Ian,
Just a few observations without much detail.
Soil testing programs need to be based on the goals and objectives of the
grazing operation. For example, my grazing dairy neighbor has many cows on
few acres. He needs to maximize the forage production, and tests every
field every year and treats his fields accordingly. I, on the other hand,
have comparitively few cows on many acres. My fields are certified organic
and my fertilizer program is primarily through hay feeding and manuring as
large scale organic fertilizing is quite expensive. I don't have much need
for soil testing except as a diagnostic tool for problems and occasional
wild hairs. Most folks probably fall somewhere in between.
As for testing labs. Labs have philosophies just as my neighbor and I have
philosophies. The comercial lab that I use is mid west based and is slanted
toward mid west yields and higher nutrient test levels than the land grant
university. The comercial lab results include information that the Land
Grant university does not. I have an old Lotus-123 spreadsheet that converts
soil test results from the comercial lab to Virginia Tech nutrient
application rates. I make soil test result reccomendations accordingly.
Kindest Regards,
Steve
Steve Lucas
Mountain View Farm
Louisa, Virginia
www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/ ruralwri/lucas/home.htm
