The Department of Agriculture in Ireland has extended the deadline for Tranche 1 participants to submit soil analysis results onto the ACRES online system from 15th May to 31st December 2024. To help customers meet this deadline with plenty of time, IAS Laboratories, part of Cawood, is currently able to deliver rapid turnaround times of 10-12 working days in the lab for standard soil testing.
‘Irish farmers: if you haven’t had your soils analysed yet, now’s the time,’ said Siobhan O’Neill, General Manager at IAS. ‘If you wait too long, you could miss out as labs will be even busier towards the second half of the year as the deadline nears. So, we are offering a 10-12 day turnaround time on standard soil analysis to help you beat the rush and ensure you meet the deadline with plenty of time.’
Adverse weather in recent months has created difficult ground conditions, meaning that Irish farmers have not been able to take suitable soil samples for analysis. This extension to the ACRES deadline gives participants in the scheme more time to take samples and upload results.
‘One thing to remember is that, if you haven’t taken soil samples for analysis since 1st January 2022, your results will not be valid,’ continued Siobhan. ‘At least one analysis per every five hectares of land up to 40 hectares is required, and the maximum area for any individual soil sample is 5 hectares. It’s worth getting it right now so that you can upload results and receive your payments on time.’
IAS Laboratories’ various soil analysis suites enable you to benchmark and improve soil health, plan crop nutrition, save money and maximise profitability. The lab makes the whole process easy for farmers by providing a free soil sample kit containing everything required for analysis, including sample bags, a delivery envelope, an analysis request form, and full instructions on taking and sending samples.
‘The team at IAS has worked incredibly hard over the last few months to improve our already impressive turnaround times for soil analysis and to provide Irish farmers with the accurate and reliable results they need to comply with environmental schemes such as ACRES,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Managing Director for Cawood Agriculture. ‘We are proud to be taking such an active role in supporting the agricultural industry as well as the sustainable future of farming and a safer, healthier planet.’
For more details on our soil analysis services, visit IAS’ website or contact the lab today.
NRM has published its annual soil summary report for 2022-2023, with consolidated data from thousands of soil samples across the UK. Results once again demonstrate imbalances in key nutrients across most (two thirds) of UK soils, maintaining a 30-year trend.
As the UK’s leading provider of soil analysis, NRM has been gathering soil analysis data since 1995. This year’s soil summary includes data from soil samples collected between June 2022 and May 2023 from four different crop categories. This data helps farmers and their advisors understand current nutrient status across the UK, benchmark against other farms with current data, and improve soil health to optimise crop production.
‘It’s clear from our results that testing is extremely important,’ said Sajjad Awan, Agronomy Manager at NRM. ‘There are a lot of farmers not yet testing, not testing regularly enough, or not using their results as effectively as they could. Improving crop production starts with regular testing, as growers and advisors can then use their results to adjust nutrient management plans, ensuring their crops are getting everything they need to thrive. It can also help growers improve year-on-year so they can see the positive impact on productivity and profitability over time.
‘The fact that we are still seeing deficiencies in the majority of UK soils in our summarised data is a worrying trend,’ Sajjad continued. ‘This needs addressing if we are to optimise crop production across the country.
‘Only a third of samples were at the recommended index for phosphorus, and a significant proportion of samples, nearly 37%, were below potassium index 2-. This is exacerbated by the extreme weather conditions we are more consistently experiencing. The profound implications for crop growth and development resulting from lower availability of soil potassium, for example, are made worse during the drought conditions we have seen during late spring and summer over the last few years.
‘Abiotic stress on crops can result in reduced yields and grain quality. Heat and drought stress can affect crop size and bushel weight, whilst insufficient water availability can also lead to reduced nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. These nutrients often remain in the soil after harvest and are at risk of environmental loss through leaching and runoff—which we are seeing this year after a particularly wet autumn and winter. So, keeping an eye on weather conditions throughout the year and committing to regular soil testing means growers are making the most insightful management decisions possible, helping crops thrive sustainably.’
NRM’s standard soil package provides soil indices using PB209 advice and an analysis of plant available phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and soil pH. Combining this with other analyses, including soil organic matter, soil carbon, and soil mineral nitrogen, gives farmers a well-rounded view of the condition of their soils and helps them make better decisions with each new season for optimal crop production and yield.
‘It’s important to observe large-scale results like these and benchmark against other farms to make sure growers improve their management practices year-on-year,’ continued Sajjad. ‘Not only does regular soil analysis help boost crop performance, but using innovative analyses to guide our management decisions is a key step on the journey towards sustainable food production.’
