Teagasc Launches Soil Health Week 2026
Teagasc will host Soil Health Week from next Monday, 21 September to Friday, 25 September, highlighting the importance of healthy soils for sustainable agriculture, food production and the wider environment. Soil Health Week will bring together farmers, advisers, researchers, students and members of the public through a programme of farm walks, school events, practical demonstrations, workshops and online activities. Throughout the week, Teagasc will focus on practical measures that can be taken to improve and protect soil health, including:
- Knowing your soils
- Regularly assessing your soil health
- Avoiding compaction and erosion
- Supporting soil biodiversity
- Building soil organic matter
- Soil sampling and nutrient management
Dr. Fiona Brennan, Teagasc Soil Biology Research Officer, Johnstown Castle said; “Soil Health week is a celebration of one of our most important national resources. It aims to equip students, teachers, farmers and local communities with the skills and practical knowledge to assess and manage their soils in ways that protect soil health, now and into the future. It also gives an opportunity to recognise the work farmers and land managers are already doing to protect and improve their soils, making them more resilient while supporting food production and environmental health.”
Speaking in advance of Soil Health Week 2026, Teagasc Soil and Nutrition Specialist, Veronica Nyhan said: “From saturated conditions to a prolonged drought, this year has really highlighted how much we ask of our soils. How our soils cope with these extremes depends, in part, on how well we manage them. Soil Health Week provides an opportunity for everyone to better understand our soils and how we can protect them into the future.”
To find out more about all the events and to register for the webinars visit www.teagasc.ie/soilhealthweek
What’s happening during Soil Health Week?
‘Ask the Expert’ – The hidden life of soil – Live Q&A webinar
Monday, 21 September | 7pm
Curious about life in soil? Largely hidden from view, soil is home to a vast and diverse community of organisms that play a vital role in nutrient cycling, plant growth, and overall soil health.
Join our live webinar, where soil biology specialists from the Irish Soil Biology Research Network will answer your questions on soil biology, soil health and management, and take you on a visual journey through some of the most important organisms in the soil.
Soil Health Farm walk
Tuesday, 22nd September | 11am– Newgrange, County Meath
The event is a joint Kepak Teagasc farm walk event as part of the Better Farming for Water Campaign. The focus is on sustainable farming practices that protect water quality and enhance soil health on a productive mixed tillage drystock farm. Topics on the day will cover how to assess soil health, sowing new hedgerows and native trees, use of organic manures, cover crops and Farming for Water EIP.
Soil Health Farm walk
Wednesday 23rd September | 2.30pm – Bagenalstown, County Carlow
Hugh McDonnell is a tillage farmer from outside Bagenalstown. Working on a light textured soil, Hugh has been practicing min-till, straw incorporation and cover crops for many years. Joined by invited speakers and facilitated by Bagenalstown Tillage Group, this event will explore practical ways to assess and improve soil health, building resilience and supporting sustainable crop production.
Soil and Sustainable Farming Schools Event
Wednesday 23th September, Munster agricultural society, Curaheen, County Cork
University College Cork, Munster Agricultural Society, VistaMilk and Teagasc will host a soil and sustainability farming event for local secondary school students on the Munster agricultural society site in Curaheen, County Cork. Students will explore pasture-based agriculture and farmland biodiversity through hands-on activities investigating grasslands, soils, soil organisms, earthworms and decomposition, while developing scientific investigation skills and understanding the importance of healthy soils for food production, water quality and sustainable farming. This interactive event connects curriculum topics to real-world sustainability challenges through tailored, stage-appropriate sessions, particularly relevant to Biology, Agricultural Science, Geography, and related subjects.
Growing Organic Farm Walk
Friday, 25 September | 2pm – Manorhamilton, County Leitrim
Barry and Sharon O’Hagan will host this farm walk in association with the Growing Organics team on their organic farm in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim. Their farm is an extensive, lightly stocked sheep farm with multispecies swards and red clover present. The event will combine on-farm demonstrations with practical discussion on incorporating mixed species swards and enhancing soil health and biodiversity on your farm.
Signpost Webinar – Understanding soil health and the EU Soil monitoring law
Friday, 25 September | 9.30am
Dr. Karen Daly, Head of Department at the Teagasc environmental research centre, Johnstown Castle, will present on the weekly Friday morning Signposts webinar. She will cover the new Soil Monitoring and Resilience law and scoping work for a national soil monitoring network for Ireland.
Soil Health workshop
Friday, 25 September | 11am Agricultural Museum, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford
Join Teagasc soil scientists for an engaging hands-on workshop on soil health. You’ll see the remarkable diversity of Irish soils that underpin our food production systems and are vital for environmental health. You’ll learn simple, practical methods to assess soil health at home, at school, or on the farm, and we’ll show you how to use mapping resources to identify soils in your area.
