The paper outlines farming systems, including organic, in the UK, and provides a context for the use of biological nitrogen (N) from legumes, especially clovers, and manure in organic grassland systems. As N is dynamic within organic ruminant/grassland systems its pathway is described, including its loss and resultant environmental impact. Improvements in the predictability of response to biological N, its role in reducing the carbon footprint of ruminant products and potential to improve its efficiency are discussed.