Whether trying to grow the best forage possible or record-yielding corn or beans, every producer needs the same thing—soil fertility.

And, the only way to know what your soil needs is to do what Extension specialists have been telling producers to do every meeting they ever speak at.

“Everyone needs to soil sample,” Jay Chism, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist, says.

According to Chism, soil sampling is one of the easiest, most important things producers can do.

“Soil sampling, whether in pastures or crop systems is the only way you can determine the nutrient status of fields,” he explains.

Information obtained from soil samples can then be used to aid in building the nutrients back up if they need to be.

“Soil samples can tell you a number of different things but mainly we want to find out the soil pH value as well as levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and manganese,” he explains.

After the nutrient levels are determined the sample will offer recommendations for the plants that are going to be grown.

“With fertilizer prices as high as they are now a $15 soil sample is pretty cheap,” he says.

Some of the equipment needed for soil testing includes:

•A soil sampler or probe

The probe or coring devices can be borrowed from your area Extension office, according to Chism.

•A clean plastic bucket

•A small box or bag

“It is really important that whatever you use to collect your sample in is clean,” Chism explains. “If it would have any type of residue in it it will really throw off your results.”