‘Cawood’s core values involve supporting sustainable food production and a safer, healthier planet,’ said Sean Stevenson, Commercial Director of NRM’s parent company, Cawood Agriculture. ‘As the UK’s leading provider of agronomic analysis in the UK, NRM is in a unique position to gather a large amount of soil and crop data for representative results. We are strong advocates of sharing this insightful information with the industry to help farmers meet their goals and improve crop productivity.’
View our soil summary here to see how UK soils have fared this year.
NRM experts advised growers, advisors, students, and other attendees of CropTec on how to utilise insightful analysis results to improve soil health and enhance crop production. Topics of interest included the importance of organic matter analysis, insight into soil pH and liming, a deeper understanding of soil biology, and executing effective nitrogen management plans for the forthcoming season.
‘Identifying long-term soil chemical changes and understanding how composition impacts crop yield and quality is key to optimising both yield and profitability,’ said Sajjad Awan, Soil and Crop Nutrition Agronomist at NRM. ‘Our customers and other attendees at CropTec were really interested in learning more about the expert insight we provide alongside our results to help growers gain this understanding and ultimately meet their goals. A big topic this year was nitrogen analysis, as now’s the time to think about nitrogen management for the upcoming season. By testing soils after winter and taking our guidance into consideration, farmers can save money by avoiding applying expensive fertiliser where it’s not required whilst still ensuring crops receive all they need to thrive.
‘It was also interesting to speak to groups of college and university students to discuss how NRM is helping the industry meet current environmental and crop production challenges,’ Sajjad continued. ‘We are focussed on supporting a safer, healthier planet through sustainable food production without compromising on productivity. As such, we will give you advice on which packages you require to help you meet your goals and safeguard our soils for the future.’
CropTec, held in Kenilworth Warwickshire, was Sophie Cath’s first event since joining NRM, giving customers the opportunity to meet the business’ new Senior Business Development Manager. Also in attendance alongside Sophie and Sajjad were Sean Stevenson, Cawood Agriculture’s Commercial Director, and Gina Graham, NRM’s Account Manager.
‘It was great to go to CropTec as part of NRM this year,’ said Sophie. ‘I really enjoyed catching up with current customers and discussing the importance of organic matter analysis. This analysis is important not just to help farmers be eligible for environmental initiatives like the Sustainable Farming Incentive, but also for agronomic purposes.’
NRM analyses over half a million soil samples across all farm types every year. Our various analysis services, including CarbonCheck for soil carbon analysis, CropCheck for plant tissue testing, GrainCheck for grain analysis, and N-Check for soil nitrogen analysis, help customers check they are on course throughout the season. These tools help farmers increase performance and profitability whilst committing to sustainable, resilient practices to help them stay productive.
For more information on our analysis services, contact us.
Dr Sajjad Awan, Soil and Crop Nutrition Agronomist at NRM, spoke to agronomists at Frontier Agriculture on the role of expert soil analysis and regenerative agriculture practices in improving farm management for their clients. By shedding light on the significance of soil testing and adopting sustainable practices, Sajjad provided key insights into how to improve soil health and reduce carbon footprints.
‘Measuring the practical efforts of growers on a regular basis will help advisors give more insightful advice to their clients,’ said Sajjad. ‘This will help growers understand the impact of their farm management practices to see what went well and what needs to change next season for year-on-year improvement. Soil pH is particularly important, as it affects the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological processes, which are all important for optimal soil health. However, key findings from NRM’s soil pH data of more than half a million samples in the last few years show that most soils in the UK are either below or above optimal pH levels.
‘To combat this, not only do we need to encourage growers to undertake regular soil sampling, but to also adopt sustainable agricultural practices. This will help enhance soil health, reduce carbon footprints, and improve grassland management.’
Sajjad spoke at Frontier Agriculture on Tuesday 14th November. He regularly presents to customers and advisors at events throughout the season, sharing knowledge with the industry to help growers support and optimise sustainable food production.
‘This exchange of knowledge and experience is incredibly important so that we can all work together and build a more successful agricultural industry overall,’ continued Sajjad. ‘At NRM, we are focused on providing even more expert interpretation and robust results to our customers. So, speaking on the importance of analysis to such a large group of advisors will in turn help their clients get the results they need to succeed. I felt very privileged to hear all the different opinions of my fellow experts and to provide expertise on such a useful topic.’
For more information on our analysis services, contact us.
