In anticipation for the end of harvest and getting prepped for the 2024 growing season I thought it might be useful to put together a guide for you to make getting your program started easier and save you some of the guess work.

Sampling

• Start with seeing if you have soil sampling credits with your fertiliser provider, you’ll usually have something available from the previous season just be wary that it is credited from this year’s bill so decide where you’re buying fertilizer from them first. Some fertilizer companies don’t provide soil sampling.
• If above fails, and you are still looking to save a few dollars you can do it yourself. Either make your own sampler or invest in a premade one. Modern sampling apps make bag scanning and submission very easy these days.
• If you’d rather get someone else to do it, you can arrange it through your fertiliser provider or an independent mob like precision soil tech. Prices as follows:

• It is important to note these prices are purely for an independent cost of sampling. If you’re an existing customer (of the fertiliser companies) these prices may be different, or you might be able
  to negotiate something.
• CSBP use various contractors for their soil sampling ranging from $7-20 for sub and mid soils and $28-33.50 for topsoil.

Testing
What to test:

• Top Soil (0-10 cm) – N, P, PBI, K, S, OC, pH & EC
• Mid Soil (10-20 cm) – pH, K and N. If you have high levels of K in topsoil, then no need to test.
• Sub Soil (20-30 cm) – pH, K and N. If you have high levels of K in topsoil, then no need to test.
• The following table is a guide to CSBP, Nutrien and APAL tests that align most closely with above requirements along with comprehensive tests for comparison.

• In the event of not requiring K tests in mid and sub soils this would be make the cost 23.35+GST for CSBP, $25.20+GST for APAL and $35+GST for Nutrien.
• Again, it is important to note these prices are purely for an independent cost of testing. If you’re an existing customer (of the fertiliser companies) these prices may be different, or you might be able to negotiate something.
  Bearing in mind and saving they will probably just tack onto the cost of your fertilizer.

Hopefully this information is enough to help you figure out the best option for you to sample and test your soil in 2024. If you do have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call, I am more than happy to analyse any tests results and provide an independent recommendation.