Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Fayette County is conducting a soil, water, and hay testing campaign from Oct. 9-30.
This program is being held with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Fayette County, Fayette County Commissioner's Court, and the Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District.
Landowners, livestock, hay, and field crop producers who wish to participate can pick up testing forms and soil sample bags or water sample bottles and forms at the Fayette County Extension Ser- vice Office at 255 Svoboda Ln.,
La Grange; the County Building, 312 Paulus, Schulenburg; the Pre- cinct 3 Office, 216 North Market, Flatonia; Round Top State Bank, Round Top; and the Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District, 255 Svoboda Ln., La Grange.
It is recommended that ag producers soil test in advance to better plan and address shortfalls in fertility. For homeowners with lawns and gardens, the timing is less ideal; however, an urban campaign will be offered in early 2024. Two types of soil tests for both ag producers will be offered at a reduced rate for this campaign. The routine analysis will cost $8, which will tell you the pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and conductivity of the soil sample. The routine and micronutrient analysis will cost $15 per sample. This will give you a reading of the levels of zinc, iron, copper and manganese, in addition to the elements analyzed in the routine sample. Soil samples may be brought to the extension office starting Oct. 9 through Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. The TAMU Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Laboratory in College Station will analyze the samples. Results will be mailed to your home address.
Two types of water well tests will be offered for this campaign for private water well owners/ managers. The elemental anal- ysis costs $28 per sample, which will tell you the conductivity, pH, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, chlorine, boron, nitrate, hardness, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and phosphorus of the water sample. The bacteriology analysis will cost $25 per sample and will tell you if coliform bacteria are present in the water. The bacteriology water sample must be taken the morning of Oct. 30 as this is a critical step and time-sensitive, right before you bring it to the County Extension Office be - tween 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please do not submit samples from public water suppliers for this campaign. TAMU Soil and Water Testing Laboratory in College Station and Aqua Water Supply in Bastrop will analyze these samples.
Lastly, if you have made or purchased hay this year, and are interested in knowing the quality, a hay test is being offered through this campaign. Understanding the nutritional value of feedstuffs is critical to managing costs and herd nutrition.
Through the campaign this year, you have the opportunity to receive an analysis for protein, fi ber, and TDN, and an estimate of digestibility, all for $5 per sample. Or, this year, you have the opportunity to receive an analysis for protein, fiber, TDN, and nitrates, all for $15 per sample.Soil and hay testing probes are available at the extension office to assist with sam ple collections.
Deliver all samples to the Fayette County Agricultural Building Room 107 at 255 Svoboda Ln. in La Grange by 1 p.m. on Oct. 30. Payment of exact change or check is required when you drop off your samples. No samples for this campaign will be accepted after 1 p.m. on Oct. 30.
Please make checks payable to the Fayette Beef Committee.
