April 4, 2001

To: Field Crops Agents and County Extension Offices.

From: Darryl Warncke

Re:FSA Approved Soil Test Labs

In the past I conducted soil sample exchange with soil testing labs serving Michigan. The purpose was to determine whether or not a lab was providing reliable soil test results for use in FSA cost sharing programs. In 1999 a national soil sample exchange program was initiated under the sponsorship of the Soil Science Society of America and the Soil and Plant Analysis Council. Hence, I discontinued my sample exchange program. The national program is called the North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) program. There are about 160 labs participating. In this NAPT program five soil samples are sent to participating labs once each quarter. The test results are compiled and statistically analyzed by the program coordinator. A report is sent back to each lab indicating their test values along with the standard test values. If the lab test values are more than 2 standard deviation units away from the standard test value, the lab test value is flagged as being outside the acceptable range. Hence, this program provides the

labs very good feedback on how they are doing.

There is a provision within the NAPT program for test results of a lab to be sent

to an approval agency within a state, such as Michigan. Each lab that wants to

be approved in a given state or states must request that their results be sent to

that state or states. The Michigan FSA office through Pat Turkington is in the

process of formalizing such an arrangement with the NAPT program coordinator

and participating labs.

Until the FSA receives test results for participating soil test labs the attached list

of soil test labs serving Michigan will be used as the list of approved labs.

If you have questions or inquiries about other labs contact me, 517-355-0210 or

.

cc: Pat Turkington, FSA

2002 List

LIST OF SOIL TESTING LABS THAT SERVE MICHIGAN and

Participate in the North American Proficiency Testing Program (NAPT)

Soil test results from these labs should be acceptable for FSA cost sharing programs.

Nutrient recommendations must be based on MSU recommendations.

Agri-Labs, Inc.

Rodney Williams

405 Buck Road

Coldwater, MI 49036

517-238-4116

Ag Source Soil and Forage Lab

Steve Peterson

196 N. Cecil street

Bonduel, WI 54107

715-758-2178

A & L Great lakes laboratories, Inc.

Lois Parker

3505 Conestoga Drive

Fort Wayne, IN 46808-4413

219-483-4759

Belmond Labs, Inc.

C.L. Swart

1245 Highway 69

Belmond, IA 50421

515-444-3384

Brookside Lab, Inc.

Greg Meyer

308 S. Main Street

New Knoxville, OH 45871

419-753-2448

Calmar Soil Testing

Susan Edgar

130 S. State Street

Westerville, OH 43081

614-523-1005

CLC Labs

Chuck Darrah

325 Venture Dr.

Westerville, OH 43081

614-888-1663

Litchfield Analytical Services

Stan Force

535 Marshall St.

P.O. box 457

Litchfield, MI 49252

517-542-2915

Logan Labs

Susan Shaner

184 W. Main St.

Russells Point, OH 43348

937-842-6100

Mowers Soil testing Plus, Inc.

Steve Weidman

117 E. Main Street

Toulon, IL 61483

309-286-2761

MSU Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab

A81 Plant & soil Sciences Bldg

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 48824-1325

517-355-0218

NaChurs/ Balance Labs

421 Leader Street

Marion, OH 43302

740-382-5701 Ext 221

Spectrum Analytical

Vern Pabst

P.O. Box 639

Washington Court House, OH 43160

740-335-1562

Sure-Tech Laboratories

Bill Shakal

2435 Kentucky Ave., Bldg 9

Indianapolis, IN 46221

317-243-1502

4/4/2001