Soil Health Week 2025
From Monday, 22 September to Friday, 26 September, Teagasc will host Soil Health Week, a dedicated weeklong initiative designed to support and inspire farmers, students and the general public with the latest insights, innovations, and practical guidance on soil health. From informative podcasts and live “Ask the Expert” webinar, to farm walks, expert-led lectures, and engaging talks, the week offers a packed schedule aimed at deepening understanding and sparking conversation around sustainable soil management.
To add to the excitement, we’re also hosting a Soil in Focus Photo Competition, inviting farmers and enthusiasts to capture the complexity and life of soil in action, with fantastic prizes up for grabs. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just curious about soil health, there’s something for everyone.
Monday, 22 September | 7pm
‘Ask the Expert’ – Digging into the Soil – Live Q&A webinar
Are you curious about your soil? Want to understand more about how it works? Interested in managing the soil in your school, farm, or garden? Or maybe you’d like to learn more about soil biology—from the tiniest organisms to the mighty earthworm?
Join our live webinar Digging Into Soil: Ask the Expert Q&A, where soil specialists will answer your questions on soil health, fertility, and management.
Hosted by Cathal Somers, Teagasc Water Quality Specialist and featuring David Wall, Teagasc Research Officer; Veronica Nyhan, Teagasc Soil and Plant Nutrition Specialist; Professor Olaf Schmidt, UCD; Dermot Forristal, Teagasc Researcher; Dr. Fiona Brennan, Teagasc Soil Biology Research Officer; Dr. Saorla Kavanagh, Farmland Biodiversity Researcher, Teagasc along with special guest Rob Coleman, Mixed tillage and stock farmer in North Cork.
Have a burning question about soil health? Submit it ahead of time and our experts will answer it live during the webinar!
Register for the ‘Ask the Expert’ webinar here!
Tuesday, 23 September | 12pm
The Hidden World Beneath Us: Why Soil Health Matters
Auditorium of the Visitor’s Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 18
The Hidden World Beneath Us: Why Soil Health Matters invites you to discover the hidden world right under our feet. Through striking images, this talk will uncover the life, complexity, and importance of healthy soil—and why it matters for our food, planet, and future. Join us for an eye-opening exploration that will change the way you see the ground you walk on.
Register for the Hidden World Beneath Us event here!
Tuesday 23rd September | 2pm
Growing Organics Farm Walk – Longford
John and Stephanie O’Hanlon farm organically on 38.88ha in Tipper, Ballymahon, Co Longford. This farm walk will focus on their suckler to stores farming system, discussing best practice and monitoring key financial and environmental metrics including demonstrations of soil health as part of soil health week.
Find out more about the Growing Organics Farm Walk taking place in Longford
Launching on Wednesday, 24 September
Soil in Focus – Photo Competition
We are hosting a Soil in Focus Photo Competition, inviting farmers, students and the general public enthusiasts to capture the complexity and life of soil in action—with fantastic prizes up for grabs and a chance to showcase your work to a wide audience. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just curious about soil health, there’s something for everyone.
• 1st Prize: €250 One4All voucher
• 2nd Prize: €150 One4All voucher
• 3rd Prize: €100 One4All voucher
Enter the Soil in Focus Photo Competition
Thursday, 25 September | 11am
GroundTruth Farm Walk
Pat and Tony Dunne, Tentoire, Ballycolla, Co. Laois, R32 WR62
Brothers Pat and Tony Dunne are farming a mixed system of drystock and tillage near Ballacolla, Co Laois. In July this year the Groundtruth team visited the farm and conducted some simple soil health tests, including the GrassVESS, earthworm counts and the underwear degradation test. As part of soil health week, the Groundtruth team will return to review the same soil health tests. Margaret Farrell, Signpost Advisor, and Joseph Maher, ASSAP Advisor, will also be talking on the day about soil health in relation to sustainable environmental land management.
Click here to register for the Co Laois farm walk!
Friday, 26 September | 9.30am
Signpost Webinar – Diverse Soils with Dr. David Wall
Register for the Diverse Soils webinar here!
Friday, 26 September | 2pm
Soil Health with Dr Luis Lopez-Sangil, Teagasc
Wexford Town Library, Mallin Street, Wexford, Y35 AY20
In this engaging hands-on workshop, we’ll talk about the importance and diversity of Irish soils (their colours, textures and functions), and show simple methods to assess the soil health in your garden, school or farm. Join us in this family event about the ground beneath our feet.
Click here to register for the Soil Health workshop!
Friday, 26 September | 2pm
GroundTruth Farm Walk
Gold River Farm, Kilacloran, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. Eircode: Y14 CK40
Mark and Heather Winterbotham of Gold River Farm are farming a mixed system of drystock and tillage. They place huge importance on their soil health practising crop rotation, organic manure management and strategic soil remediation practices. Come and join the Groundtruth project team as they examine and discuss the soil health on this farm through some simple tests.
Click here to register for the Co Wicklow farm walk!
