{"id":133112,"date":"2026-09-14T10:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T14:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=133112"},"modified":"2026-09-15T09:08:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T13:08:55","slug":"soil-sampling-program-available-for-hoosier-farmers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2026\/09\/14\/soil-sampling-program-available-for-hoosier-farmers-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil sampling program available for Hoosier farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, in partnership with organizations statewide and the Gulf Hypoxia Program, is now accepting applications for the Indiana Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program.<\/p>\n

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Indiana State Department of Agriculture news release:<\/p>\n

Soil sampling program available for Hoosier farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indianapolis, Indiana (September 14, 2026) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program is a no\u2011cost initiative to expand the use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealthy, nutrient-rich soil is vital to Hoosier farmers and our agricultural industry,\u201d said Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. \u201cI encourage farmers to have their soil sampled and tested to ensure it has the nutrients needed for a strong, productive yield.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The program focuses on soil sampling and testing as a key component, and first step, of developing a plan for nutrient management. Soil sampling provides an assessment of the soil\u2019s 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. The soil sampling project was developed to help further Indiana\u2019s State Nutrient Reduction Strategy efforts.<\/p>\n

“Soil sampling and testing is a very important tool for farmers to use when assessing their soil health,\u201d said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. \u201cBy understanding what the soil actually needs, farmers could avoid buying unnecessary fertilizers or amendments, which can help reduce costs over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eligible landowners will be prioritized by following criteria.<\/p>\n