Using a variety of educational deliveries including newsletters, websites, workshops, conferences, consultation, and clinics, our Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) specialists are engaged with farmers, researchers, organizations, agencies, agribusiness, and communities.

ANR Extension and Outreach plays an important role in providing research-based information and resources to educate Iowa and beyond. Our programs impact all Iowans, whether they live in a rural or urban area, and have been developed to improve our quality of life. Our areas of focus include: agricultural systems and environmental stewardship; crops; dairy production; farm, food and enterprise development; farm management; food safety; horticulture; beef production; swine production; and natural resources stewardship.

Soil Testing Resources

Soil Testing Kit for Home Lawn and Garden
Iowa State University’s Soil Testing Laboratory closed in 2017. To assist our client’s needs in accessing soil testing services, we have created this Soil Testing Kit. The supplied soil testing submission form and corresponding example report from the University of Minnesota Soil Testing and Research Analytical Laboratory is provided for your convenience only.

Soil Testing for Commercial Agriculture
Those needing numerous soil tests for commercial agriculture fields should contact a commercial lab for supplies (soil testing bags, sample submission forms). As of March 2020 there is only one lab certified by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) that offers an improved soil K test called the “Field-moist K test” and is:
AgSource Laboratories
1701 Detroit Street, PO Box 247
Ellsworth, IA 50075
ellsworth@agsource.com
(515) 836-4444

For more information about the Field-moist soil K test, go to:
http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/soilfertility/currenttopics/MoistSoilTe…

Commercial Soil Testing Labs Certified by IDALS
IDALS conducts a soil testing proficiency program to certify that soil testing labs achieve quality standards set by the department. Any of these soil testing labs should be considered when deciding on which lab to use for soil testing in Iowa. The list of labs is updated quarterly and is available at: https://iowaagriculture.gov/commercial-feed-and-fertilizer-bureau/comme… Click on Certified Soil Testing Laboratories when reaching the page above for the current list.

Disclaimer
Commercial, private and public sites included on this page are intended only to supply information for the convenience of the public. No endorsement of products or firms is intended. Likewise, omission of any sites does not imply intended criticism or discrimination.