Sustainable nutrient management in silage production

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

The farm nutrient runoff is one of the sources of nutrients eventually entering from surface waters to the Baltic Sea. As livestock farming has become more effective and intensive, so has the silage production. As today’s silage production technologies have not been studied enough from nutrients leakeages point of view, then there is a need to map and address the environmental risks. While doing it we need to look at the whole chain from growing silage to storing and using it, as well as waste management of used silage plastic. Farmers need more information and professional expertise about different innovative agri-environmental solutions in silage production, which are most applicable for project area. Thus there is a need for pilot and capacity building activities targeted to the animal husbandry sector in Estonia, Latvia and Finland.The environmental risks from silage production need to be addressed in cross border cooperation, as national efforts only are not sufficient. The project "Sustainable Silage" is focusing on reducing silage effluents in full silage production cycle in farm level. Planned silage management analysis cover the environmental, economic, and quality aspects . 20-25 farms from pilot areas test different farming practices and solutions in silage production, and the impact to the nutrien leakages will be evaluated and analyzed. Farmers receive well-founded information, practical guidelines and recommendations about the efficiency of different types of technologies and farming practices, which have real positive impact to the environment. It is the first joint initiative of agricultural producers, farmers organizations and research institutions in Central Baltic area focusing to the environmental issues in silage production. Planned total project budget is ca 2,1 million euros, incl. LP ca 380 000 €, PP2 ca 330 000 €, PP3 ca 320 000 €, PP4 ca 300 000 €, PP5 ca 300 000 €, PP6 ca 300 000 €, PP7 ca 170 000 €.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Project partners have successfully involved 26 pilot farms (10 from Estonia, 10 from Latvia and 6 from West-Finland). who are ready to pilot some agri-environmental actions in silage production. Partners have analyzed their needs and potential for testing some new practices and approaches in silage production and have prepared draft activity plans for each farm. First soil, silage, grass and silage effluents analyses have been taken from the pilot farms. The environmental action plans will be composed during 2.reporting period based on the results of the samples and first pilot actions. It is planned that the implementation of pilot actions will start in full scale in spring 2024, when project experts have more detailed information about pilot areas appointed for piloting in farms, incl. the results of different samples. Currently partners are optimistic that all 26 pilot farms will participate in pilot programme until the end of the project and in at least 20 farms some results can be achieved which can be used in final report when making the practical recommendations to the farmers in project area. The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge has started the field trial in Jõgeva trial station for evaluating the possibilities to use the silage effluent as grassland fertilizer. The trial plan is composed and preliminary soil samples were taken to choose area for field trials. Based on that the trial area is chosen and grass mixtures for trial are composed. LUKE from Finland has started the analysis of the effects of management factors on silage effluent production and nutrient losses. An online questionnaire was prepared where farmers reported their silage making practises and samples of silages were collected representing the methods. The experiment will start in next reporting period. Project partners started successfully the implementation of pilot programme in 26 pilot farms. In Latvia and Estonia additional silage experts were involved both as staff members (in Estonia) and external experts (in Latvia). Project team members and external silage experts conducted farm visits, provided consultations, monitored the pilot actions and took and analyzed necessary samples (soil, silage, plants, silage effluents, water). The environmental action plans were updated according to the real situations in pilot farms. PP3 METK started the field trial in Jõgeva trial station for evaluating the possibilities to use the silage effluent as grassland fertilizer. Trial plots on grassland trial area were fertilized with grass silage effluent, which was collected from one pilot farm. Soil and grass samples were collected from the trial plots, to evaluate silage effluent effect on soil and grass properties. Another grassland trial area was established to make silage effluent trial in 2024. Soil samples were collected from that trial plots to collect initial data about soil properties. PP6 Luke started the analysis of the effects of management factors on silage effluent production and nutrient losses by contacting a pilot scale ensiling experiment during summer 2023. Due to the dry weather in early summer, the conduction of the ensiling trial was postponed to late summer, when it was successfully concluded. The silos were opened after a 3 month fermentation period in the end of October. After that, the laboratory analyses started and were in progress until the end of the reporting period. Partners organized capacity building events for farmers: - Estonia: field day in 31.07.23 in Hummuli farm and practical seminar in 13.12.23 in Märja. - Latvia:s practical seminar and field day in 10.10.23 in "Vecauce" farm. - Finland: practical seminar in the framework of "Lännen märehtijäpäivät" in 13.-14.12.2023 Partners arranged the exchange of experience visit of Latvian and Finnish farmers to Estonia in 3.-5.of October 2023. There was 13 participants from Latvia and 12 participants from Finland. During the visit 2 workshops were held and group visited 4 farms.

