Soil Sample Key As Growers Look To Put 2026 Behind Them

Growers may not always think about it, but soil samples, specifically the right soil sample, is key when it comes to nutrient management. Matt Struve with SoilView said between the busyness of the fall the fall, and the possibility some areas could face freezing temperatures before too much longer, its important growers plan a window now for sampling.

"That grower goes from harvesting the field to wanting to apply, fertilizer to manures to doing tillage and things like that or getting things going in that next direction," Struve said. "So again, we do want to make sure we're being efficient when we're out in the fields and having a communication with the agronomist and with the grower on, hey, this field's been harvested, let's get it sampled."

Accurate Data Is Key For Soil Health, Management

Struve added it's important that everyone on the farm communicates.

"If you're currently working with an agronomist, or however, you're managing your data, things like that, let's have those conversations of, hey, these fields are due for sampling this fall," said Struve. "Let's get them in the system, get them queued up, to help that kind of readiness for fields to be sampled."

Struve said he understands that growers don't want to spend money they don't need to, especially in this farm economy. However...

"Without knowing what that data is, it's hard to make that decision," Struve stressed. "So, soil sampling makes up a very, very small, less than a percent, probably less than 1/3 of a percent of your total input cost, if you were spreading that over a four-year period. So for a very small investment, you're able to make much better decisions. And maybe you have been building your nutrients over the past eight years, 12 years, and things like that, and maybe you can cut back a little bit. But without going out there and sampling it again, you're just, you're taking an educated guess I would call. So why not, make that small investment, get those field sampled so that you can make that make that proper decision."

Soil Sampling Costs Very Little For All It Provides

Struve added while not ideal, spring samples can be taken. Learn more about the importance of taking soil samples, and how to find the right people to sample your property by listening to our entire conversation with Struve:

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com