Homeowners, gardeners, community gardeners, golf course superintendents, and turf consultants are encouraged to submit soil samples now to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic Services to ensure faster turnaround time on results and avoid peak-season testing fees.
“Soil test results completed this year are good for the next two to three years. So, if you have not tested your soil in a while, now is a good time to consider submitting soil samples,” said Jagathi Kamalakanthan, soil lab agronomist. “Soil testing is free except during the peak laboratory season, which starts Dec. 1 and runs through March 31, 2024.”
Samples must physically arrive on the Agronomic Services’ loading dock Nov. 30 or earlier to avoid being charged a peak-season fee. Date of shipping, delivery to a local Cooperative Extension Center, or postmarking is not considered when determining the assessment of peak-season fees.
“This year the Agronomic Services Division is renewing its efforts to improve operational efficiency and optimize our customer service. To help us in this mission, we are asking that growers pay particular attention to the submission process,” Kamalakanthan said. “Small details really matter when you consider that the Soil Testing Lab processes about 300,000 samples annually.”
New this year. Soil samples submitted without adequate grower, consultant, and/or sample information will not proceed through the lab but will be set aside. This information is essential to associate samples with the correct existing client account or to establish a new unique client account. Samples will be held for at least five days, and an attempt will be made to obtain the missing information. Due to limited storage space, samples cannot be held indefinitely.