January is the perfect time of year to take soil samples on farms before any nutrients or lime are applied to land in the spring.

It is best to sample a field that has received no nutrient or lime application for at least six to eight weeks.

Farmers that may have taken soil samples in recent years are being reminded to check that their soil samples are not out of date.

All farmers above a grassland stocking rate of 130kg N/ha must take soil samples and all arable land sown must also have soil samples taken. Where soil samples are not taken, Index 4 for phosphorus (P) will be assumed.

All farmers participating in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) are required to have soil samples also.

Soil samples taken on or before September 14 of each year are relevant for that particular year and the three consecutive years after that.

That means soil samples taken before September 14, 2022 are now out of date and these areas of ground will need to be soil sampled again.

A soil sample can cover a maximum area of 5ha and where soil samples are not taken, Index 4 for phosphorus (P) will be assumed meaning a farmer would have no chemical P allowance.

New regulations for farm soil sampling

All soil sample results issued after September 14, 2025, must state the corresponding Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) or georeference.

In the past, the location of where the sample was taken was provided by the farmer via a field names or map number.

Now, the required GPS coordinates and LPIS numbers will confirm accurate testing and assist in compliance checks under the Nitrates Regulations, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).