Writer: Lorri Jones, 281-855-5620, LJones@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Wayne Thompson, 281-855-5600, WHThompson@ag.tamu.edu
HOUSTON – Texas Cooperative Extension kicked off the Southeast Texas Soil Sample Testing Campaign this month in Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Orange, Montgomery, Polk and San Jacinto counties.
Through Dec. 1, residents in these counties can submit soil samples from properties used for agricultural purposes at a reduced cost of $6. The normal cost is $10. Samples for residential gardening or commercial landscaping are not eligible under the campaign.
“Some landowners live in the Greater Houston area where they work during the week, but have agricultural acreage in an adjoining county,” said Wayne Thompson, Extension agent for agriculture in Harris County. “As long as the person submitting the samples is a resident of one of these counties, their soil samples can be from any land used for agricultural purposes.”
Extension offers soil testing as a regular service through Texas A&M University System’s Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory. Thompson said Extension conducts the testing campaign to promote the practice of soil testing as a way to improve agricultural producers’ accuracy in fertilization practices, based on soil sample results
To download instructions for testing from the Web, residents in the selected counties can visit http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/anr/docs/tamu/20061201_soil.pdf , or call Thompson at 281-855-5600 for more information.
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