Image via DAERA

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots has opened the new Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS). The SNHS is a significant new initiative aimed at improving soil nutrient health and estimating farm carbon stocks, right across Northern Ireland.

Announcing the scheme, Minister Poots said: “I am delighted to open this innovative and forward looking soil sampling and carbon analysis scheme that will be available to all farmers.

“It is estimated this scheme will represent an investment of up to £45million over four years towards improved sustainability in our farming sector. I am encouraging farm businesses in Northern Ireland to participate in the Scheme to ensure they benefit from what it can offer.”

The scheme will be delivered by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).  The contracts for the soil collection and analysis work have now been awarded and collection of soil samples from farms will be carried out under the direction of AFBI.

The SNHS will be rolled out in stages using a zonal approach, over the next four years.  Zone 1 farmers will be able to apply on-line using DAERA’s on-line services during May 2022. The collection of soil samples for Zone 1 will get underway in November 2022.

Minister Poots explained: “I will be writing to all the farmers in Zone 1 to encourage them to join the Scheme.  The data captured from the SNHS will provide farmers with important information on soil nutrient levels for each field on their farm, as well as an estimate of the amount of carbon stored in their soils, hedgerows, and trees.  They will also be provided with specific training on understanding and using the nutrient and carbon data on their farms.

“Equipping farmers with this information will help them more accurately match nutrient applications to crop need, thereby increase efficiency, reducing excess run-off to watercourses and improving their economic and environmental sustainability.

“In addition the baseline data delivered through the SNHS is a key platform in my proposals for new farm support schemes which I recently consulted on.”

Scheme guidance including maps of the specific sampling zones and opening times are now available from the DAERA website.

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