Avoiding the relatively modest cost of sampling and testing saves money in the short run but can be very expensive in the long run. Sampling and testing is necessary to determine how much manure, wastewater, compost or fertilizer should be applied to meet planned or growing crop nutrient needs. Lack of information can result in under- or over-application of nutrients. Under-application can result in yield loss. Over-application can burn sensitive crops, waste valuable nutrients through leaching, and negatively impact water quality.
In contrast, testing soil, manure, wastewater and irrigation water provides the information needed to apply nutrients at the agronomic rate, which makes good sense both from an environmental and financial perspective. For CAFOs and Medium AFOs, it is also a regulatory requirement.
Field Sampling and Testing Services:
- Soil
- Water
- Wastewater
- Compost
- Solid waste
- Groundwater
- Irrigation water
- Stream and Lake
In years where weather conditions cause yield loss and a potentially significant nutrient carryover, prompt sampling and testing will reveal the amount of nutrients remaining in the soil, and help guide decision-making about whether a winter cover crop is needed to utilize excess nutrients.