Sciantec has appointed Dr Sophie Prentice as its new Technical Sales Manager to strengthen its commercial team. She will be responsible for helping customers maintain compliance and meet their goals by developing novel services, running new innovations, and nurturing key accounts, all through an expert technical perspective.
‘Customers are increasingly looking for technical support and deeper insight into results alongside their analysis,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Commercial Director of Cawood Agriculture. ‘Sophie’s background in animal nutrition and technical innovation strengthens the expertise of our commercial team, enabling us to deepen our relationships with our customers in the animal feed and health industries and provide a broader, more valuable service.’
Sophie has extensive technical expertise in animal nutrition, health and productivity across the feed sector. With a PhD in poultry nutrition and health, she is a strong monogastric professional and managed a diverse portfolio of feed additives at Trouw Nutrition. Sophie has spent the last few years at AB Agri, where she developed and embedded best practice project management techniques in the animal feed and agri-food sectors as Innovation Programme Manager.
‘Joining Sciantec and taking the next step in my career in animal nutrition and welfare is very exciting,’ said Sophie. ‘My career has been about improving animal health and welfare without sacrificing sustainability by developing and managing a variety of products and projects, and Sciantec is the perfect place to further progress my goals. I am really looking forward to working with the rest of the team to support customers all over the country.’
NRM has appointed Sophie Cath as its new Senior Business Development Manager on Monday 20th November 2023 to strengthen its commercial team. She will be responsible for growing the business unit by developing new services, identifying new opportunities, and forming and nurturing relationships with customers.
‘Over the last few years, NRM and Cawood Agriculture have grown exponentially,’ said Sean Stevenson, Divisional Commercial Director of Cawood Agriculture. ‘We have also focussed on developing actionable insights to provide even more valuable data for our customers, which helps farmers increase yields, improve soil health, sequester carbon, and drive profit whilst supporting sustainable food production. Sophie’s appointment will help us refine these insights and promote their benefits to both new and current customers. Both Cawood and our parent company, Ensign-Bickford Industries, are looking forward to Sophie joining the team to help customers achieve their objectives.’
Sophie has spent her career in the agricultural sector. With a BSc in Agriculture from Aberystwyth University, she has held commercial roles at Frontier Agriculture and Eurofins Agro Testing UK. Sophie’s expertise in farm trading, agricultural sales, building relationships, being a key representative at trade shows, and account management will provide NRM’s customers with the proactive support required to help them make decisions and meet their goals.
‘I am really looking forward to joining NRM and taking the next step in my career in agriculture,’ said Sophie. ‘Helping farmers optimise crop production and improve profitability is so important, not just for the farmers themselves, but to help support effective and sustainable food production throughout the UK. I am excited to be a part of the team and to help provide insightful solutions for farmers all over the country.’
Sajjad Awan, Soil and Crop Nutrition Agronomist at NRM, advised farmers and experts at Omya’s Soil Health Conference on the importance of understanding soil pH. By shedding light on the impact of soil pH on fertilisation efficiency, as well as its role in soil health, Sajjad provided key insight into how to optimise crop production using laboratory analysis.
‘With unpredictable weather conditions and ambitious sustainability initiatives, growers and advisers are facing greater challenges than ever before,’ said Sajjad. ‘By measuring the practical effects of your efforts, growers can understand the impact of their management practices to see what went well and what needs to be rethought. As the single most informative measurement made to determine soil characteristics, pH is one of the best metrics. pH, determined by soil analysis, provides a clear view of nutrient availability, allowing growers to take corrective actions such as liming. This ultimately helps to improve future productivity and profitability. A neutral pH is also better for the environment, improving soil structure and protecting against erosion and nutrient leaching.’
Sajjad spoke at the conference, which was organised by Omya Environmental Solutions and leading Romanian agricultural distributor NATUREVO, on Thursday 7th September in Oxford. Experts and farmers alike were brought together to explore the crucial topic of soil health, including the importance of calcium, nutrient availability, the significance of sustainable farming practices, and more.
‘The conference was a fantastic opportunity for growers to engage directly with experts to help improve their management practices,’ continued Sajjad. ‘This exchange of knowledge and experience is incredibly important. Learning how to adopt more environmental and economical practices helps to support sustainable food production as well as bolster the success of farming businesses throughout the UK, so it’s a win-win situation. I was glad to provide expertise on such an important topic and to meet farmers and other experts to hear different perspectives and opinions.’
For more information on our analysis services, contact us.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their business during 2023, and to let you know our operating plans for the holiday period.
Our laboratory and courier arrangements for Christmas and New Year are listed below. Please note that, while many of our business units close for a short period over the holidays, we also have specific cut off dates for the receipt of some sample types. Please check the details for each business unit.
