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Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Testing, Interpretation and Recommendations

Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Testing

On 26 February 1937, the 32nd President of the USA, President Franklin D Roosevelt, wrote to all State Governors in the USA. In his letter, he made the case for effective soil management, including the powerful phrase:
“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”

Are you struggling with growing nutrient dense crops on your farm or in your garden? Is your lawn and landscape the talk of the neighborhood but for all the wrong reasons? Maybe your raised beds, pots and containers just will not grow. Look to the soil for all your answers and get a Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Test Today!

The secret to nutrient dense production and thriving lawns and gardens is in the soil. Specifically, the bioavailable nutrients and most importantly the living microbes which cycle the nutrients into bioavailable forms for plants to use. Building a strong soil food web and ensuring that all the nutrients are balanced in the soil is the key to growing nutrient dense crops, lush green lawns and vibrant flowers and landscapes. Performing a Rocky Mountain BioAg® soil sample test is the key to knowing what your soil is lacking and what nutrients you have an abundance of. Once you receive your Rocky Mountain BioAg® soil analysis a plan can be developed to start the balancing process to achieve the results you have always dreamed for.

Rocky Mountain BioAg® uses International Ag Labs for all of our soil sampling and testing. IAL is the leader in regenerative and biological soil testing for gardens, agriculture, lawns and landscapes. The soil reports that IAL provides are easy to understand and provide growers with a perfect picture of what nutrients are bioavailable in the soil and how your soil life is doing. The test of choice for Dr. Reams and International Ag Labs is the weak acid test better known as Morgan Extract testing. The Morgan Extract test method uses a chemical extract that was patterned after the exudates that roots give off, measuring all major nutrients and micronutrients, including phosphorus. Developed in the 1930s and 40s by renowned expert Dr. M.F. Morgan at the University of Connecticut. Improve your gardens and crops with precise results and choose Rocky Mountain BioAg® for soil sample testing! The Morgan Extract test more accurately reveals what the plant can utilize from the soil or what nutrients are biologically available. Not a mining report which is provided by most soil testing companies today! The test closely relates to the visual symptom's which plants display when growing. Here is a perfect example of the Morgan Extract test. Plants may be grown directly above a limestone bed but show calcium deficiency. The Morgan Extract test would show a low reading of bioavailable calcium even though there is plenty of calcium in the soil. This allows you to address the biological side of the soil to allow the calcium to be available for the plants' usage and fix the deficiency! The weak acid testing method has stood the test of time producing reliable and very accurate results. Dr. Reams built on the testing methods determining the ideal nutrient levels and ratios that we use as benchmarks today to grow the most nutrient dense crops possible all while building living organic soil! Rocky Mountain BioAg® believes that when the soil is balanced according to the available nutrients it produces an abundance of nutrient dense, high-quality produce!

Why Take Soil Samples

A soil sample is the best representation of the average soil conditions your plants/crops are going to encounter during a growing season. Soil samples are key in determining the quality of your harvest. When sampling avoid problem areas in your garden or field unless you specifically want to test those areas and fertilize or amend them separately. Additional tests will need to be purchased if problem areas are tested. Regardless of the size of your sampling area, try to get 10-15 probes or cores that represent the entire garden or field as your sample to submit for analysis. If the area being sampled is very mixed with both sand and clay sections etc., sample all areas to gain an average of the field for best results.

Best Time to Take Soil Samples

Anytime is better than not taking a sample. Fall or the beginning of the dormant season is best because it allows time to secure the nutrients and amendments your soil needs. If you apply the fertilizer and amendments in the fall it gives the minerals more time to digest in the soil before the growing season. The next best option is just after the spring thaw. Spring sampling still gives you time to get the soil to the lab and get the proper inputs needed for your soil before planting. Consistent soil testing followed by appropriate fertilizer and amendment applications always provides a return on your soil sampling investment.

Soil testing is the most important part of growing any crop to its fullest genetic potential. This is why we suggest soil testing for gardens and farm soil testing. We have developed a way to make this very easy to accomplish with the Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Test system. We have four options to choose from the Rocky Mountain BioAg® Basic, Basic PLUS, Standard and Complete Soil Tests. 

Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Tests Include

  • Shipping of soil test kit to your desired location.
  • Ziploc soil bag for sample
  • Soil sample field data sheet with precise and thorough instructions on best time to take soil samples, why take soil samples, and how to take soil samples.
  • Soil test purchased.
  • Shipping box with pre-paid shipping label affixed to the box. Just drop it in the mail after sampling.
  • Emailed results.
  • You can then choose to receive the test only or purchase one of the Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Test Interpretations.

I am ready to take a soil sample. Is there soil testing near me or should I do the soil sampling myself and purchase a Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Test? If I purchase a soil test from Rocky Mountain BioAg®, how do I take the soil sample? 

How to Take Soil Samples

1. Tools
Use a clean shovel, trowel, knife, spoon, or soil sampling probe, stainless steel or plastic is preferred. Avoid rusty tools as rust may affect the soil test results.

2. Collect
Take 10-15 cores from a soil probe or 1-inch slices from a shovel face from ground level down to a depth of 6 inches for most crops. Place collected samples in a clean plastic pail. Combine samples thoroughly with a hand trowel. If testing for trees or other deep-rooted crops, sample should be taken at a depth of 8-10 inches.

3. Bag
Using a measuring cup scoop 1 1/2 cups of combined soil into the provided zip-lock bag. Make sure all air is removed from bag and closed securely for transportation.

4. Send
Place the soil collection bag and the completed Rocky Mountain BioAg® soil test order form for gardens or field data sheet for farms into the provided USPS box with pre-paid shipping label and secure the closure. Place in a USPS receptacle for delivery to the testing labs.

5. Test
We will email your test results when they are complete. If you need test interpretation purchase the Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Test Interpretation with recommendations from our website. If you have purchased the interpretation your recommendations will be emailed with your test.

The tests have been taken, they have been sent off and my farm soil test is in, now what?

Once you have your farm soil analysis or garden soil test results what do they mean or can Rocky Mountain BioAg® provide me with a soil test interpretation and recommendations? Yes, we can! We have been balancing soil and building soil health on farms, gardens, lawns and landscapes for over 15 years and have developed a system to efficiently and effectively balance and build soil health. You can choose to take an aggressive approach at balancing your soil or a more relaxed approach to balancing your soil to achieve the results you are looking for and we are here to help! We have three options to choose from for soil test interpretations.

Rocky Mountain BioAg® Soil Test Interpretation Options

We have been reading soil samples for over 15 years and making recommendations to balance soils organically and biologically. Rocky Mountain BioAg® would love to be your trusted source for soil testing and interpretation. No matter if you are looking for a farm soil test or soil analysis for gardens, lawns or landscapes Rocky Mountain BioAg® is your trusted partner!

If you have questions about the programs, we offer do not hesitate to contact us at soil@rockymountainbioag.com or call us at (877) 874-2334 and we are happy to answer any questions you may have!