Technical advice line: 03000 200 301 | Email: advice@farmingadviceservice.org.uk

Soils

The Farming Advice Service understands the benefits of healthy soil to all farmers and the environment. We signpost help and guidance to improve and maintain soil health on farm.

Photograph of bare ploughed field

On this page you will find FAS content on soil related topics such as 

  • Soil properties
  • Soil testing
  • Sustainable Soil Management Practices
  • Government support and grants 

Technical Articles

Newsletters

  • FAS Newsletter October 2025 Front Page

    Issue 116

    • Book now: Farming Advice Service Webinar - Improving Water Resilience on Farm
    • Animal Movement Rules - a Reminder
    • Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements extended to support sustainable farming and nature recovery
    • Simplifying Payments with GOV.UK Pay
    • EA Case Study: SSAFO improvements at a large Lincolnshire beef unit
    • Summer Water Abstraction Returns
    • Water Abstraction Alerts
    • Have your say in reforming reservoir regulation
    • Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
  • FAS Newsletter September 2025

    Issue 115

    • How to contact your local Catchment Sensitive Farming Team
    • How a Somerset dairy farm tackled challenges with slurry storage and silage clamp issues
    • An update on Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and the Farming and Countryside Programme’s (FCP) annual report
    • Celebrating Young Farmers Week 6-10 October
    • New restrictions for burning on all England upland peat deeper than 30cm, unless subject to a license
    • £12 million to turn brilliant ideas into farm technology
    • Improved TB mapping tool ibTB gives farmers more certainty about disease risks when purchasing cattle
    • Innovate UK BridgeAI: free in-person workshops and online webinars
    • Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
  • FAS Newsletter August 2025

    Issue 114

    • Environment Agency urges farmers to start preparations for winter slurry storage
    • New Technical Article - Water Quality and Farming
    • RPA blog: Getting the most from herbal leys within improved grassland systems
    • Sustainable Farming Incentive Expanded Offer for 2024 (SFI 2024): understanding the annual declaration
    • How a North Yorkshire a dairy farm addressed issues with its silage clamps
    • How Cambridgeshire Farmers Are Fighting Fires
    • Trees on farm: New video series “Stages of woodland management”
    • Continued Dry Weather – An Opportunity for Reservoir Inspection and Maintenance?
    • Constructing A Large Raise Reservoir
    • Updates from the Farming blog and industry announcements
  • FAS July Front Page

    Issue 113

    • SFI 2023 – Annual Declarations update
    • An Update on Capital Grants
    • An Update on Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
    • New Technical Article - RPA Advice & Guidance and Site Visits
    • Trees on farm: Helping young trees survive hot, dry weather
    • National Framework for Water Resources Launched
    • Trees on farm: Helping young trees survive hot, dry weather
    • Water abstraction restrictions and dry weather support from the Environment Agency
    • Animal Plant Health Agency.
    • NVZ and nutrient management
    • Public rights of way
    • How a Cheshire dairy farm worked with the Environment Agency to reduce the risks of water pollution
    • Updates from the Farming blog and industry announcements

Podcast

  • FAS podcast logo

    podcast

    Episode 7

    Nutrient Management with Mel Holloway

    16 mins
  • FAS podcast logo

    podcast

    Episode 1

    Reducing ammonia emissions on farm, with Keesje Avis and John Morgan of Creedy Associates

    24 mins

Upcoming Events

  • CSF

    Somerset: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

    Join AHDB and Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Integrated Slurry Management, i...

    11th Nov 2025
    11:00 - 14:30 (GMT)
    Beckington Memorial Hall, Bath Road, Beckington, Somerset BA11 6SF

    Read more and book here

  • CSF

    Devon: Livestock slurry – Your liquid asset

    Join AHDB and Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) for an informative event on Integrated Slurry Management, i...

    13th Nov 2025
    11:30 - 14:30 (GMT)
    Hatherleigh Community Centre, Hatherleigh, Okehampton, Devon EX20 3HB

    Read more and book here

  • CSF

    Farming roadshow: support and resilience - Wantage

    Join Catchment Sensitive Farming, the Forestry Commission and Natural England for a free workshop.

    14th Nov 2025
    09:30 - 13:30 (GMT)
    Kilmarnock House, Unit 1 Woolley Barns, Woolley, Wantage OX12 8TA

    Book your free place here

Webinar Recordings

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