Soil testing questions.

[SSS Angus]

Looking for advice on soil testing. Im located in the North Texas area and was curious if anyone knew of anyone locally that performs the tests? Also for mail order is one place as good as the next? How should I go about taking the sample? Is there anything special I need to do?

 

[txag]

check with your county agent. he'll have the bags & instructions for you to send them to A&M.

 

[Stepper]

sss angus,

After you get your soil test result's back and if they show you need to put lime out. I would reccomend putting it out about six month's prior to time for grass to start growing. It take's about six months for it to change the ph of the soil.

 

[Bez!]

My fert dealer will come out and do all the tests for free if I buy from him.

He has all the equipment and does a fine job. He sends everything off to the lab and the results come direct to me. I take the results to the dealer and we discuss the requirements for the up coming year.

We get a bill for the testing.

When we purchase the fert he deducts the testing costs from the bill.

Works for both of us.

Bez!

 

[norriscathy]

We've had some problems with A&M's lab results. We now use A&L Plains Lab out of Lubbock (806-763-4278) get excellent results within a couple of days.

Norris

 

[Stepper]

My extention agent came out and took all of my soil sample's and showed me how to do it myself. They send the sample's of to a lab and send me the result's in the mail. I then go over the result's with my extention agent and discuss what need's to be put on the land and when.

I now take my own sample's and drop them by the extention's agent's office and they send me the result's in the mail. Free of charge.

 

[BC]

We've had some problems with A&M's lab results. We now use A&L Plains Lab out of Lubbock (806-763-4278) get excellent results within a couple of days.

Norris

If you are in northeast Texas I would suggest that you use the labat Stephen F. Austin State University. They are better at lime recommendations for East Texas conditions.

I know that my Extension agent has complained about the A&M lab and said that just recently he has seen a change in the lime recommendations for the better.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

sss angus,

After you get your soil test result's back and if they show you need to put lime out. I would reccomend putting it out about six month's prior to time for grass to start growing. It take's about six months for it to change the ph of the soil.

Just For Information:

I grew up on a farm in SW Denton County. This poster from Denton referred to here. Unless soil conditions have changed in Denton County ("Grand Prairie" soil area), the soil there is generally alkaline and lime would definitely make matters worse. On the other hand, East Texas area East of Dallas line would possibly be more acidic, especially in the "Piney Woods" regions.

JMO. ;-)

 

[SSS Angus]

Yes, I’m in Southwest Denton County. I’m actually just north of Justin. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[norriscathy]

We've had some problems with A&M's lab results. We now use A&L Plains Lab out of Lubbock (806-763-4278) get excellent results within a couple of days.

Norris

If you are in northeast Texas I would suggest that you use the labat Stephen F. Austin State University. They are better at lime recommendations for East Texas conditions.

I know that my Extension agent has complained about the A&M lab and said that just recently he has seen a change in the lime recommendations for the better.

I've heard Stephen F Austin had a good lab. Don't know what is the matter with A&M. They gave us a lime recommendation for 2 tons per acre and we put out four! Retested a year later and our calcium content had gone down and the PH was more acidic than it was the first time!

Norris

 

[Ranchcop]

I have heard, (from the students the do the testing themselfs) that A&M will lump all the soil tests in the same counties, and send all the same results. I have heard the same about SFA, although I do not know any students there.
In other words if they already did one test from Smith Co. Texas on Monday, and Friday rolls around and here comes another soil sample from Smith Co. they just send them the same results.
I now send all my customers samples to Mid West Labs. A lil more expensive but it sure tells me more then NPK and pH!
Brad
P.S. I know this about A&M because my Daughter Graduated from A&M with a Degree in Equine Ranch Management, just a few years ago.

 

[eric]

Yes, I’m in Southwest Denton County. I’m actually just north of Justin. Thanks for all the replies.

Justin Feed and Seed can take care of your soil tests. They prob just send them off to A&M, but they can give you the bags and also sell you the fertilizer when you need it. Kinda like one stop shopping. ;-)

I sent mine off first week of March, and got it back yesterday.

$10 bucks....seems reasonable enough to me. By the way, my tests showed no additional lime was needed.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

Yes, I’m in Southwest Denton County. I’m actually just north of Justin. Thanks for all the replies.

Small world! You must be close to Ponder and N. of FM 407. Our home place was near 156 and 114.

Don't know if Justin Seed Company (aka Curtis Talley, et. al.) bother with soil test services or not...probably not. But could ask for more info there I guess. Or, contact Denton Ext Svc.

 

[SSS Angus]

Yes, I’m in Southwest Denton County. I’m actually just north of Justin. Thanks for all the replies.

Small world! You must be close to Ponder and N. of FM 407. Our home place was near 156 and 114.

Don't know if Justin Seed Company (aka Curtis Talley, et. al.) bother with soil test services or not...probably not. But could ask for more info there I guess. Or, contact Denton Ext Svc.

Yep, just on the south side of Ponder. Im actually almost exactly in the middle between Justin and Ponder(Just on the north side of the Justin Vet off Eakins Cemetary rd.)

 

[SSS Angus]

Yes, I’m in Southwest Denton County. I’m actually just north of Justin. Thanks for all the replies.

Justin Feed and Seed can take care of your soil tests. They prob just send them off to A&M, but they can give you the bags and also sell you the fertilizer when you need it. Kinda like one stop shopping. ;-)

I sent mine off first week of March, and got it back yesterday.

$10 bucks....seems reasonable enough to me. By the way, my tests showed no additional lime was needed.

I will drop by there and see what they have to say. Thanks.

 

[eric]

Boy the world really is getting small...I buy hay from the Vista Ranch. He's on the road where the old RR train car is, right off 156 just past 2449. 21 miles from my front porch to his barn! We always stop at that big Exxon station and get some lunch. They have one of the best delis inside that store. When that guy runs out, we buy hay from Darrell Anderson. He's right across the street from that train caboose. I just take 407 to 35W/35W to 2449 / 2449 to the 156/ 156 a few blks to the train.

 

[BC]

I have heard, (from the students the do the testing themselfs) that A&M will lump all the soil tests in the same counties, and send all the same results. I have heard the same about SFA, although I do not know any students there.
In other words if they already did one test from Smith Co. Texas on Monday, and Friday rolls around and here comes another soil sample from Smith Co. they just send them the same results.
I now send all my customers samples to Mid West Labs. A lil more expensive but it sure tells me more then NPK and pH!
Brad
P.S. I know this about A&M because my Daughter Graduated from A&M with a Degree in Equine Ranch Management, just a few years ago.

You just think that all the university information is bunk because it does not advocate organic production.

 

[Ranchcop]

I would not say that..... A&M has done several fine test on Organic with great results. Look up Micro Oranizims reducing Fire Ants, and the study that A&M did with the city of Austin.

 

[TheLazyM]

I would not say that..... A&M has done several fine test on Organic with great results. Look up Micro Oranizims reducing Fire Ants, and the study that A&M did with the city of Austin.

organic fertilizers keep fireants down? it's about time something does.