How many fields can a one-person soil sampling business sample in a year?
Field time is the main limitation for soil sampling in the Northern Great Plains, with about two-thirds of the sampling being done in the fall after harvest and before freeze-up and one-third in the spring before planting. In an average fall and spring period there are about 40 suitable field days to take soil samples. In a 10 to 12-hour day about 20 fields can be sampled, consisting of 15 cores per field for a total of 300 soil cores. This is if the fields are within a relatively close proximity, e.g. 20 miles (30 km). Consider hiring the services of a third-party soil sampling business. Having accurate soil test results can help formulate adequate while not excessive rates of fertilizer to be applied to individual fields. This allows growers to maximize their net income and minimize addition of excess nutrients.
