Increase in soil sampling in January

Soil testing laboratories are reporting an increase in volume of samples tested in January 2016.

The increase is being driven, partly, by the necessity to soil test for GLAS.

Some labs recorded a decrease in soil sampling for the last two months of 2015 due to the wet weather.

A spokesperson for IAS laboratories in Co Carlow said there are “so many soil tests, I can’t say that there is a massive difference in results between this year and last. I’d imagine there is a slight change in phosphorous, but the pH is quite similar.”

Similarly, FBA laboratories in Waterford said that “there was a huge jump in the number of samples last week, coming mainly from some of the more active farmers and those participating in schemes.”

FBA reported approximately 3,000 soil samples sent in last week. FBA said that rainfall “probably will have an impact on pH, as there was a lot of leaching over winter.”

Concerns were raised that pH levels would be lower after the heavy rainfall in recent months.

FBA in Waterford charge €12.75 (incl VAT) per sample.

Testing costs

Oldcastle laboratories in Co Meath charge between €10 and €15 including VAT, depending on the number of samples sent in. Southern Scientific charge €10.75 + VAT for each sample, while FBA in Waterford charge €12.50 + VAT.

Tips

It is important to clearly label all bags in a dry place before taking samples and to take them in a zig-zag formation in order to get a representative sample.

One sample should be taken for every 2ha to 5ha and there should be 20 cores per sample. They should be 10cm deep and farmers should avoid areas like old fences, around drinkers, gaps and feeding areas, as they offer inaccurate results.