Free soil event for farmers at Balloch

THIS month, Soil Association Scotland in conjunction with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), is running a free hands-on soil event for farmers and land managers in Balloch.

The event will be led by soil experts Charlie Morgan, GrassMaster, and Liz Stockdale, head of farming systems at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB).

Participants can expect a practical and informative day covering how to manage and best utilise inputs and get the optimum productivity from the most valuable asset on farm: the soil.

One participant at the Soil, Muck and Money event in Oban last month remarked that the session was ‘very informative and brought to life through demonstrating economic reality and working through clear examples’.

Sessions are open to all farmers and will look at principles and options for managing soil health and structure, managing inputs to support crop, soil and animal health, and will give advice on how to improve the quality and productivity of soil, as well as give answers to all soil-related questions.

The sessions will include a ‘bring your own soil’ for physical assessment session offering farmers an opportunity to get a diagnosis on those fields that are just not performing so well and what possible remedial action could be taken to get them thriving again.

Liz Stockdale said: ‘Soil and nutrients may be complex but, managed well, they can provide a good return on investment. I’m looking forward to getting my hands dirty and discussing how to best manage soil health, particularly in our changing climate.’

Soil, Muck and Money will run from 10am to 3pm on Tuesday November 21 at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park offices in Balloch.

The event is free for all farmers and land managers (£40 plus VAT for others).

Booking is essential as numbers are limited so to reserve a place book online or contact Jane at the Soil Association Scotland on 0131 666 2474 or by email to jdingwall@soilassociation.org.