Farmer-led manure management trial
A farmer-led project to trial the benefits of on-farm composting is set to help livestock and mixed farms better manage current concerns around farmyard manure (FYM).
Managing FYM remains one of the most complex and costly challenges facing UK farms, with strict NVZ regulations and Farming Rules for Water limiting when and how manure can be spread.
While composting potentially offers a more controlled and efficient approach, uptake has been limited by the lack of affordable, high-throughput machinery suited to UK farm conditions.
Funded through Defra’s ADOPT programme, the two-year field trial is using a British-built compost turner capable of processing up to 50% more material than comparable machines and comparing composted material with raw manure applications across several crops and soil types.
The project involves arable farmer Will Grant and youngstock rearer Phil Gilbert from Lincolnshire together with Essex-based composting expert and arable farmer Simon Cowell, supported by facilitator Daniel Kindred of the Agronomy Research Circle (ARC).
Will and Phil currently operate a closed loop muck-for-straw system, but raw manure can lead to nutrient losses through volatilisation and runoff, while also increasing the risk of weed spread, pathogens, odour and inconsistent application rates. Storage requirements and compliance burdens further add to the pressure.
They initiated the project by securing ADOPT funding to investigate how best to process FYM into compost and apply it to Will’s arable land.
“If you spread manure on the field, most of the carbon disappears back into the atmosphere,” explained Simon. “By composting it, you are stabilising it so when you put it on the soil you are literally raising the organic matter levels. It also provides biological inoculation to rejuvenate the biology of the soil.”
“Raw manure is quite a volatile product,” continued Will. “It feels a bit haphazard. We wanted the opportunity to prove to ourselves if we start to process manures and compost them, we can quantify the benefit to the business, and to the soils and have some confidence in it. This project will, I hope, provide this and demonstrate to others it’s possible to see improvements in your soil fertility, your soil health and as a result, your yields.”
The work is also assessing economic outcomes, including labour, fuel, spreading costs and overall return on investment.
Delivering environmental and economic benefits
The project will evaluate whether high-capacity composting can deliver:
- Lower spreading costs compared with raw manure
- Improved soil structure and biological activity
- Reduced reliance on synthetic fertilisers
- Lower emissions and improved regulatory compliance
By generating robust on-farm evidence, the project aims to demonstrate whether composting can provide a practical, scalable solution for UK farms.
Farmer-led innovation driving change
The ADOPT programme supports farmer-led trials that address real-world challenges and deliver practical outcomes for the sector.
Results from the project will be shared through on-farm events and industry channels to support wider uptake of effective manure management practices.
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