New Free Soil Sampling Program Coming to Life for Indiana Farmers

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 11:19 AM

The no-cost program focuses on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling.

Shutterstock photo.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has announced a new free soil sampling program for Indiana farmers.

Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program is now open for applicants.

The no-cost program focuses on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations.

“Hoosier farmers care deeply about the land and work hard each year to keep their soil healthy,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “This free program is a great way for farmers to test their soil and ensure the proper nutrients are being utilized on their fields.”

Soil sampling provides an assessment of the soil’s fertility, which can be used for making fertilizer application recommendations, assessing available nutrients over time, increase farmer profitability and enhance environmental protection by reducing the risk of nutrient loss.

“This free program for farmers will help them assess their land so they can continue to produce as much food as possible with fewer fertilizer inputs. As a farmer myself, I know how critical that is,” said Don Lamb, ISDA director. “This program would not be possible without a few incredible partners whose top priority is assisting Hoosier farmers and keeping Hoosier land in great shape.”

The program includes row crop fields, pastures and specialty crops located within Indiana’s portion of the Mississippi River Basin. Participating landowners will be prioritized by fields that have never been soil sampled and fields that haven’t been sampled regularly.

Further prioritization may be implemented based on interest in the program, which excludes hobby gardens and private lawns.

Sign-ups are now open through April 17, 2024.

Farms in Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties are eligible to apply.