Soil Fertility Testing

Soil testing is a great option for gardeners and homeowners to make sure your lawn and garden soil is being as productive as possible. One soil test will tell you what nutrients your soil needs and how to apply them. Luckily we have soil testing kits available for purchase. Each kit has a soil sampling bag, sampling instructions, and paid postage included. Results will be mailed to you about two weeks after being sent. The kits are $50 each.

Sampling Instructions
Lawn care brochure

Water Testing

We have recently begun to offer water testing for agricultural water uses. We offer a few different kinds of water test.

• Nitrate Nitrogen Test – $30.00
• Mineral Package – $45.00
  • This package includes analysis of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, boron, copper, iron, zinc, sodium, aluminum, and manganese
• Livestock Water Package – $65.00
  • This package includes everything in the mineral package, total hardness, sulfate, pH, chlorine, and nitrate nitrogen

Sampling Directions:

1. Open the faucet and let the water run for five minutes. Do not treat the water before sampling.
2. Fill the sample container 3/4 full of water. Screw cap on very tightly to prevent leaks.
3. Return the sample to the District within 24 hours of collection. If the sample cannot be returned within 24 hours, refrigerate the sample.

If you need private well water testing visit the Boone County Health Department for more information.

Additional questions on our testing programs can be directed to Heather VanTilburg at heather.vantilburg@usda.gov or feel free to give our office a call.

We accept cash or check at the time of purchase. Thank you!