Fayette Soil,Water and Hay Testing Campaign Sept. 21 through Oct. 7

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Fayette County is conducting a soil, water, and hay testing campaign Sept. 21 through Oct. 7. This program is being held in conjunction 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 participant can pick up testing forms and soil sample bags or water sample bottles and forms at the following locations:

Fayette County Extension Service Office, 255 Svoboda Ln, La Grange, County Building, 312 Paulus, Schulenburg, Precinct 3 Office, 216 North Market, Flatonia, Round Top State Bank Round Top and Fayette County Groundwater Conservation District

Soil Testing

Two types of soil tests for both ag producers and homeowners 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 September 21 through October 7 at 1 p.m. The samples will be analyzed by the TAMU Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Laboratory in College Station. Results will be mailed to your home address.

Water Testing

There will also be two types of water well tests which will be offered for this campaign for private water well owners/ managers. The elemental analysis 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 sample will cost $25 per sample and will tell you if coliform bacteria is present in the water. The bacteriology water sample must be taken the morning of October 7 (this is a critical step and time sensitive); right before you bring it to the County Extension Office between the hours of 8 a.m and 1 p.m. Please do not submit samples from public water suppliers in this campaign. These samples will be analyzed by TAMU Soil and Water Testing Laboratory in College Station and Aqua Water Supply in Bastrop.

Hay Testing

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, ADF, NDF, TDN, and an estimate of digestibility, all for $5 per sample.

Soil and hay testing probes are available at the Extension Office to assist with sample collections.

Deliver all samples to the Fayette County Agricultural Building Room 107 located at 255 Svoboda Ln, La Grange, by 1 p.m. on Oct. 7. Payment is required (exact change or check) when you drop off your samples. Please make checks payable to Fayette Beef Committee.