Our Focus supplement this week looks at the whole area of soil fertility. It is one area where not enough attention has been paid to the very basic principles over the past two decades.

Mark Plunkett and David Wall show how lime application on Irish farms has collapsed over the past 30 years – this is despite our soils being naturally acidic due to high rainfall levels.

There are few investments that will deliver a sevenfold return – lime is one of them. With research showing significant reduction in the utilisation of key nutrients, such as N, P and K, in lime-deficient soils, is it time to consider the inclusion of soil improvement measures under the capital investment scheme?

It is positive to see some co-ops effectively subsidising soil sampling at this time of year.