As part of the EU4Green work package on the Implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive, a new brochure on Codes of Good Agricultural Practice and an accompanying Manure Calculator tool are now available.

The aim of this brochure is to support farmers in increasing nitrogen efficiency by closing nitrogen cycles on the farm and preventing nitrogen losses to the environment. By applying the principles of the EU Nitrates Directive, farmers can conserve nitrogen for crop production (food and feed), while reducing losses to air and water.

The six key elements of the Nitrates Directive addressed in the brochure include:

1. Periods when fertilizer application is inappropriate
2. Fertilizer application on steeply sloping ground
3. Fertilizer application on water-saturated, flooded, frozen or snow-covered soil
4. Fertilizer application near watercourses
5. Capacity and construction of storage facilities for livestock manure
6. Procedures for fertilizer application, including application rate and uniformity of spreading

In addition, the brochure includes practical tables with average nitrogen excretion amounts by livestock category, as well as guidance for calculation of manure storage capacity.

The target group of this publication includes farmers and agricultural advisors interested in improving nutrient management and enhancing farm sustainability and profitability.

This jointly developed deliverable was developed and presented during the Regional Workshop held on 24 June 2025 in Tirana.

All materials in English and Western Balkans languages are available for download here: https://docs.umweltbundesamt.at/s/kwN9QtkyEJrXzqF