Livestock farmers in Northern Ireland are being offered the opportunity to increase profitability through free soil sampling and analysis under the EU aid package scheme, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced today.
The EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid Soil Sampling and Analysis Scheme will be delivered by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Online registration for the scheme will be open from today and will close at 12 noon on Monday 19 June 2017.
The soil sampling service will provide participating farmers with detailed information on their soils, such as pH level and nutrient requirements for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). By optimising pH and applying slurry, manure and chemical fertiliser in line with crop need, farmers can maximise crop yields, increase soil fertility and increase farm profitability, while also improving environmental performance.
There will be two components to the scheme:
Component 1 will be aimed at all livestock farmers and will be known as the “Open Scheme”
Component 2 will be targeted at farmers within parts of the Upper Bann catchment and will be known as the “Catchment Scheme”.
To be eligible for the scheme:
* You must have a DAERA Farm Business ID number
* You must be a livestock farmer registered in Northern Ireland
* You must provide the mandatory information required on the registration form.
To apply, or request further details on the scheme, please visit:
https://www.afbini.gov.uk/eu-
UFU Welcomes Soil Sampling And Analysis Scheme
The Ulster Farmers’ Union says it welcomes the recent announcement from DAERA, offering a free soil sampling and analysis scheme that will be funded under the EU’s Exceptional Adjustment Aid (EAA) package.
While there were difficulties at that time, across the entire farming industry, including depressed prices in the arable sector, the EU commission intended that this funding package would be used to specifically assist the livestock sectors and we wanted to ensure that this would be used strategically in Northern Ireland to invest in the future of the industry.
Commenting on the opening of the scheme, UFU President Barclay Bell said: “We are pleased to see this element of the EAA package being rolled out. It is great to see farmers being offered this free soil sampling and analysis service, something that will be beneficial to all eligible farms.
“This scheme will provide farmers with detailed information on their soils to help with optimising nutrient management planning, maximising yields and improving soil fertility. It will also help in reducing costs on farm which is to be welcomed.”
