Soil Sample Testing

Soil Sample Testing

Start Your Soil Test

Soil sample bags are available at the Chippewa County Extension office, but you may use your own bags if preferred. Soil test packets, including sample bags and submission forms, are available for pickup at our office.

Once your sample is collected, mail your soil sample, completed submission form, and payment directly to the lab for testing. Test results will be sent directly to you by mail or email.

The resources below provide testing costs, standard and optional analyses, sampling guidelines, submission forms, and a sample soil test report. Postage is approximately $11.00 for a USPS Small Flat Rate Box, which holds up to two soil sample bags.

For more information, visit the UW Soil and Forage Lab:
https://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/soil-samples/

General Collection Instructions

If you have not done so already, please pick up a soil test submission form from the Chippewa County Extension office or print one yourself. Fill out the form this must be included in the box when mailing your soil sample.

From each area to be sampled – remove any overlying mulch, compost or sod. Soil samples should be collected from the top 5-7 inches of soil. Collect approximately one cup of soil (total) with a clean trowel or shovel from four random locations (all in the area you want sampled), or ten random locations if you are using a soil probe – which you can borrow from the Extension Office.

Place these four or ten soil samples collected from your area you want tested into a clean plastic container and mix them together thoroughly. Samples from different areas should not be mixed together. Remember, the sample should only contain soil and no organic matter (you want to test the soil, not the mulch or sod).

Soil from each area you want analyzed should be placed in a heavy-duty plastic or soil sample bag provided by the Extension Office for analysis.

Mail your completed submission form, soil sample, and payment directly to the lab for testing. Test results will be sent to you by mail or email once the analysis is complete.