More than 180 active farmers, agronomists and researchers will gather at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Thurles campus on Tuesday, October 8, for a free soil health showcase run by SOILCRATES-Ireland — the first Irish initiative under the European Mission Soil programme.

The event centres on practical, on-farm soil testing rather than classroom theory, with live demonstrations of soil health toolkits that farmers can apply directly to their own enterprises.

What does the event cover?

The agenda tackles two of the most consequential issues facing Irish livestock and tillage farmers right now:

• Practical demonstration of soil health toolkits;
• Discussion on RENURE (Recovered Nitrogen from Manure) and digestate;
• An open forum linking active farmers with representatives from local county councils, Teagasc, industry processors and government bodies on balancing farm income with compliance.

RENURE is the incoming regulatory framework designed to allow processed manure products to be applied beyond standard chemical fertiliser restrictions. For farmers facing tightening nitrogen limits under the Nitrates Derogation, that distinction matters: it could determine how much nitrogen a livestock farm can legally spread without buying additional chemical fertiliser.

Foresters will also present the benefits and pathways to establishing agroforestry, an option increasingly relevant as farmers weigh diversification and compliance pressures.

Why Tipperary?

SOILCRATES-Ireland operates as a Living Lab co-ordinated by TUS in partnership with community groups and EIP-Agri operational groups. Its work runs across commercial dairy, beef, tillage and mixed enterprises in Tipperary, Limerick and Clare.

The model deliberately avoids top-down instruction. It prioritises farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange and on-farm measurement, so the October 8 showcase is built around demonstration and discussion rather than presentations alone.

The event also gives policy discussion a concrete venue. By putting farmers in the same room as Teagasc advisers, county council officials, processors and government bodies, SOILCRATES aims to surface field-level constraints that shape how frameworks like RENURE actually land on commercial farms.

Who should attend?

Attendance is free and open to all farmers, agricultural advisors and industry stakeholders across the island of Ireland — not only those already involved in the Living Lab.

For farmers tracking the RENURE framework's progress, the Thurles event offers an early chance to hear how processed manure and digestate may fit into future nutrient management plans, and to question the officials and researchers involved directly.

Farmers unable to attend should watch for outputs from the Living Lab's ongoing work across Tipperary, Limerick and Clare, as well as further detail on RENURE implementation as the regulatory framework develops.