Soil Analysis

Healthy Soil = healthy crops and healthy rivers

Autumn and winter is the time to assess your soil.

Speak to your local catchment advisor about how they can help with soil, nutrient, and manure management planning.

Our advisors make use of a range of surveying and sampling techniques to help you to make decisions about how you can manage soils, fertilisers, and manures. The appropriate balance of pH, and major and minor nutrients, alongside good soil structure, will ensure that grass and crops flourish, and watercourses are well looked after as well.

Our Soils Offer below is available in our Upstream Thinking Catchments only.  Not all of these options are recommended on all farms, and some have limited availability due to cost.

• Collection of soil samples and laboratory analysis for up to 20 fields with a subsidised cost of £12 ex VAT per field paid by the farmer.
  The soil samples will be tested for: pH, P, K, Mg, and Organic matter
• Free soil survey across the selected fields, including a visual inspection of the soil (VESS analysis) and identification of areas of compaction.
• Free bespoke Soil Management Plan, including advice and recommendations on soil management. If soil compaction is identified, soil aeration equipment can be provided free of charge.
• Free bespoke Nutrient Management Plan, prepared by our FACTS-qualified advisors to help prepare for the year ahead. This can include advice and recommendations on nutrient management, maximising efficient use of manures and identifying opportunities to reduce fertiliser costs, and compliance with Farming Rules for Water (FRfW).
• Assistance with Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications, including Soil Management Plans.
• Forage analysis for Trace elements – if required.
• Manure Analysis – if required

Our aim is to arm farmers with the information that will help them make good decisions for their business and for the environment.

Holding onto nitrate, phosphate, and soil particles is good for the farm business and good for the river.