Could you benefit from the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme and CAFRE training?
Date published:
College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Adviser, Mary Ann Alexander recently visited Alan Morrison, a beef farmer from Maguiresbridge, to hear about his experiences of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme online training programme.
In discussions Alan praised the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) and CAFRE’s online training for helping him make informed decisions to improve his farm business. He feels the interactive tools are helping him cut costs, boost yields, and future-proof his farm business.
Alan farms 120 acres alongside his father Edwin and his son James. They run a pedigree Angus herd, selling breeding stock and forward stores at 14 - 18 months. James is currently studying at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus, and together they are committed to continuous improvement on their farm.
As part of the SNHS, Alan had his fields sampled free of charge, giving him a complete picture of soil nutrient levels. “It was great to get the fields sampled with no cost and see the full analysis,” he said. “All of our fertiliser and manure applications are based on soil test results. We consider liming recommendations in the context of our soil type, taking advice from local CAFRE Advisers where needed, although getting lime on can be challenging in wet conditions,” remarked Alan.
Grassland management is a key focus for the Morrison family. They operate a paddock grazing system and aim to reseed all fields on a ten-year cycle, including clover in mixes to improve sward quality and silage production. “We’ve done a lot of reseeding over the years to produce the best grazing grass possible,” Alan explained.
Heavy soils and compaction present challenges, but Alan uses contractors for slurry application via a pipe system to reduce damage and has trialled subsoiling where needed. “It worked well, but you have to be careful where water pipes are laid!” he noted.
Alan completed CAFRE’s online training as part of the scheme. “It was very easy to use. I liked being able to stop and start the videos and work at my own pace. The short clips were easy to digest,” he said. One key takeaway was the importance of soil pH: “You could be losing up to a third of money spent on fertiliser if your soil pH isn’t right.”
Alan praised the maps available as part of the Scheme. “The mapping tools were excellent. Being able to switch between overlays and view detailed field analysis was extremely helpful. In particular, the run-off risk maps will be a great aid in planning slurry applications and avoiding high-risk areas,” he said.
The training is fully online, available 24/7, and can be completed at your own pace. Short, interactive videos cover everything from soil fertility basics to nutrient management planning.
Farmers who have yet to complete the training are strongly encouraged to act now.
Completing SNHS training and acting on your soil analysis is the fastest route to:
- Lower input costs.
- Higher yields.
- Compliance with future farm support requirements.
Sign up today via the CAFRE website and start turning your soil data into profit.
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