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 

In February 2026 Defra launched a new nutrient planning tool, designed with industry input to offer a free, user-friendly tool to match nutrients to crop and soil need, cutting waste, supporting productivity, and protecting watercourses.

NMPT-GB is available now for England and Wales, via the GOV.UK website - click here to access the tool in your browser.

This tool helps farmers meet compliance requirements for the Farming Rules for Water and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones regulations. 

Technical Articles

Newsletters

  • FAS Newsletter October 2025 Front Page

    Issue 128

    • Key dates to be aware of
    • Upcoming Events
    • Farming Advice Service webinar; AI in agriculture: Practical tools for farmers and advisers
    • Catch up on the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) funding webinar recording 
    • Backing England's farmers to meet growing demand for organic food   
    • A reminder from the Environment Agency to make your application no less than THREE months before the expiry date 
    • Forestry Commission upcoming agroforestry webinars
    • Looking after yourself during challenging times 
    • Wye and Usk, UK: Water roadmap collective action project
    • Interested in the role of herbal leys on your farm?
    • Support with safety measures from the Environment Agency Reservoir Regulation Team
    • Summer water abstraction returns
    • Long duration licence evidence changes
    • Environment Agency winter reservoir refill prospects 2026/27
    • Trees: A powerful tool for tackling diffuse agricultural pollution
    • Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
    • Rural Payments Agency: Updates and guidance
    • How can we help you?
    • Stay up to date with us
  • November 2025 Front Page

    Issue 127

    • Key dates to be aware of
    • Upcoming Events
    • Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) Window 2 budget fully allocated following strong farmer demand
    • Bluetongue: how the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway can support farmers
    • Young Farmers Week 2026
    • Two Part Tariff (TPT) second part charges for year 2025/2026 
    • Nutrient Management Planning Tool update – understand the value of your manure!
    • Efforts to prevent England remaining in drought by next spring
    • Environment Secretary Speech on Back British Farming Day
    • Farmer Collaboration Fund
    • Updates from the Forestry Commission
    • Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
    • Rural Payments Agency: Updates and Guidance
    • How can we help you?
    • Stay up to date with us
  • FAS Newsletter August 2025

    Issue 126

    • Key dates to be aware of
    • Upcoming Events
    • Temporary adjustments to ELM agreements and new drought funding for farmers
    • How Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier can work for farmers and land managers
    • Woodland creation webinar: helping new trees survive and thrive
    • Wildfire training available
    • Help test the Forestry Commission’s new felling licence service
    • Annual Charge Invoices for Chargeable Abstraction Licence Holders
    • How an EA inspection helped a dairy farm transition to a more sustainable business model
    • Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
    • Rural Payments Agency: Updates and Guidance
    • How can we help you?
    • Stay up to date with us
  • FAS June 2026

    Issue 125

    • Key dates to be aware of
    • Upcoming Events
    • Capital Grants 2026 offer now open
    • Farm Safety Week
    • Register your interest in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agreement for agroforestry or woodland improvement.
    • Farmer Collaboration Fund is launching soon
    • Tripling funding for farmer welfare support
    • Annual Charge Invoices for Chargeable Abstraction Licence Holders
    • Woodland creation webinar: helping new trees survive and thrive
    • Help test the Forestry Commission’s new felling licence service
    • Water licensing availability survey
    • Modernising time limited licence renewal reminders
    • Updates from the Defra Farming blog and industry announcements
    • Rural Payments Agency: Updates and Guidance
    • How can we help you?
    • Stay up to date with us

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

    CSF South East and Thames - Farming Roadshow: support and resilience - Waddesdon

    Join farm focused advisors from Catchment Sensitive Farming, the Forestry Commission, Natural England and p...

    10th Nov 2026
    09:30 - 15:30 (GMT)
    Waddesdon Hall, High Street, Waddesdon, HP18 0JE

    Find out more and book your place here.

  • CSF

    CSF Severn - Smarter Nutrients, Easier Planning: NMP Workshop - Whitchurch

    A practical workshop for farmers with the aim to break down the complexities of nutrient management plannin...

    12th Nov 2026
    19:30 - 21:30 (GMT)
    Whitchurch Rugby Club Edgeley Park Whitchurch SY13 1EX

    Find out more and book your place here.

  • CSF

    CSF South Anglia - The More, the Merrier? What does crop diversity really deliver?

    Farmers are being encouraged to increase diversity across the farm, from broadening rotations, growing spec...

    16th Nov 2026
    09:30 - 14:00 (GMT)
    Church Farm, Ardeley, Stevenage SG2 7AH

    Find out more and book your place here.

Webinar Recordings

  • FAS

    Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026

    View the recording of the June 2026 FAS webinar on the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) offer. This webinar was delivered in partnership with Defra, the Rural Payments Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.
  • FAS

    Nutrient Management Planning – what’s new for 2026

    Following the launch of the new Defra funded online Nutrient Management Planning Tool in February, we speak to expert farm consultant and FACTS & BASIS qualified advisor Mel Holloway about approaches to nutrient management planning for the new planting year. With an update from CSF on support available from their teams.
  • FAS

    Improving Water Resilience on Farm

    Improving Water Resilience on Farm – supporting farmers in England to reduce their vulnerability to future climate and water risks A free online event, delivered by Jerry Knox (Professor of Agricultural Water Management at Cranfield University) focused on the importance of water management on farm, the key challenges facing the sector, and approaches to help farmers understand risks and develop strategies to reduce their vulnerability to future water and climate shocks. Supported by CSF

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