Savings in Soil programme

Supporting farmers to improve their soil health and maximise efficiency.

**We are no longer accepting applications for this programme. **

This autumn, 20 farmers in the High Weald have the opportunity to benefit from the Royal Countryside Fund’s “Savings in Soil” programme.

The FREE programme offers participants:

• Soil tests of three fields on an agreed-upon date in October. The sampling will cover analysis of Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), soil pH and texture. Results will be available at the workshop below.
• A workshop on Tuesday 25 November – 10.30-15.30 at Bigges Farm in Cuckfield, West Sussex. The workshop will be led by the Farm Carbon Toolkit Team who will facilitate a discussion on soils and their management.

The programme is for farmers whose main business is beef, sheep, or dairy. This will build your confidence in assessing soils and help you if you’re considering the SFI soil options.

Being able to attend the workshop is essential for participation in the project.

Steph Mason from the High Weald National Landscape Team is coordinating the project. We are no longer accepting applications for this programme. 

What is the content of the workshop?

The Farm Carbon Toolkit has been developed by farmers for farmers. The on-farm workshop will cover the following, with a focus on the financial benefits to farmers throughout:

Baselining: the importance of soil to the whole business

• How healthy soils can improve pasture and forage, and how farmers can improve their soil.
• Introductions to soil chemistry (pH), phosphates; carbon; soil structure (managing and improving structure) and environmental benefits
• Importance of a Nutrient Management Plan

Results of soil tests & discussion

• Analysis and discussion of soil tests, highlighting the differences between fields and working through some of the reasons why.
• Participants to be given their own data at the workshop and will have the ability to find their data amongst the group’s anonymous data set.

Improving soils through farming practices

• Grazing management, for example rotational grazing, stocking rate in fields, livestock management and stock selection/genetics.

Farm walk and example on-farm soils tests

• VESS Test
• Earthworm counts
• Infiltration test

We are proud to be working with the Royal Countryside Fund (formerly the Prince’s Countryside Fund) to deliver the Savings in Soil programme.

“As farmers face pressures such as climate change, and the unrelenting expenses of fertiliser, fuel and feed, it has never been more important to examine what lies beneath our feet. This practical guide outlines easy steps that you can take on your farm to improve your soil, explaining different strategies and their benefits.

“Maintaining and protecting your farm’s soil through effective management can help produce higher yields and better returns, which we all know are essential components in supporting strong, sustainable farm businesses. We hope this publication brings you some new information and ideas – to make your soil the best it can be.” 

Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund.