Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, alongside Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, has announced an extension to the deadline for submitting applications under phase 3 of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme.

The new deadline for applications is now set for Friday, 15 November 2024.

Minister McConalogue explained the decision to extend the deadline, and said: "In order to give farmers and advisors more time to prepare and submit applications, I am extending the deadline for phase 3 of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme. Soil sampling is the first critical step in accurately assessing nutrient levels in the soil, providing farmers with the necessary information to make informed decisions on nutrient applications and support sustainable grass or tillage crop production."

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Minister Hackett also welcomed the extension: "This initiative covers the cost of up to 16 individual soil samples per holding,” said Minister Hackett. “I strongly encourage farmers to apply, as soil sampling will enable more targeted management decisions, ultimately reducing the need for costly chemical inputs and promoting sustainable farming practices."