Building Productivity from the Ground Up: Assessing Soil Health for Farmers

Join us at Carbeth Home Farm for a practical farm walk exploring soil health, from field assessment techniques through to soil analysis.

This event is primarily for farmers and land managers, and designed to provide practical tools and insights that can be applied on farms.

At the core of any successful, sustainable farm business is a clear understanding of the soils across different parts of the farm. Taking the time to thoroughly assess soils and implement a management plan based on the results is fundamental to achieving better land management, supporting profitable farming, and helping to protect the environment.

At this event, we will learn how to conduct thorough visual and low-tech assessments of the soil condition in the field and what healthy soils can tell us about how the wider farming system is functioning. Then we will discuss lab test results and how to interpret them. Using a soil sample from Carbeth Home Farm as a practical case study, participants will have the opportunity to examine a real soil analysis and discuss what the results can tell us about soil health, nutrient availability, and management decisions.

Abi Mordin - farmer, agroecologist and founding member of Propagate Scotland, will lead a practical soil health walk, exploring how to assess soil condition in the field. Drawing on her experience working with farmers to improve soil function and resilience, Abi will guide participants through a range of simple field-based observations and assessment techniques.

David Franklin from Franklin Soil Fertility will then lead a discussion on soil analysis and interpreting soil test results.

Free event. Lunch will be provided.

About Farmer Cluster Connections
This event is organised jointly through the The Upper Forth Land & Manager Network and the Greater Glasgow & Clydeside Farmer Cluster as part of Propagate’s Farmer Cluster Connections project. Farmer Cluster Connections is building a coordinated, facilitator-led network of farmer clusters across Scotland, linking regional hubs to accelerate the exchange of knowledge, skills, and innovation in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Building on the success of Propagate’s Regenerative Farming Network, the project supports collaboration, peer-to-peer learning, and knowledge sharing between farmers and land managers. Read more about the Farmer Cluster Connections project.

For any enquiries about this event, please contact:
• Jenny (Upper Forth Land & Manager Network): jenny@propagate.org.uk
• Sarah (Greater Glasgow & Clydeside Farmer Cluster): sarah@propagate.org.uk

Connect
The Upper Forth Land & Manager Network
Greater Glasgow & Clydeside Farmer Cluster