Getting to grips with understanding your soil analysis reports

Farmers who received free soil sampling and analysis reports, co-ordinated by AFBI, as part of the EU Exceptional Adjustment (EAA) Soils Scheme have been attending training on how to understand their soil analysis reports.

Some of the EAA soil scheme participants, who recently attended training on “Understanding your soil analysis reports” in Greyabbey, along with trainer Charlie Kilpatrick (centre, front).

Soil analysis reports provide valuable information on the nutrient content of soils and are a useful tool for planning nutrient applications. 

The workshops have been helping farmers who participated in the scheme to understand what their soil analysis means. Planning lime, manure and fertiliser applications to produce high quality grass and forage crops, whilst improving and maintaining soil fertility; saving money on chemical fertilisers; reducing the risk of nutrient loss; and thus improving water quality are all important.

Some of the comments following the training included:

“I was surprised when the soil analysis showed big differences in the fertility of my fields.”

“I was reminded tonight that pH and lime is critical for soil. Putting on lime means that the slurry and fertiliser is used much better by the plants.”

“I need to pay more attention to understanding the fertility of my soil and only putting on the amount of slurry and fertiliser that is needed.”

The workshops have been arranged jointly between CAFRE and AI Services under the Farm Family Key Skills (FFKS) initiative, which is partly funded by the EU under the NIRDP 2014-2020.

Training for participants in the Catchment Scheme (within 11 sub-catchments of the Upper Bann) gets underway in March. Once you receive your invitation contact AI Services to confirm your attendance. Alternative dates are available, details of which are included in your invitation letter, but must be pre-booked. For further information, contact AI Services on 028 9083 3123.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity of training and start using your soil analysis now!

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