Good grass and abundant crops start with healthy soil. Getting a soil test can help you diagnose nutrient deficiencies, optimize plant production, and reduce weeds. Determining what your soil actually needs can help you avoid overapplication of fertilizers, which saves you time and money. It also reduces the chances that rain will wash excess nutrients into nearby waterbodies.

Once you receive your soil test results, a follow-up consultation and nutrient management plan may be provided.

Soil tests are conducted seasonally during spring and early fall, depending on what you want to know:

• Spring soil tests tell you what nutrients are needed for crop establishment or pasture health for the coming growing season

• Fall soil tests tell you what your crop has used over the growing season and if you are efficiently applying nutrients in the spring