Teagasc are looking for tillage farmers and contractors to participate in a new, farm-based project examining how organic manures and nutrients can be best used on tillage farms.

SoilCycle is being funded under the European Innovation Partnership Fund and aims to research and promote nutrient management in Irish tillage farming by applying organic manures to growing winter cereal crops.

Tillage specialist with Teagasc Ciarán Collins explained that as chemical fertiliser prices remain volatile and new rules push farmers to reduce nitrogen losses, it is an opportunity to improve soil health and reduce costs on tillage farms.

He said the project will “ensure that sustainable tillage farming is built on field proven results, not lab models and the key to this is matching nutrient application with peak crop demand”.

“The project addresses key environmental and economic challenges by reducing the dependency on chemical fertilisers, improving soil health, and enhancing the sustainability of nutrient use on arable land.

“The project is based on the principle of the circular economy - closing nutrient loops between livestock, pig and tillage farms and aims to demonstrate that well-managed organic manure applications can match or exceed the effectiveness of chemical fertilisers while delivering environmental benefits.”

Ciarán is keen for farmers and contractors to take part in the project and said those who do will be a focus farmer or project partner.

Participants will get access to the latest precision equipment, work with leading contractors using GPS-guided umbilical systems, low-emission spreading, and NIR sensors to fine-tune applications.

Three regional hubs

The project will be based in three regional hubs: the south, southeast, northeast.

Each hub will have two to three focus farmers with winter cereal crops and one contractor with suitable machinery (umbilical systems, dribble bars, NIR-equipped spreaders). Farms will collaborate with pig units, livestock farms and digestate providers.

Why participate?

Farmers who participate will be paid for carrying out tramline trials on their farms and will have support from Teagasc specialists and researchers.

Slurry will be tested, nutrient management plans formulated, and costs calculated. You will also become part of a network of farmers, contractors and researchers who can share experiences.

The benefits of this project, as outlined by Teagasc, to farmers and industry are outline below.

For farmers

  • Cost savings: reduce reliance on increasingly volatile chemical fertiliser markets.
  • Enhanced soil health: increase soil organic matter, microbial activity, and long-term fertility.
  • Yield maintenance or improvement: well-timed nutrient availability aligns with crop demand.
  • Regulatory compliance: supports nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilisation reduction, helping meet sustainability targets.
  • Risk mitigation: farmers are financially compensated for participation and potential yield losses.
  • Tools and knowledge: access to best practice guidelines, nutrient calculators, and decision-making tools.

    • For industry

  • Pig and livestock sector: increased outlets for organic manures (including digestate and separated slurry).
  • Agricultural contractors: opportunities to offer advanced spreading services and precision application.
  • Equipment manufacturers: testing and validation of modern slurry spreading equipment under Irish conditions.
  • Anaerobic digestion sector: integration of digestate use in tillage systems.

    • If you are interested in participating in the project contact Teagasc tillage specialist Ciarán Collins at ciaran.collins@teagasc.ie or phone 087-920 1908 or contact your local Teagasc office.

    This article was updated on 28 July 2025.