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 warncke@msu.edu. 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 CLC Labs Chuck Darrah 325 Venture Dr. Westerville, OH 43081 614-888-1663 Ag Source Soil and Forage Lab Steve Peterson 196 N. Cecil street Bonduel, WI 54107 715-758-2178 Litchfield Analytical Services Stan Force 535 Marshall St. P.O. box 457 Litchfield, MI 49252 517-542-2915 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 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