Soil Testing for Participating in Government Programs.

Soil, plant, manure, and water testing are the bases for developing nutrient management plans. Whether the plan is self-created, assisted by a professional nutrient management planner, or developed by a government entity the background resource information about the rate, source, form, timing, and method of nutrient application must be available and understood. The number of nutrient management plans, and subsequently the frequency and scope of resource sampling and analyses, has increased over the past few years. In part, this is the result of government programs that are promoting an acceptable management of the rate, form, timing, and method of nutrient application which require an intensive sampling and analyses to develop the nutrient management plan. In recent time, the higher cost of plant nutrient inputs for optimizing crop production has also intensified the economy of carefully budgeting the crop nutrient needs. Meeting government requirements, which generally follow the specific land grant university crop and fertility recommendations, necessitates that sampling protocol and laboratory analytical procedures must coincide with the local university conventions. Dealing with intra-state sampling and analyses differences can cause confusion for everyone. Directing the producer, professional consultant, and analytical laboratories to be consistent with the specific state and local guidance is sometimes a challenge. A clear set of sampling, testing, and reporting protocols will be necessary to successfully implement these government cost share programs.