Soil Testing
Getting you soil tested now to determine what nutrients are required for next year's growing cycle is a good thing. The labs in Raleigh tend to back up during the winter and early spring and there may be delays in getting your results on time. Knowing what you need this fall will help with developing your budgets and planning for the spring.
Here's another good reason to take and send in soil samples:
NCDA&CS
Agronomic Division
Peak-season Soil Testing Fee
August 1, 2013
The Appropriations Act of 2013 contains
a provision to implement a new soil-testing fee. Pending final approval by the Board of
Agriculture, a $4 fee will be charged for all soil samples processed by the
NCDA&CS Agronomic Division during its busiest season: December through
March. There will still be no fee from April through November.
Rationale:
v To
improve lab efficiency by encouraging more growers to sample early, thereby fostering
a more balanced sample load throughout the year
v To
enhance sustainability of the soil-testing program by generating receipts that
will be earmarked for lab improvements, such as automated equipment, additional
peak-season personnel and computer-programming enhancements [The 2013 Appropriations Act ensures that
receipts generated by the new fee will be appropriated to NCDA&CS for this
purpose for FY 2014 and 2015.]
NOTE: This year, December
1st falls on a Sunday and is preceded by the Thanksgiving
holidays. Wednesday, November 27th, will be the last business day
of the month for the soil testing lab. Any soil samples
arriving after 6 p.m. on November 27th will be subject to the
peak-season fee because they will not be logged in and processed
until December 2nd.
Sample
drop offs must take place during business hours (6 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon.–Fri.).
A locked gate will prevent access to the loading dock area after hours
and on weekends. This change will help increase the security of samples and
improve customers’ access to Agronomic Division personnel.
Payment
should not be placed inside shippers. By late Fall 2013, clients will have
the convenience of entering sample and payment (credit card or escrow
account) information online in the PALS website. Cash and checks will be
accepted for peak-season samples only if deposited in advance in an escrow
account.
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Facts:
v
The Agronomic Division provides a quality soil-testing
service that includes comprehensive chemical soil analyses, site-specific lime
and fertilizer recommendations and access to the consulting services of
NCDA&CS agronomists.
v
It costs NCDA&CS approximately $3.22 to
analyze one sample (based on average expenses 2008–2012), of which about $1 is
covered by receipts from the state fertilizer inspection fee and lime tonnage
tax.
v
For a typical 8-acre field in eastern North
Carolina, we estimate that the peak-season fee will cost between $4 and $16,
depending upon the intensity of the sampling protocol.
v
Most North Carolina growers submit fewer than 50
samples per year according to 2010 data.
v
Of the approximately 350,000 samples typically
received each year, nearly 60 percent are analyzed from December through March,
with turnaround times of up to 9 weeks.
v
The vast majority of soil samples analyzed during
the winter months are from farms in preparation for spring planting. Most of
these samples can be collected and submitted well before December 1st,
thus avoiding the fee. Nearly all soil samples associated with home &
garden and landscaping projects can be collected and submitted from April
through November.
v
Clients who desire expedited service during the
peak season can purchase NCDA&CS expedited shippers to receive a guaranteed
turnaround time of ten business days. A limited number of shippers are sold
each year (usually in August or September). The anticipated 2013–14 price for a
36-sample shipper is $200.
For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.
