Free soil testing program

The Clinton County Cooperative Extension Service and The Clinton County Soil Conservation District are partnering to offer free soil tests to producers in Clinton County. The program has a limited number of free soil tests available and will be on a first come, first served basis. Each producer will receive three free soil tests through the program. All other soil tests will be the normal fee of $7.00.

Soil probes and sample bags are available to all producers at the Extension Office; producers are encouraged to allow the samples to air dry before bringing them into the Extension Office. Information needed for the report will be the previous crop grown, primary crop to be grown, and agricultural practices, such as, no-till, tillage, pasture renovation, and soil drainage. One commonly overlooked but important part of sampling is depth. Nutrients tend to accumulate at the soil surface.

This stratification is due to past broadcast fertilizer applications and decomposition of plant residue. Because there are higher concentrations of nutrients at the soil surface, soil test values usually go down as the sample depth is increased. To get accurate and consistent (between different years) samples must be taken to the following depths for these areas: No-till or reduced tillage, lawns, and turf grass, sample to a depth of three to four inches.

For tilled area sample to the depth of the tillage tool, usually si to eight inches.

A composite sample should be no less than 10 core samples and should not represent more than 20 acres unless in situations where soils, past management, and cropping history are quite uniform.

Put the cores in a clean plastic bucket, allow them to air dry and mix thoroughly before bringing them in to the office.

Remember the greatest potential for error in soil testing is in taking the sample. For more information on soil testing or about the free soil testing program, please call the Extension o\office at 606-387-5404.

Upcoming meetings

Private pesticide training

The Clinton County Extension Service will host a private pesticide applicator training meeting, Tuesday, February 17th at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The meetings will be held at the Clinton County Extension Office. The meetings will cover information necessary to obtain a private pesticide applicator’s license. The private pesticide cards are valid for three years and are required to purchase restricted use pesticides.

Please call the Extension Office at 606-387-5404 for more information.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Tobacco Good Agriculture Practices meeting

The Clinton, Cumberland, and Russell County Extension Offices are hosting a Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) meeting on Thursday, February 19, at 5:00 p.m. CST at the SKRECC office in Jamestown, KY. UK Tobacco Specialist Dr. Bob Pearce will be conducting the GAP training. Please call the Extension Office at 606-387-5404 if you plan to attend.

Time to think spring weed

control

The time to start thinking about spring weed control in pastures and hay fields is fast approaching. A weed management in grass pastures and hay fields meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, at 5:30 p.m. CST at the SKRECC office in Albany. UK Extension specialist Dr. J.D. Green will present on weed control options in grasslands. Producers looking to control weeds this spring in pastures and hay fields should try to attend this informative meeting. A meal will be provided, so please call the Extension Office if you plan to attend.

Farm Bill

meeting slated

The Lake Cumberland Area Extension Offices are partnering to host a Farm Bill meeting on Thursday February 5 at 10 a.m. CST. The meeting will take place at the Russell County Extension Office located at 2688 S Hwy 127 in Russell Springs, KY. UK Extension Specialist Greg Halich will be on hand to discuss the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) vs Price Loss Coverage (PLC) decision. Please call the Clinton County Extension Office for more information at 606-387-5404.