Soil Samples

[snoopdog]

Most people that sit at the dead pecker tables in the coffee shops are F.O.S.

How do you know if you are seated at a dead pecker table? :?

That's what I was wondering. If it's true that you can't take advice from guys with dead peckers, I don't know what to do, because I don't have that much inside information on any guys I know. Of course, he did say dead pecker "table." Maybe they have their tables labeled.

Just ask the waitress , and tell her you want to drink a gallon of coffee for .75, she'll seat you appropriately .

 

[Texasmark]

I do do the occaisional soil test to see how things are going, mostly where I'm growing annual forages but at $150 a hit I do it sparingly.

I feel that it is very hard to get a good representative sample of soil from a paddock. Even taking sample from several different spots and mixing it together is not good as it only gives an average and some areas probably require a lot different treatment to others. Also some areas may have had a heavy dose of fertiliser land there last time it was spread and the effects linger on thereby not being a true representation of the paddock. This may explain why some people are distrusting of soil tests.

Ken

I don't think TAMU (Texas A&M University) Soil Extension Service cares where the sample originates...aka US or wherever. As I said, the forms are online. Take your sample and package per their directions ........dry it out so as not to mildew, place in a zip lock bag, label for ID purposes with your personal info and where it came from on your farm...for your benefit if more than one sample is submitted. Price per bag is $10.

You include your email address and in the forms you download and send with the sample, indicate what you plan to produce (crop and volume) with the soil that's being sampled. They send you an electronic answer via your email and tell you how much of what you have and how much of what you need to do what you want. Depending on the season, you can have an answer in a few days plus shipping time from you to them.

Thanks for that but I don't think I'd be game to do that. I think I'd run into to much trouble with biosecurity sending soil from here to the US.

Ken

Good point! Oh well, I tried. Grin

 

[herofan]

Well, my brother collected soil samples on our hay fields today, and it's free at the extension office. I'm not sure how long it will take, but the suspense is growing.

 

[1wlimo]

It appears that most here have a positive view of soil samples. I wonder why the people in my area dont experience positive results?

lots depends on how soil samples are done, and then if the recommendations are followed.

However if you look at work done by Gabe Brown and others like him, adding fertiliser is a waste of time. Much better to feed the soil naturally than with chemicals. Where we bale graze or stock pile the grass is much much better than fertilised land.

There is soil science to back this up. When you add nitrogen or any other nutrient in a pure chemical form to the soil it has to reach the plant in soil water that moves only very small distances. Natural sources in soil where there is a very good mycorrhizal population can travel over much larger distances. The soil is also much more resilient. A forest fire removes vast volumes of nutrients from the soil. In just two years healthy soil can be back to a good nutrient status with out the addition of any thing to the soil.

 

[Stocker Steve]

However if you look at work done by Gabe Brown and others like him, adding fertiliser is a waste of time. Much better to feed the soil naturally than with chemicals. Where we bale graze or stock pile the grass is much much better than fertilised land.

Gabe has naturally high ph.
Lots of dead dirt may require a kick start and/or a rebalance.
Bale grazing is best from there.

 

[Texasmark]

Most people that sit at the dead pecker tables in the coffee shops are F.O.S., Not all , but most .

Those that aren't know all there is to know about everything and if you don't believe it, just ask them!

My coffee shop is right here. Super coffee, can sit in my skivvies, weather is not an issue, great folks with real knowledge. Wink! Time well spent.