Nitrogen Testing

We do pre-sidedress nitrate testing on a number of customers.  People seem especially concerned when there are conditions that might cause nitrogen loss.  Today we were sampling for nitrogen in the Illinois River bottoms.  Protocols are different, so sampling is entirely separate from the regular soil sampling we do.  Some people have the test done in anticipation of adding some nitrogen to what has already been applied.  Others just want to see what is going on with the nitrogen in any given year.  I think there is some comparison to spring and fall applied.  I appreciate the customers who have us do nitrogen testing because I always learn something from the experience.