Final chance for Northern Ireland farmers to register for Soil Nutrient Health Scheme before payment penalties apply
- Love Ballymena
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Thousands of eligible farm businesses across Northern Ireland are being given one final opportunity to register for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) before missing out could result in reduced Farm Sustainability Payments from 2027.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced that a final “mop-up” registration phase will open on Wednesday 5 August and close at midnight on Monday 7 September 2026.
The deadline is significant because, for eligible farm businesses, registering for the scheme and completing the required training is now a condition of receiving the Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP).
Those who fail to do so by 15 May 2027 face a 10% reduction in their 2027 payment, rising to 15% from 2028 if they continue not to comply.
One final opportunity
The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme has been rolled out across Northern Ireland in four geographical phases since 2022, with registrations opening zone by zone before closing in September 2025.
This latest registration window is not a new phase. Instead, it is a final opportunity for farm businesses that were operating on or before 8 September 2025 but did not register when their area was invited to take part.
DAERA has confirmed there will be no further registration opportunities after 7 September 2026.
More than 92.5% of eligible farm businesses had already registered by the time the scheme closed in September 2025, meaning this final phase is aimed at the remaining businesses that have yet to sign up.
What the scheme provides
The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme gives participating farmers detailed information about the nutrient status and carbon levels of their land through soil sampling and analysis.
The data is designed to help farmers make better decisions about nutrient management, improve productivity, reduce unnecessary fertiliser use and support more sustainable farming.
Eligible farm businesses will receive an invitation letter from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in the coming days explaining how to complete the online registration process.
Minister urges farmers to act
Announcing the final registration window, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said:
“It is encouraging that over 90% of all farm businesses in Northern Ireland have already registered for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme.
“This groundbreaking initiative provides farmers with individualised, farm nutrient and carbon data that is incredibly useful for effective land management. That’s why I have decided to make one final opportunity available for remaining businesses to register for the scheme.
“Registering for the scheme and completing the associated training is a conditionality of the Farm Sustainability Payment, so I would encourage those farm businesses which haven’t already done so, to sign up for this final opportunity before the closing date of 7 September 2026.”
How to register
Registration opens on Wednesday 5 August 2026 and must be completed before midnight on Monday 7 September 2026.
Eligible farm businesses can register through DAERA Online Services using a Government Gateway account:
Farmers must also complete the required CAFRE Soil Nutrient Health Scheme training, available at:
Anyone needing assistance can contact the AFBI Soil Nutrient Health Scheme Administration Team on 028 9025 5212 or by email at SNHS@afbini.gov.uk.
With no further registration windows planned, eligible farm businesses that have yet to register have just over a month to secure their place in the scheme and avoid future reductions to their Farm Sustainability Payments.