IAS Laboratories offers quick turnaround as ACRES soil analysis deadline is extended
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, we are 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.’
Our 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, contact us today.