Soil Nutrient Health Scheme

The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is the largest baseline soil sampling programme ever undertaken. It is being managed by AFBI and due to the scale and complexity of the scheme, it is being rolled out on a zonal basis with all the zones completed by 2026. All farmers will be given the opportunity to join the scheme.

SNHS Zonal Map
View the SNHS Maps Zones 1-4

Zone 2 Sampling

Zone 2: RPS Samplers pictured at Baronscourt, Co Tyrone (Credit: Brian Moore).

Sampling commenced on 25 October 2023 in zone 2 and as of March 2024 there have been 128,000 fields sampled to date.
The main sampling period runs from November - February.
Zone 2 covers the remainder of farms in Co Armagh, South Tyrone, which were not included in Zone 1, and all of Co Fermanagh. All eligible farmers will be notified of Zone 3 registrations opening in summer 2024.

See where the samplers are working currently view the Sampler Location Map

Farmers with queries can contact RPS T: 028 96928388 or the AFBI SNHS Helpdesk T: 028 90 255212.
View the Zone 2 flyer - to find out more.

Zone 2 update: Please note that any remaining unsampled fields which are not due to receive nutrient applications will be rescheduled for sampling during April/May 2024. All other fields will be rescheduled for this autumn. If fields are already registered for the Scheme and are unsampled this season, there is no need to re-register them, they will be sampled at the first opportunity next season. Farmers registered with SNHS who have not yet been sampled and are concerned, should contact RPS, the sampling contractors.
Please contact: 028 96928388 afbi@rpsgroup.com

Training

CAFRE Training

SNHS training

Training by CAFRE is available to all participating farmers in zones 1 & 2 who have received their analysis report. A series of 3 on farm events took place during September 2023, focussing on using the results and finding out about the training available. Training is available primarily online. A number of face-to-face events are to be confirmed. The training will assist with understanding nutrient management, the role of carbon and completing a nutrient management plan. Completion of training is also a requirement to secure future farm payments. For more information please visit CAFRE Training.

Soil Sampling

Sampling in Zone 1

Sampling in Zone 1 over the 2022/23 period, throughout County Down and parts of Counties Armagh and Antrim
sampled and analysed in excess of 132,700 fields by the beginning of September 2023. This is unprecedented and dwarfs the numbers taken as part of any previous national soil sampling programme.

Watch the video below to find out more about the sampling process.

SNHS Benefits

The SNHS is one of the most comprehensive regional soil nutrient sampling schemes to be undertaken anywhere in the world.
With the potential to sample approximately 700,000 fields it will provide the farmers of Northern Ireland with:

Detailed information on the nutrient status of their soils
Runoff risk maps for nutrient loss to waterbodies for each field sampled
Estimates of carbon stored in their soils and as above ground biomass for each farm
Training on the interpretation of soil nutrient reports and generation of farm nutrient plans (provided by CAFRE).

This information will allow farmers to optimize the application of crop nutrients to their soils and help increase farm profitability. This will result in a reduction in nutrient loss to waterbodies thereby contributing to achieving the targets of the Nutrient Action Programme. It will also provide a baseline assessment of farm carbon stocks in soils and hedgerow and contribute to the transition to Net Zero farming in Northern Ireland.

Zone 1 case studies

Carbon Research - LiDAR

Capturing LiDAR Data

A high-resolution LiDAR scan of Northern Ireland will provide a basis of modelling activities to estimate above ground biomass held in trees, woodlands and the 120,000 km of hedgerows in the region.
SNHS is also gathering information on rates of soil C sequestration in grassland fields on selected commercial farms and along undisturbed field boundaries on different soil types in Northern Ireland (involving radio-carbon dating and soil microbiological assessments). Ongoing research will investigate how fungal and bacterial communities are affected by management and elucidatemechanisms and processes governing changes in soil C storage in grassland and hedgerow soils. Information arising from this research will be used to update the UK soil C inventory, and to identify management strategies which enhance C capture by soil and above ground biomass.

Contacts and Further Information

If you would like any further information please contact our office by telephone (028 90 255 212) or SNHS@afbini.gov.uk.

DAERA have provided further information and FAQs on the scheme