Event Date
Soils event

Tuesday, 09 December 2025

10:30am - 2:30pm

Wigton Auction Mart, Skye Road, Wigton, Cumbria

CA7 9NS

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Phosphate – what does this do for the soil, why is it important, why is it important to keep at safe levels?

Book your place and come to hear and chat with James Bretherton and Richard Lane about phosphates and their views.

What you will learn:

  • James will be looking at the phosphate cycle from imported to hitting the ground in the Northwest region and looking at how that impacts soil health and ultimately looking up nutrients which then affects the animals grazing
  • Richard Lane from the Dairy Group will be looking at livestock nutrition and how keeping everything in check can boost productivity and ultimately margins

We look forward to seeing you at Wigton Mart – book your space now.

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Soil is an essential natural resource for all farmers. Over recent years many initiatives have sought to provide information and advice on soils and Soil Health, notably AHDB Great Soils. 

We deliver transformational projects to drive productivity and boost farming and supply chain businesses. We want the industry to thrive in a rapidly changing world and continue to produce high quality food, maintain our beautiful landscape and leave a legacy for generations to come. 

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for both plants and animals, playing a key role in energy transfer as a major component of ATP. It is also vital in DNA. For full capture & conversion of solar energy, crop canopies need 30-40 kg/ha P. Crop species redistribute most of this P (~85%; more than for any other nutrient) to their seeds during canopy senescence, where it is stored as phytate. Plants appear to do this because, until their roots proliferate, plant seedlings are highly sensitive to P shortages.

Soil is a major source of nutrients needed by plants for growth.

How we manage our farms and fields is not only important for the nutrition of crops and livestock, but also for the quality and nutritive value of the food we eat.