The time to implement peak season fees for soil testing is set to begin Nov. 27. Samples submitted before that date will be processed for free. Growers and landowners still have time to get samples in before the start of peak season.

• I always like to give folks a heads up that our peak season fees for soil testing are coming up, so they can submit samples now to avoid the fee.
  
  
• The peak season period runs from Nov. 27 through March 31. During that time, there is a $4 per sample fee for a soil sample test.
  
  
• Our Agronomic Services lab processes around 300,000 samples annually and their goal is to get them processed as quickly as possible so growers can get their soil recommendations.
  
  
• Testing soil samples can help ensure growers use only the soil supplements and fertilizer needed, so sampling and testing can save growers money on input costs and help protect the environment.
  
  
• The peak-season fee is designed to encourage growers and homeowners to submit their samples earlier to stretch out the window in which samples are submitted.

• That can help speed up the processing time for everyone involved.
•  To avoid the fee, the samples must physically arrive at the Agronomic Services’ loading dock by 5 p.m. or earlier on Nov. 26.
  
  
• The date of shipping, the date of delivery to a local Cooperative Extension Office or postmarking is not considered in determining if a fee is charged.
  
  
• When submitting a sample, growers need to include grower or consultant information along with sample information. That helps ensure the samples are connected with a correct existing client account.
• If anyone has questions about the process, they can contact our Agronomic Services Division at 919-664-1600.