Soil sampling in Zone one of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme has continued at pace with the completion of Mr John Mercer’s farm in Dromara, Co Down in mid-February, closely coinciding with the scheme reaching the milestone of 100,000 fields sampled.
![Dr Rachel Cassidy (AFBI) being interviewed for BBC NI Newsline Dr Rachel Cassidy (AFBI) being interviewed for BBC NI Newsline](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline/public/images/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/news/Rachel%20on%20News.jpg?itok=MpIeGauL×tamp=1677841981)
Following the prioritisation in January by DAERA of the lowland sampling to facilitate farmers who required their results for nutrient management planning and application, it was a notable achievement to reach the 100k fields sampled in Zone 1 by mid-February.
A cold snap during December had held back sampling in some areas but the sampling contractor, RPS Group, have progressed well to overcome this and are now on track for completion at the end of March/beginning April 2023. To date there have been 111,000 samples collected and 51,700 sample results reported to farmers so far.
![Mr John Mercer (Farmer) Mr John Mercer (Farmer)](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Farmer.jpg?itok=yC4U2CtM)
![Mr Jim Pow, one of the samplers Mr Jim Pow, one of the samplers](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline-expandable/public/images/Sampler_0.png?itok=peMsgn-G)
Zone 2 will be opening as scheduled in the southwest area covering Co Fermanagh, Co Armagh (west), Co Tyrone (south) in summer 2023.
Contact: E: snhs@afbini.gov.uk T: 028 90 255 212
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