Soil contest highlights major natural resource
While the samples submitted in a major competition to judge the best soils in the country show that many farmers are aware of its importance and the need to care for farming’s primary resource, more needs to be done to gain recognition for this important natural capital. That was the message given by a top scientist at the Royal Highland Show yesterday.
Professor Colin Campbell, chief executive of the James Hutton Institute, which runs the competition, said that the event had been conceived to raise the profile of soils.
He said: “Best Soil in Show highlights the importance of soil for productivity as well as sustaining a wide range of benefits to our environment. However, the call for more attention to be paid to soil health in our recently published Agricultural Strategies highlights we need to reach many more farmers in the future if we are to really improve our soils.”
He said that his organisation had been working to raise awareness of this asset through the Scottish Soils Database and website – and these efforts had been backed up with a number of free soil apps that help all farmers to easily find their soil type and compare their data with other soils in the database.
Dr Jason Owen, a soil scientist at the Institute and member of the judging panel, said the winner had been chosen for its good structure which he said was in large part due to its organic matter content. He said: “This makes it resistant to erosion and degradation – key attributes with current pressures on soils, and ensuring adequate drainage.”
He said that data obtained from chemical analysis also indicated a balanced nutrient content in the specific nutrients sought in agricultural soils.
He added: “Soil health is paramount to ensuring sustainable agriculture within Scotland and globally. It is heartening that the agricultural community within Scotland recognises their soil resource and the importanceof good management practices.”
The winning sample was entered by Fife farmer John Weir, of Lacesston Farm near Cupar. Douglas Greig, of Tealing by Dundee, scooped the Young Farmers prize for a record third time.
Congratulating the winners, NFU Scotland president Andrew Mccornick said that he knew from personal experience that when farm margins were tight, investment which protected or enhanced the structure and health of soils was sometimes neglected.
He said: “This competition was the inspiration for our business to carry out a major programme of soil analysis on our farm last spring. With ph levels low, we questioned whether we could afford the necessary improvements.
“However, if we are to make the most of other inputs like fertiliser and grass seed, the reality was that we couldn’t afford not to do it if we are to get the best out of our soil and the farm. These winners are a great example of what can be achieved.”