Do you do your own soil sampling and testing?

[monte]

Normally have our local dealer's agronomist do the soil sampling and fert recommendations.

Just wondering if anyone does it themselves and what lab they use.

My son is old enough now and he seems interested in taking over some of the work.

[SASKFARMER3]

We have them done by a company. Same Spots in field for 12 years so have record of where its been and where we are going.
But for basic soil samples he will do any one can push a probe into the ground.
Its a good job for a young gun with a pail and a quad.

[ado089]

I work for Western ag so I'm partial to them. But for more basic sample I use ALS in Saskatoon. The results are going to be similar enough from lab to lab, it's knowing how to analyze them thats the tricky part.

[theplowboy]

We would like to do more but time is usually the challenge so we pay to get it done. The information is important and the agronomic recommendations as well.

Hey ado, what does a basic test cost if you send direct to the lab? We pay a per acre fee for agronomist support and it is part of the deal.

tia

[ado089]

A basic NPKS analysis is about $40-50 but will be of limited use. A more comprehensive analysis will run $75-100. You'll want to do one of those and have someone that knows what to do with them at least once.

[ColevilleH2S]

A basic NPKS analysis is about $40-50 but will be of limited use. A more comprehensive analysis will run $75-100. You'll want to do one of those and have someone that knows what to do with them at least once.

I don't even bother with comprehensive tests much anymore. Nitrogen only.
From experience I know before the results are even sent what they will be on all but the N test. P is always too low, K is always off the charts, S is unreliable because it's contaminated by random flakes of Gypsum, pH changes at the decade timescale, micros never show an economic response. So why spend $100 every year, when a $15 test will do?

[freewheat]

So why spend $100 every year, when a $15 test will do?

Because if you do not, you ain't no farmer.

[ado089]

I agree, once you have it you don't need to do it again but it will flesh out some issues that may need dealing with. That said you'd be surprised how much the pH has fluctuated over the last few years with all the moisture followed by drought. I'd also do an OM measurement every 5 years since that will play a role in N mineralization.

[SASKFARMER3]

We also do on some fields where yield just didn't do like the rest. New Quarters etc.