Summary

Odling i Balans have for several years carried out an extensive calculation and reporting of Environmental Key Indicators for the pilot-farms which comprise the base of the project. With fewer pilot-farms involved in the beginning, certain parts of the report do not account for all farms. The report uses the word Environmental Key Indicator as a concept to report on measurable values.  The report is based on those areas where OiB has over a series of years worked with and reported on Environmental Key Indicators. Plant nutrient utilization has been calculated on the pilot-farms since 1994. Calculation of Energy Balances in plant production was began two years later. Around the same time a model was developed for calculating the intensity of chemical pesticide use. An indicator for valuing harmful soil compaction, expressed as amount ton-kilometer/hectare, has been developed during the last two years.

As with all work concerning Environmental Key Indicators, it is important to specify the boundaries and limits within which different Key Indicators are used to describe an actual situation. In this case to a point where harvested plant produce leaves the farm, alternatively is processed further in animal production. Concerning the whole farm, the farms crop production system or a specific field. These boundaries are made clear throughout the rapport. This is very important in order to enable correct comparisons between farms. Key Environmental Indicators are used foremost to show developments for a specific farm over a period of years.

  A large part of the rapport concerns the conditions for different crops. Another interesting part of the rapport concerns the farm location, which relates to actual growing conditions.  The latter is well illustrated, as over the actual period there have been certain years with extreme weather conditions. Cropping, in comparison to other activities, is strongly effected by outer factors.  It is important to hold separate the effect of managerial actions and natural variation between years caused by outer conditions.

  Environmental Key Indicators should describe conditions for an actual location but it is also important to present a comprehensive value of conditions for the farm. Key Indicators should show efficiency, sustainability as well as direct environmental effect. 

A very important historical record can be analyzed. There is reason to utilize results for developing reference indicators / normal indicators when valuing different conditions for crop production. As the 16 pilot farms represent different growing conditions there exist a large potential for comparison. The rapport presents reference values primarily for plant nutrient utilization, intensity of chemical pesticide use as well as energy efficiency in plant production.

  Research and field-trails currently in progress give the possibility for improving actual Environmental Key Indicators. It is clear that size of harvested yield has a large influence. This means that yearly variation can “mask” the effect of inputs, improvements, and measures. Despite this the rapport is able to often show a connection between results and improvement measures taken. Environmental Key Indicators – with comparison to reference values – constitute an important foundation for both valuing and decision making in continuing work on the individual farm.

Last changed: 13 apr 2007