I have to do a soil sample what’s the best time to do it.
- Thread starter Green oak
- Start date
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
now would be a good time then
....you can do them anytime of year i'dve thought
....you can do them anytime of year i'dve thought Spring is the best time to do soil samples. It has f.... all to do with the gastapo really they are making it a licence to farm !?!
average farmer
Member
- Location
- North Notts
I always say I do tissue samples as it shows what the crop is needing. Never been asked for 5 years but believe it’s law now to have soil tests done for each field every 5 years .
I will test bad fields more frequently and good fields less .
I will test bad fields more frequently and good fields less .
- Location
- Yorkshire coast
Anytime is good for soil samples as long as you've not recently put any fertilizer or muck on.
It's easy digging at the moment..
It's easy digging at the moment..
ollie989898
Member
Just do a few. It is BS as it isn't as if you are going to apply shed loads of P and K to anything unless you had done a test anyway.
- Location
- the brecks norfolk
What I will say is what ever time of year you do it stick to that and be consistent, results will vary between samples took at different times of the year.
I always go soil sampling October November time. It's the time of year when the soil has gone the longest without fert and conditions are still good. It also gives you plenty of time to plan what's needed for the following year.
I always go soil sampling October November time. It's the time of year when the soil has gone the longest without fert and conditions are still good. It also gives you plenty of time to plan what's needed for the following year.
- Location
- Huntingdon
If it’s law( or bps requirement) , then why are red tractor asking for it, because you should be doing it anyway 
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
It’s not law but it’s long been RT law
WTAF???
- Location
- East yorks
It is now as 5yr soil sampling came in with the farming rules for waterIt’s not law but it’s long been RT law
SilliamWhale
Member
Thank the "National Farmers Union"
yellow belly
Member
- Location
- south west lincolnshire
what ever the legal reasons for soil testing
it is a small cost to get a picture of what your soil nutrient levels are
if they are very high there are good cost savings to be had with out reducing yields
if ph or major nutrient levels are low these will significantly reduce your yields
especially ph levels lime if needed is the most cost effective imput
it is a small cost to get a picture of what your soil nutrient levels are
if they are very high there are good cost savings to be had with out reducing yields
if ph or major nutrient levels are low these will significantly reduce your yields
especially ph levels lime if needed is the most cost effective imput
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Well that slipped past me.
Though I do test every 4-5
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
I seem to recall seeing a news item that a cargo of wheat was turned away at Tilbury because the supporting documents revealed one of the supplying farmers had failed to have his soil sampled in the previous five years.
ollie989898
Member
Soil testing a bit of the farm once a year is no biggie, and it could save you a great deal of money. Either way, keep a pile of them in the folder for the assurance man but under no circumstances should you let the EA or anyone else from officialdom see or copy them. It is after all, commercially important to you and you don't want anyone getting an inkling of the fertility of your land in case they try to stop you farming it one day.
If p,and k, high especially p, ea,could possible stop you spreading slurry !!!