Project outputs: Number of farms/SME's participating actvely in pilot programme and capacity building events(EN)
Pilot actions for testing different methods and technologies in silage management targeted to reducing nutrient runoffs from the whole production chain.(EN)
Number of farms/SME's participating in project events and activities(EN)

Thematic information

Waste and pollution Agriculture and fisheries and forestry

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P2) Improved environment and resource use

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 064 Water management and water resource conservation (including river basin management, specific climate change adaptation measures, reuse, leakage reduction)

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Eesti Põllumajandus-Kaubanduskoda

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100356696

Address: Pärnu mnt., 11314 Tallinn, Estonia

Department address: Estonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.epkk.ee

Total budget: EUR 421 299.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 337 039.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 84 259.80

Biedriba "Zemnieku saeima"

Name: Biedriba "Zemnieku saeima"

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV40008042411

Address: Republikas laukums, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Latvia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.zemniekusaeima.lv

Total budget: EUR 335 467.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 268 374.24

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 67 093.56

Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitāte

Name: Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitāte

Department: Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Management

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90000041898

Address: Liela iela, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia

Department address: Akademijas iela, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.llu.lv

Total budget: EUR 151 640.99

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 121 312.79

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 328.20

Contractors:

Name: DU agentura LHI
VAT registration or tax identification number: LV90002129621

Luonnonvarakeskus

Name: Luonnonvarakeskus

Department: Production Systems Unit

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI02446292

Address: Latokartanokaari, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland

Department address: Tietotie, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.luke.fi

Total budget: EUR 298 961.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 239 169.28

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 59 792.32

ProAgria Länsi-Suomi Ry

Name: ProAgria Länsi-Suomi Ry

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 101423638

Address: Itsenäisyydenkatu, 28130 Pori, Finland

Department address: Vahdontie, 20320 Turku, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: https://lansi-suomi.proagria.fi/

Total budget: EUR 311 736.26

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 249 389.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 62 347.26

Eesti Maaülikool

Name: Eesti Maaülikool

Department: The Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Chair of Animal Nutrition

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100018015

Address: Fr.R.Kreutzwaldi, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Department address: Fr.R.Kreutzwaldi, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.emu.ee

Total budget: EUR 277 464.42

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 221 971.53

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 55 492.89

Contractors:

Name: Baltic Tours AS
VAT registration or tax identification number: EE100186031

Maaelu Teadmuskeskus

Name: Maaelu Teadmuskeskus

Department: Field of agrotechnology

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 70000869

Address: J.Aamisepa, 48309 Jõgeva, Estonia

Department address: Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.etki.ee

Total budget: EUR 297 369.81

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 237 895.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 59 473.97

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Sustainable nutrient management in silage production

Project acronym: Sustainable Silage

Project ID: CB0100103

Project start date: 2023-01-01

Project end date: 2025-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Central Baltic project "GreenAgri" (2015-2019) (EN) | The challenges related to the reduction of nutrient losses from agriculture requires comprehensive approach and measures, which can be applied in different production sectors. As "GreenAgri" project focused to the management of organic fertilizers, then current project is using the similar approach in addressing those challenges in silage production.
Project will use similar approach in implementation of pilot programme as it was used in "GreenAgri" project. The valuable experience in designing the pilot programme, in attracting the farmers to participate and to implement some innovative measures, in providing needed support and consultation will be used also in this project.
Also the structure and methodology of "GreenAgri" in composing the survey of innovative agri-environmental technologies in manure management can be used in this project while conducting the survey in silage production technologies.
The good experience in using the format of regular stakeholders workshops for improving the cooperation between farmers associations and governmental organizations will be also used.
(EN), Central Baltic project "Nutrinflow" (2015-2019) (EN) | The challenges related to the reduction of nutrient losses from agriculture requires comprehensive approach and measures, which can be applied in different production sectors. When "Nutrinflow" project focused to the drainage management, then current project is using the similar approach in addressing those challenges in silage production.
The practical experience of "Nutrinflow" project in choosing most appropriate pilot areas will be used in current project. The valuable experience in implementing innovative holistic measures for achieving real results in reducing nutrient losses in pilot areas will be used.
(EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 093 939.88

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 675 151.88

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 675 151.88. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

List of 25 pilot farms
Environmental action plans
Implementation reports
Final report of pilot programme
Interim reports
Final report
Survey report
Final report of economic analysis
Final report of legislation analysis, incl. policy recommendations
Final report, incl. practical recommendation on minimizing silage effluent losses
Project sections created in 7 websites
Ca 30 articles or press releases in partners own publications
Ca 10 articles in paper and online media
Ca 6-8 project presentations
Project logo
Knowledge exchange visit to West-Finland
Knowledge exchange visit to Estonia
Knowledge exchange visit to Latvia
8 field days organised for farmers in 3 countries
15 local seminars organised for farmers in 3 countries
Project forum organised in Latvia
Project closing conference organised in Estonia
Ca 30 press releases/invitations published about project events

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Reduction of nutrient emissions from agriculture and other diffuse sources is one of the Actions defined by PA Nutri. The strategy emphasizes the active encouragement of sectors (also from agriculture) generating nutrient leakage from diffuse sources to mitigate their influence on euthropication by showing economically and timely attractive measures and practices reducing nutrient pressure.
Current project proposal is directly linked to the objectives of PA Nutri, as it is focused to identification, piloting and introduction of agri-environmental farming practices and technologies in silage production reducing the silage effluents from full production cycle. Also the economical aspect of proposed methods and practices will be taken into account.
Other EU strategy "Farm to Fork" is aiming to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly. One of the goals of the strategy is reduced nutrient losses by at least 50%, while ensuring that there is no deterioration in soil fertility. According to the strategy the Commission will develop with Member States an integrated nutrient management action plan to address nutrient pollution at source and increase the sustainability of the livestock sector.
Current project proposal will focus to the reduction of nutrient losses specifically from silage production sector, which supports the reduced nutrient losses goal set in the "Farm to Fork" strategy.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO81) Participations in joint actions across borders: 96.0

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR4 The number of improved urban and agricultural load sources, Measurement unit: number of load sources

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 63 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 251 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Sustainable nutrient management in silage production

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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