Fertiliser, manure and slurry spreaders
Published 12 June 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/farm-practices-survey-february-2025/fertiliser-manure-and-slurry-spreaders
The data below focus specifically on farmers who spread manure, slurry and fertiliser. More details on nitrogen fertiliser spreading practices are available in the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice.
Figure 1 Proportion of holdings spreading manure and slurry on grassland and arable land
| Year | Spread by farmer only | Spread by farmer and also contractor | Spread by contractor only | None spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39% | 15% | 25% | 21% | 100% |
| 2022 | 39% | 17% | 22% | 22% | 100% |
| 2023 | 43% | 16% | 22% | 19% | 100% |
| 2024 | 36% | 19% | 24% | 22% | 100% |
| 2025 | 36% | 17% | 26% | 21% | 100% |
Notes:
- The sum of the components may not equal 100% due to rounding.
In 2025, 79% of holdings spread manure or slurry on their grass and arable land (Figure 1). Overall, proportions for the various spreading methods have remained similar between 2021 and 2025. Spreading is done solely by the farmer on 36% of holdings, solely by the contractor on 26%, and by both the farmer and contractor on 17%.
Figure 2 Proportion of holdings spreading fertiliser on grassland and arable land
| Year | Spread by farmer only | Spread by farmer and also contractor | Spread by contractor only | None spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57% | 12% | 15% | 16% | 100% |
| 2022 | 58% | 10% | 16% | 15% | 100% |
| 2023 | 57% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 100% |
| 2024 | 55% | 12% | 18% | 16% | 100% |
| 2025 | 57% | 12% | 14% | 17% | 100% |
Notes:
- The sum of the components may not equal 100% due to rounding.
In 2025, 83% of holdings spread fertilisers on their grass and arable land (Figure 2). There was little change over the last five years with the largest proportion of holdings, 57%, indicating that fertiliser was spread solely by the farmer.
Figure 3 Frequency with which farmers calibrate their manure or slurry spreader(s)
| Year | Never | Whenever there is significant change in manure or slurry characteristics | Whenever manure or slurry is tested | Every year | Less often than every year | Other frequency | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43% | 15% | 3% | 24% | 6% | 9% | 100% |
| 2022 | 43% | 19% | 1% | 25% | 7% | 4% | 100% |
| 2023 | 40% | 17% | 2% | 24% | 9% | 8% | 100% |
| 2024 | 35% | 18% | 2% | 27% | 10% | 9% | 100% |
| 2025 | 41% | 15% | 2% | 27% | 9% | 7% | 100% |
Notes:
- The sum of the components may not equal 100% due to rounding.
Calibrating manure and slurry spreaders can help to improve input efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Over the five-year period around two thirds of farmers were calibrating their spreaders at least some of the time, though the frequency varies. For those farmers who are calibrating their spreaders in 2025, the most common frequencies are every year (27%) and whenever there is significant change in manure or slurry characteristics (15%). This has remained broadly unchanged in recent years (Figure 3).