Muir announces June opening date for Zone 3 of Soil Nutrient Health Scheme

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has announced that registrations for Zone 3 of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) will open in June this year. Zone 3 covers north Tyrone and County Derry/Londonderry.

Minister Muir launches the opening of zone 3 of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme with Rachel Cassidy, AFBI's Head of Catchment Sciences, and Andrew Thompson, CAFRE's Soil Health and Water Quality technologist.

Speaking during a visit to Balmoral Show Minister Muir said:

“I am delighted to announce that registrations for Zone 3 of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme will begin on 24 June and close again on 31 August 2024. I strongly encourage all eligible farm businesses in the north west to register for this groundbreaking scheme.

At this mid-point in the scheme we have seen a very positive response in Zones 1 and 2, with over 90% of farms registered and over 280,000 fields tested for soil nutrients."

All farmers in the Scheme receive important information on soil nutrient levels for each field as well as maps of hotspots for nutrient run-off during rainfall events and an estimate of the amount of carbon stored in their soils, hedgerows, and trees. 

Minister Muir added:

“There are significant benefits of the Scheme as the results can help increase farm productivity and reduce the impact of agriculture on the water environment. 

Each farmer in the scheme is offered online training through the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). This provides information on interpreting results and preparing a nutrient management plan. This is a crucial step towards maximising the nutrient potential of our soils and protecting our environment.”

Farmers who are eligible in Zone 3 will be contacted by Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in the coming weeks with details about how to register online. Scheme guidance is now available on the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme Zone 2 sampling now underway | daera-ni.gov.uk.

Download CAFRE SNHS training.

Participation in the SNHS will be a requirement to receive payments under future farm support schemes. This conditionality requires that you participate in the SNHS and complete the CAFRE SNHS training when it is offered to you.

Notes to editors: 

1. Registrations to Zone 1 of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme opened in May to September 2022 and in Zone 2 in June to August 2023 with over 90% uptake in both zones. Zone 1 covers County Down and parts of Counties Antrim and Armagh, while Zone 2 covers Fermanagh, the west of County Armagh and South Tyrone.
2. Zone 4 (North East) will follow in 2025/26.
3. Farmers in Zones 1 and 2 who have not yet registered can apply from 24 June to 31 August 2024.
4. Registration is through DAERA online services using a Government Gateway Account.
5. The roll-out of the SNHS scheme continues with the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) working closely with the 3 main contractors for the soil collection (RPS Group), analysis (Cawood/NRM) and Lidar work (Field Group).  
6. The AFBI SNHS Admin team can be contacted on 02890 255212 or via email at: SNHS@afbini.gov.uk
7. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
8. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800 hrs and 0800 hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
9. Follow DAERA on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

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