Making the most of nutrients sourced on the farm and outside of the farm is the key objective of this special focus on fertilisers. Unfortunately, one of the areas where a lot of farms fall down is not knowing what soil fertility that lands already have.

The number of farmers taking soil samples with a view to improving soil fertility is not big enough. Most cereal, vegetable and some top dairy farms have a great handle on the bank of soil nutrients on their farm and are optimising nutrient applications on farm, hence making the farm very efficient from a nutrient point of view.

Heavy rainfall and snow continues to leave ground saturated in many parts of the country this week. While the slurry spreading period is technically open in all parts,ground conditions look set to delay spreading this week and into next week.

The snow in many parts of the east and south will leave ground saturated.

Soil sampling is the best way to get the most from fertiliser and improve crop and grass yields. For many with no nutrients spread, there is still an opportunity to get grassland sampled to check soil fertility levels before you try to get slurry out.

Sampling will give you a better insight into which type of fertiliser to buy for the first and second dressing this spring. Sample less productive fields, sample the top six inches and take a representative sample.

Soil phosphorus management and water quality

Waiting time between spreading nutrients

Red, amber and green: traffic lights for soil fertility

It's not too late for soil sampling

While farmers put a lot of emphasis on managing nutrients most don't put enough focus on soil sampling, writes Jack Kennedy.