Soil Nutrient Health Scheme Training for County Down farmers

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is providing free, face-to-face Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) training sessions for farmers in the County Down area.

Charlie Kilpatrick, Countryside Services Ltd delivering SNHS training to local farmers in Ballynahinch.

The training, which is also available online, is completed over two evenings, offering a convenient option for local farmers seeking to enhance their knowledge.

Countryside Services Ltd recently held training sessions in Ballynahinch and Castlewellan for two groups of farmers. The training took place over two evenings, and attendees found it to be very helpful. One farmer stated: “The training helped me to make sense of my soil analysis report and will enable me to put a nutrient management plan into practice on my farm. Having completed the training, I have fulfilled the SNHS requirements to secure my payments in future years.”

CAFRE Soil Nutrient Health Scheme training is available online to all farm businesses, simply logon to the CAFRE website.

For help accessing the online training, contact your local DAERA Direct office on 0300 200 7840.

If you prefer to attend face-to-face training, sessions are being held in the County Down area:

Strangford Arms Hotel, Newtownards on Tuesday 9^th and Tuesday 16^th January OR Tuesday 30^th and Tuesday 6^th February 2024.

Bannville Hotel, Banbridge on Thursday 11^th and Thursday 18^th January OR Thursday 1^st and Thursday 8^th February 2024.

Kilmorney Arms Hotel, Kilkeel on Tuesday 16^th and Tuesday 23^rd January OR Tuesday 6^th and Tuesday 13^th February 2024.

Mourne Country Hotel, Newry on Thursday 18^th and Thursday 25^th January OR Thursday 8^th and Thursday 15^th February 2024.

Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch on Tuesday 23^rd and Tuesday 30^th January 2024.

Maginn’s Bar, Castlewellan on Thursday 25^th and Thursday 1^st February 2024.

You need to register to attend the face-to-face training, please visit the CAFRE website or contact Countryside Services Ltd Telephone 028 8778 9770.

Participation in the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme will be a condition for the receipt of the new Farm Sustainability and Farming with Nature Payments, the replacements for Single Farm Payment and Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS). This requires both registering for the SNHS and completion of the training being offered by CAFRE. Failure to complete both elements may affect your future payments. 

Notes to editors: 

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2. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9052 4619.

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