Soil sampling services offered by ABP to farmer suppliers

ABP Ireland has introduced a novel soil sampling initiative, accessible to all its agricultural suppliers. Starting in 2023, it has become mandatory for farms with a grassland stocking density exceeding 130kg of nitrogen per hectare and for all crop-producing farms to engage in soil sampling. This cutting-edge program is coordinated under the umbrella of ABP’s Advantage Beef Programme, yet it welcomes participation from both affiliates and non-affiliates alike. ABP has made soil core samplers accessible for loan to its agricultural suppliers from its facilities nationwide. Findings from ABP’s Demonstration Farm in Clonegal, Co. Carlow, underscore the significance of soil sampling in enhancing soil fertility and health. Soil sampling yields critical data regarding the necessity for lime, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers in specific fields. Amie Coonan, the leader of the Advantage Beef Team, emphasized, “The present moment is ideal for considering soil sampling on your farm. The prime period for soil sampling spans from October to February, with samples ideally taken three months post the last slurry, chemical phosphorus, or potassium application. The insights from soil analysis can guide farmers in reducing their fertilizer use, strategically applying slurry to the most needy fields, and boosting grass growth, thereby enhancing the carbon sequestration capacity of their soil. According to recent statistics from Teagasc, merely 16% of soils are at the desired levels of pH, phosphorus, and potassium. Hence, initiating soil sampling on your farm to establish a baseline and formulate a management plan is crucial. Without measurement, management is unattainable.” ABP’s Advantage Beef Programme’s farm liaison officers are on hand to provide tailored fertiliser and lime recommendations based on the soil sample analyses for users of this new service. ABP has also shared several practical tips for taking precise soil samples: - Aim for one sample per 5-10 acres of your farm, not exceeding 20 acres per sample. - Group fields and paddocks with identical treatments for sampling purposes. - Ensure each sample comes from areas with uniform slurry/fertiliser application, reseeding, liming, and silage cutting schedules. - Collect samples by traversing the field or paddock in a ‘W’ pattern to secure a representative sample. - Steer clear of sampling near gates, water troughs, machinery tracks, ditches, or previous trough locations to avoid skewed results. - Gather a full box from the soil corer or 20 cores, ensuring each core is 10cm deep for accurate analysis. - Postpone sampling if the soil is overly wet, as this may hinder the collection of full samples. - Use a freezer bag for storing soil samples, clearly marking each bag with the field and farmer’s name using a permanent marker. Farmers interested in participating in this program should reach out to their nearest ABP location.