Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
843. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to delays within the pilot soil sampling scheme; the consequences for farmers spreading lime, fertiliser or slurry prior to sampling taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6725/22]
View answerThe pilot Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme is a substantial, innovative and ambitious programme with over 7,800 farmers approved to participate. The Letter of Approval issued to approved participants informed them that their Soil Sampling contract runs to 31st December 2022.
I am fully aware of progress under this pilot through my Department's regular engagement with the service provider. I acknowledge progress has been behind expectation, however soil sampling and analysis is continuing and progress is accelerating. The progress to date has not been good enough and my Department has engaged with the service provider to increase output in the scheme.
The service provider is managing the list of farmers approved for sampling. They are contacting each farmer prior to sampling. If a farmer has applied lime, slurry or fertiliser (other than straight nitrogen), they should advise the person who will be taking the samples when they make contact to arrange sampling.
In accordance with normal soil sampling requirements, as outlined in the Teagasc Publication “Major and Micro Nutrient Advice for Productive Agricultural Crops,” land that has received phosphorous or potassium, (or slurry) should not be sampled for 3 to 6 months after the last application of phosphorous and/or potassium. Where lime has been applied to correct soil pH, the advice to farmers is to allow a time lag of up to two years before soil sampling to determine lime requirements.
Even if nutrients have been applied to some fields, it may still be possible to take soil samples in other fields on an approved participant’s farm this spring. Approved participants who don’t have their land sampled this spring will have a further opportunity to have samples taken in the autumn if they wish.
