We asked Danielle Matthews Venable, “What are the benefits of taking soil samples?”
Soil samples are a tool in a grower’s toolbox that can be used to increase efficiency and save money. A soil sample analysis tells me the composition and amount of nutrients available in my soil, which lets me know if there are enough nutrients in the soil to help me reach the yield goal for that crop.
I use a precision agriculture practice called variable rate technology, which tells me the exact amount of fertilizer to apply if more fertilizer is needed to reach the yield goal. Using this tool lowers the risk of over-fertilization. When I can use less fertilizer, I save money and don’t have to worry about applying nutrients incorrectly. Over-applying a single nutrient could tie up other nutrients in the soil, making them unavailable to the plants.
About the Farmer: Danielle Matthews Venable is a fifth-generation farmer at Matthews Family Farms of North Carolina in Yadkin County, which grows corn, wheat, soybeans and barley. She runs the farm’s soil sampling business and is a member North Carolina Farm Bureau’s State Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee.
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I liked how this post shared that variable rate technology allows you to know the exact amount of fertilizer to apply. My friend told me that their soil needs testing. I should advise him to turn to an expert in soil testing to ensure quality work.
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