can be viewed and printed. To do this, select the relevant help file from the Help menu at the top of the page. The help files are also available at www.planet4farmers.co.uk from the ‘Downloads’ section of the website.

On-screen Help

On-screen Help can be accessed in several different ways:-

• by clicking on the Help icon on the taskbar. This will take you to the start of the Help document.
• by selecting Help from the menu at the top of the screen.
• by clicking in any data entry cell and then pressing the F1 key. This will take you to Help about the current screen.
• by clicking on the icon which occurs alongside some column headers.

Tutorial

An on-screen Tutorial for Field-level Planning and Recording is available from the Help menu at the top of the screen. This describes how to set up farm and field details, enter field history, generate nutrient recommendations and how to obtain one of the standard reports. Each section within the tutorial will run automatically but the user can pause, rewind, fast-forward or repeat at any Step by clicking on the relevant button.

Library

The PLANET library can be accessed from the Library menu at the top of the screen. It includes the full text of Defra’s ‘Fertiliser Recommendations (RB209)’ publication (7th edition 2000), the NVZ Guidance leaflets (pdf files only) and the Managing Livestock Manure booklets.

Website

The PLANET website (www.planet4farmers.co.uk) contains Downloads and News and Events. You can email questions to the PLANET Helpline via the website.

Helpline

Further Help is available by contacting the PLANET Helpline on 08456 023864 or by emailing planet.admin@adas.co.uk. The helpline will NOT give specific technical advice on organic manure or fertiliser use for a specific farm or field crop.

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Who has developed PLANET?

PLANET has been developed by ADAS with funding and support from Defra and the Environment Agency (EA). The software is maintained and supported by ADAS.

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What is ENCASH?

The ENCASH software will calculate a nitrogen production value for pigs and poultry based on specific diets and production systems. The output may be used when calculating compliance with the NVZ livestock manure N loading limit.

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