Rooted in Health Farm walk
Friday, 30 October | 11am Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow
As part of Soil Health Week 2026, Teagasc, in conjunction with Boortmalt and the Irish Heart Foundation, will host Rooted in Health at Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, on Friday, 30 October at 11am. This practical tillage event will focus on the role of cover crops in building healthier, more resilient soils, with over 20 cover crop species on display, comparisons of different establishment methods and practical soil health assessment techniques. The event will also put farmer wellbeing firmly on the agenda, with the Irish Heart Foundation providing farmer health checks on the day.
To find out more about all the events and to register for the webinars visit www.teagasc.ie/soilhealthweek
What’s happening during Soil Health Week?
‘Ask the Expert’ – The hidden life of soil – Live Q&A webinar
Monday, 21 September | 7pm
Curious about life in soil? Largely hidden from view, soil is home to a vast and diverse community of organisms that play a vital role in nutrient cycling, plant growth, and overall soil health.
Join our live webinar, where soil biology specialists from the Irish Soil Biology Research Network will answer your questions on soil biology, soil health and management, and take you on a visual journey through some of the most important organisms in the soil.
Soil Health Farm walk
Tuesday, 22nd September | 11am– Newgrange, County Meath
The event is a joint Kepak Teagasc farm walk event as part of the Better Farming for Water Campaign. The focus is on sustainable farming practices that protect water quality and enhance soil health on a productive mixed tillage drystock farm. Topics on the day will cover how to assess soil health, sowing new hedgerows and native trees, use of organic manures, cover crops and Farming for Water EIP.
Soil Health Farm walk
Wednesday 23rd September | 2.30pm – Bagenalstown, County Carlow
Hugh McDonnell is a tillage farmer from outside Bagenalstown. Working on a light textured soil, Hugh has been practicing min-till, straw incorporation and cover crops for many years. Joined by invited speakers and facilitated by Bagenalstown Tillage Group, this event will explore practical ways to assess and improve soil health, building resilience and supporting sustainable crop production.
Soil and Sustainable Farming Schools Event
Wednesday 23th September, Munster agricultural society, Curaheen, County Cork
University College Cork, Munster Agricultural Society, VistaMilk and Teagasc will host a soil and sustainability farming event for local secondary school students on the Munster agricultural society site in Curaheen, County Cork. Students will explore pasture-based agriculture and farmland biodiversity through hands-on activities investigating grasslands, soils, soil organisms, earthworms and decomposition, while developing scientific investigation skills and understanding the importance of healthy soils for food production, water quality and sustainable farming. This interactive event connects curriculum topics to real-world sustainability challenges through tailored, stage-appropriate sessions, particularly relevant to Biology, Agricultural Science, Geography, and related subjects.
Growing Organic Farm Walk
Friday, 25 September | 2pm – Manorhamilton, County Leitrim
Barry and Sharon O’Hagan will host this farm walk in association with the Growing Organics team on their organic farm in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim. Their farm is an extensive, lightly stocked sheep farm with multispecies swards and red clover present. The event will combine on-farm demonstrations with practical discussion on incorporating mixed species swards and enhancing soil health and biodiversity on your farm.
Signpost Webinar – Understanding soil health and the EU Soil monitoring law
Friday, 25 September | 9.30am
Dr. Karen Daly, Head of Department at the Teagasc environmental research centre, Johnstown Castle, will present on the weekly Friday morning Signposts webinar. She will cover the new Soil Monitoring and Resilience law and scoping work for a national soil monitoring network for Ireland.
Soil Health workshop
Friday, 25 September | 11am Agricultural Museum, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford
Join Teagasc soil scientists for an engaging hands-on workshop on soil health. You’ll see the remarkable diversity of Irish soils that underpin our food production systems and are vital for environmental health. You’ll learn simple, practical methods to assess soil health at home, at school, or on the farm, and we’ll show you how to use mapping resources to identify soils in your area.
Rooted in Health Farm walk
Friday, 30 October | 11am Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow
As part of Soil Health Week 2026, Teagasc, in conjunction with Boortmalt and the Irish Heart Foundation, will host Rooted in Health at Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, on Friday, 30 October at 11am. This practical tillage event will focus on the role of cover crops in building healthier, more resilient soils, with over 20 cover crop species on display, comparisons of different establishment methods and practical soil health assessment techniques. The event will also put farmer wellbeing firmly on the agenda, with the Irish Heart Foundation providing farmer health checks on the day.