For any enquiries, or to book in your samples, please speak to your usual Cawood contact.
NRM
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sciantec
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Wednesday 27th December. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sci-Tech (CA)
Running a limited service between Wednesday 20th December and Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Sci-Tech (IRE)
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Thursday 28th December. For full details of our laboratory arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
IAS
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Marchwood (Manchester)
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Marchwood (Southampton)
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Enitial
Closed on Monday 25th, December, Tuesday 26th December, and Monday 1st January for the bank holidays. Otherwise, all services running as usual.
Elab
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 12:30pm and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
Chemtech
Closed from Friday 22nd December at 1pm and reopening at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January. For full details of our laboratory and courier arrangements over the holiday period, click here.
NRM exhibited at the Recycling of Agricultural, Municipal and Industrial Residues in Agriculture Network (RAMIRAN) conference on 12th-14th September. Sajjad Awan, Soil and Crop Nutrition Agronomist at NRM, advised agriculture professionals on improving nutrient use efficiency, as well as the importance of regular soil and organic matter analysis.
‘Improving nutrient use efficiency is important to farmers for three key reasons,’ said Sajjad. ‘It optimises crop production as you can give the plant exactly what it needs; it helps save money on expensive, unnecessarily applications; and it helps protect our planet by reducing nitrate and phosphate losses to the environment. Ultimately, by testing soils regularly, growers can maintain and improve soil health, assess the impact of sustainable farming practices, save money, and adjust crop nutrition plans for a successful season.’
‘I was glad to be at RAMIRAN to provide expertise on such a vital topic, and I enjoyed meeting our customers and fellow industry professionals.’
The RAMIRAN conference was organised by ADAS, Rothamsted Research, and Bangor University, and took place in Cambridge on 12th-14th September. The event focussed on developing strategies to maximise the efficiency of organic materials, including sessions on policy, nutrient utilisation, soil quality, air and water quality, promoting best practice, and more.
For more information on our analysis services for the land-based industries, contact us.
Team members from Cawood’s Environment and Field Services divisions exhibited at Contaminated & Geotech Expo this year. The teams from Marchwood, Elab, Chemtech, and Enitial met customers old and new across the two day event at the NEC, discussing the current hot topics in environmental testing and showcasing the businesses as industry leaders.
‘Exhibiting at Contaminated & Geotech Expo is always a fantastic opportunity to speak to customers, discuss current trends in the contaminated land and waste management industries, and demonstrate our expertise,’ said Ben Rowe, Business Development Manager at Marchwood. ‘In particular, discussions centred around the challenges faced by environmental testing labs and our customers. For example, there was a lot of questions around the very recent withdrawal of RPS 250 and what it means for the waste wood industry. With all demolition waste wood now classified as hazardous unless analysed to prove otherwise, there’s a lot more testing required for this sector to comply. We also discussed the emerging challenges around PFAS and how we have recently added a PFAS analytical service for environmental samples to help customers meet upcoming legislation. As UK leaders in waste management analysis, we are glad to use opportunities like Contaminated & Geotech Expo to share our expertise and advise the industries that we service.’
Contaminated & Geotech Expo is the UK’s largest event for contaminated land, air, and water. It aims to accelerate the transition to a more environmentally friendly planet through air quality testing, waste and contaminated water treatment, brownfield regeneration, and more. This year, the Expo was held at the NEC in Birmingham 13th-14th September 2023.
‘Our decades of experience in and excellent reputation for environmental laboratory testing and field monitoring and sampling services makes us experts in these industries,’ said Declan Burns, Managing Director of Cawood Environment. ‘Exhibiting at events like these helps cement Cawood’s position as the UK’s leading scientific group for the land-based industries. We are committed to helping our customers meet their goals and maintain compliance whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet, and increasing customer awareness of our specialist environmental services help us do just that.’
Cawood Environment and Field Services provide a range of services to help customers achieve planning consent, remain compliant, and safeguard the environment. These include:
- Air quality monitoring and analysis
- Emissions testing
- Water and sewage monitoring and analysis
- Contaminated land and groundwater analysis
- Occupational hygiene services including dust and biological monitoring and analysis
- Stack residues and emissions analysis including brominated dioxins
- Industrial and environmental field monitoring and sampling services for contaminated land, ecology, water and utilities, engineering and infrastructure, and more
- Managing waste for energy, including waste derived fuel analysis and hazardous waste characterisation and classification.
Contact us for more information.