The Hoosier Farmer

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), in partnership with organizations statewide and the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP), is now accepting applications for the Indiana Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program.

The soil sampling program is a no cost initiative to expand the use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice. Soil sampling provides an assessment of the soil’s fertility, which can be helpful in making fertilizer application recommendations, assessing available nutrients over time, increasing farmer profitability and enhancing environmental protection by reducing the risk of nutrient loss.

“By understanding what the soil actually needs, farmers could avoid buying unnecessary fertilizers or amendments, which can help reduce costs over time,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Eligible landowners will be prioritized by following criteria:

• Pastures, hay and specialty crops located within Indiana’s portion of the Mississippi River Basin;
• Acreage enrolled (i.e., 50 acres or less); and
• Fields that have never been soil sampled or fields that haven’t been sampled regularly (i.e., within the last three years).
• This program excludes hobby gardens and private lawns.

ISDA is accepting registrations until Nov. 6, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. Interested landowners can sign-up online at ISDA’s website (https://www.in.gov/isda/divisions/soil-conservation/indiana-soil-sampling-program/)  or by reaching out to Nutrient Stewardship Program Manager Ophelia Norman at soilsampling@isda.in.gov. 

Contact Editor

Robert Herrington

(317) 692-7871

RHerrington@infb.org