Welcome to the annual fertiliser supplement compiled by the Fertilizer Association of Ireland in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal.
The Fertilizer Association of Ireland was set up in 1968 to “promote the efficient use of fertiliser in producing quality food in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner”.
We, in the Fertilizer Association of Ireland, are aware of the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
We have seen a huge increase in production from the Irish agricultural industry in the last number of years, especially with the rapid expansion of the dairy sector.
We need a concerted effort to be made on every farm this spring to take soil tests and analyse the results
However, this cannot be done at the expense of water quality or the environment at large.
We believe in our message of economic and environmental sustainability.
At no point should it be a question of one or the other.
The “double dividend” of improving farm returns and enhancing the environment through better resource management has to be the greatest focus on every farm.
We need a concerted effort to be made on every farm this spring to take soil tests and analyse the results.
Matching these soil test results with targeted slurry application, liming programme and planned fertiliser use will be both economically rewarding for the farmer and also environmentally sustainable.
Four simple steps
Soil testing is the fundamental first step in planning your programme for the year. The results of this will show you where you can save money on your fertiliser bill and target nutrients where they are required.If you have soil tests from the last year or two, now is a good time to take them out and have a look at them. Take action to rectify soil pH. The biggest barrier to efficiency of fertiliser is incorrect pH. At a pH of 5.5, you are missing out on 25% of the value of the fertiliser you are purchasing.Correct deficiencies in P and K. At index 1 and 2 for P or K, the efficiency of nitrogen will be greatly reduced.
Welcome to the annual fertiliser supplement compiled by the Fertilizer Association of Ireland in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal.
The Fertilizer Association of Ireland was set up in 1968 to “promote the efficient use of fertiliser in producing quality food in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner”.
We, in the Fertilizer Association of Ireland, are aware of the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
We have seen a huge increase in production from the Irish agricultural industry in the last number of years, especially with the rapid expansion of the dairy sector.
We need a concerted effort to be made on every farm this spring to take soil tests and analyse the results
However, this cannot be done at the expense of water quality or the environment at large.
We believe in our message of economic and environmental sustainability.
At no point should it be a question of one or the other.
The “double dividend” of improving farm returns and enhancing the environment through better resource management has to be the greatest focus on every farm.
We need a concerted effort to be made on every farm this spring to take soil tests and analyse the results.
Matching these soil test results with targeted slurry application, liming programme and planned fertiliser use will be both economically rewarding for the farmer and also environmentally sustainable.
Four simple steps
Soil testing is the fundamental first step in planning your programme for the year. The results of this will show you where you can save money on your fertiliser bill and target nutrients where they are required.If you have soil tests from the last year or two, now is a good time to take them out and have a look at them. Take action to rectify soil pH. The biggest barrier to efficiency of fertiliser is incorrect pH. At a pH of 5.5, you are missing out on 25% of the value of the fertiliser you are purchasing.Correct deficiencies in P and K. At index 1 and 2 for P or K, the efficiency of nitrogen will be greatly reduced. 
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