ISDA launches free soil sampling program
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A free program from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) and other local partners has launched to increase awareness on the benefits of soil sampling.
The Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program was developed to positively impact the state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy efforts. Soil sampling assesses soil fertility and nutrient content over time.
The ISDA said in a news release that results from the sampling inform fertilizer application recommendations, preserve the environment and increases profitability.
“Hoosier farmers care deeply about the land and work hard each year to keep their soil healthy,” Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said in the release. “This free program is a great way for farmers to test their soil and ensure the proper nutrients are being utilized on their fields.”
Row crop fields, pastures and specialty crops located within the state’s portion of the Mississippi River Basin are eligible for the program.
The ISDA said fields that have never been sampled will receive priority along with fields that have not been sampled within the last three to four years. Hobby gardens and private lawns do not qualify.
“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,” ISDA Director Don Lamb said. “As a farmer myself, I know how critical that is.”
Other partners in the program include Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance, Indiana Conservation Partnership members, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, farmers and Certified Crop Advisors.
“This effort will further our goals for nutrient management stewardship across Indiana. This will help us make smarter decisions about where to apply nutrients and to spread that data across more acres,” Indiana Corn Marketing Council President Paul Hodgen said. “This program will be a great way to increase the number of farmers who better understand their soils and it will allow them to make improved management decisions based on good data.”
Interested farmers can sign-up online or by email. Sign-ups are now open and will close on April 17, 2025.