Northwood Laboratory
804 Hwy 15 West
P.O. Box 510
Northwood, ND 58267
Phone: 701-587-6010
Benson Laboratory
902 13th Street North
P.O. Box 187
Benson, MN 56215
Phone: 320-843-4109
Canada Shipping Address
380 Kimberly Road
Winkler, MB R6W 0H7
Phone: 701-587-6010
Starter Fertilizer Display: How low can YOU go?
/in Canola, Corn, Phosphorus, Soybean, Starter Fertilizer, Sugar Beet, Wheat/by John LeeWhen profits are squeezed, more farmers are asking about optimal starter fertilizer rates and how low starter fertilizer rates can be. These questions are the result of wanting to keep fertilizer costs down, to plant as many acres per day as possible, and to take advantage of more efficient, lower rates of banded phosphorus fertilizer […]
Adjusting low soil pH with sugar beet-processing spent lime
/in Research, Soil Amendment, Soil pH/by John LeeThe sugar beet processing industry uses large quantities of fine-ground, high-grade calcium carbonate (lime) to purify sucrose in the sugar extraction process. The by-product spent lime retains high reactivity and purity, making an attractive liming material for acidic soils. Application of spent lime is a common practice through the sugar beet producing areas of the […]
High soil pH and calcium carbonate inflate base cation saturation and cation exchange capacity (CEC)
/in Base Cation Saturation Ratio, Research, Soil Chemical Analysis, Soil pH/by John BrekerSoil pH is a soil chemical property that measures soil acidity or alkalinity, and it affects many soil chemical and biological activities. Soils of the northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairies often have high soil pH (>7.3) and contain calcium carbonate (free lime) at or near the soil surface. It is the calcium carbonate in […]
The Meaning of Soil Health Testing and the Big Picture
/in Soil Analysis, Soil Health, Soil Management/by John BrekerThis submission is courtesy of Dr. Caley Gasch, Assistant Professor of Soil Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. It was originally published in the AGVISE Newsletter Winter 2017. Multiple definitions of “soil health” exist. In general, they all recognize that soil is a complex system, with interacting physical, chemical, and biological factors, which should […]
Soil Testing Right Behind the Combine
/in Soil Sampling/by John BrekerThis submission is courtesy of Dr. David Franzen, Extension Soil Specialist, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. It was originally published in the AGVISE Newsletter Fall 2019. It is more the rule than the exception that soil sampling begins in mid-September, rather than starting immediately following small grain harvest. However, many producers miss an excellent […]
Adjusting high soil pH with elemental sulfur
/in Research, Soil Amendment, Soil pH, Sulfur/by John LeeSoil pH is a soil chemical property that measures soil acidity or alkalinity, and it affects many soil chemical and biological activities. Soils with high pH can reduce the availability of certain nutrients, such as phosphorus and zinc. Soils of the northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairies often have high soil pH (>7.3) and contain […]
Soil Salinity Analysis: Which method to choose?
/in Research, Saline and Sodic Soil, Soil Chemical Analysis/by John BrekerThis submission is courtesy of Dr. Heather Matthees, Research Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Morris, MN. It was originally published in the AGVISE Newsletter Fall 2017. Salt-affected soils are a major problem for agricultural producers, resulting in $12 billion annual losses in crop production across the world. In the northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairies, soil salinity […]
Estimating soil texture with cation exchange capacity (CEC)
/in Soil Chemical Analysis, Soil Physical Analysis/by John BrekerSoil texture is a basic physical soil property that describes the proportion of sand-, silt-, and clay-sized particles in soil. It controls the ability of soil to retain water and nutrients and the movement of water and nutrients through the soil profile. Soil texture is a fundamental soil property, but measuring soil texture requires time-consuming […]
Fertilizing grass lawn
/in Lawn and Garden, Nitrogen/by John LeeA productive and lush lawn requires some fertilizer every now and then. The major plant nutrients required for grass lawn are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen is the nutrient required in the largest amount, although too much nitrogen can create other problems. A general rate of one (1) pound nitrogen per 1,000 […]
Split the Risk with In-season Nitrogen
/in Canola, Corn, In-Season Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Sunflower, Water Quality, Wheat/by John BrekerFor some farmers, applying fertilizer in the fall is a standard practice. You can often take advantage of lower fertilizer prices, reduce the spring workload, and guarantee that fertilizer is applied before planting. As you work on developing your crop nutrition plan, you may want to consider saving a portion of the nitrogen budget for […]
Quality Control is First Priority for AGVISE
/in Quality Control/by John LeeWhen you receive a soil test report from AGVISE you should expect the best. Since our start in 1976, our first priority has been providing you with the most accurate soil test data. Ensuring proper quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) takes extra care and dedication from everyone at AGVISE to provide you with the […]
AGVISE Potato Petiole Analysis: Informative, Accessible, and Easy-to-Understand Reports
/in Nitrogen, Plant Analysis, Potato/by John LeeIrrigated potato production is an intensive cropping system. It requires proactive labor, critical decision-making tools, and well-timed nutrient management. There is a fine line between supplying adequate plant nutrition and applying too much, which could cause potato tuber defects like mishappen tubers or hollow heart, reducing the marketable potato yield. Before seed potatoes go in […]
Soil Science Review: Soil pH, Acidity, and Alkalinity
/in Soil Chemical Analysis, Soil pH/by John BrekerSoil pH is a basic soil property that affects many biological and chemical processes in soil. Simply knowing if a soil is acidic or alkaline can tell us a lot about how it behaves and how we can manage it. This is why soil pH is often called the master variable of biological and chemical […]
Soil Science Review: Organic Matter
/in Soil Chemical Analysis, Soil Health/by John BrekerSoil organic matter is a fundamental component of soil. It is comprised of living microorganisms, recently decomposed plant material, and stable humus organic compounds. Soil organic matter influences numerous biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil. It influences soil structure, water holding capacity, nutrient cycling, biological activity, and chemical fate and transport (e.g. pesticides). Soil […]
Phosphorus and the 4Rs: The progress we have made
/in Fertilizer Placement, Phosphorus, Regional Data, Water Quality/by John BrekerThe year 2019 marked the 350th anniversary of discovering phosphorus, an element required for all life on Earth and an essential plant nutrient in crop production. Over the years, we have fallen in and out of love with phosphorus as a necessary crop input and an unwanted water pollutant. Through improved knowledge and technologies, we […]