The wording in the source

Timing

• shall be soil sampled at least once in every five years

  Section 6.03(c)

Who it applies to

• For all other farming operations subject to this rule, all fields receiving mechanical application of manure, agricultural wastes, or fertilizer shall be soil sampled

  Section 6.03(c)

• Compliance with the Required Agricultural Practices Rule is required if a person:

  Section 3.1 (followed by the thresholds (a) to (g))

Outside the rule

• All Certified Small Farm Operations as defined in Section 4 of this rule and all permitted Medium and Large Farm Operations managing manure, agricultural wastes, or fertilizer for use as nutrient sources shall implement a field-by-field … nutrient management plan consistent with the requirements of the USDA NRCS Nutrient Management Practice Code 590 or other equivalent standards approved by the Secretary.

  Section 6.03(a) (ellipsis marks footnote marker 20)

• (b) farms on a parcel or parcels of land greater than 50 acres used for the preparation, tilling, fertilization, planting, protection, irrigation, and harvesting of annual cropland where fertilizer, manure, or agricultural wastes are mechanically applied to said parcel or parcels; or

  Section 4.1(b) (4.1(a) sets the livestock numbers, 4.1(c) the same 50 acres for vegetable production)

Laboratory and analysis

• using modified Morgan’s extractant or other equivalent standards approved by the Secretary.

  Section 6.03(c)

• Records of soil analysis, manure or other agricultural waste application, and fertilizer applications shall be maintained on the farm for a period five years and provided to the Secretary upon request.

  Section 6.03(c)

In force

• (Effective November 23, 2018)

  Title page

The wording in the source

Timing

• Take samples before lime, fertilizer, or manure are added.

  How to Take a Soil Sample, opening

Method

• The area to be sampled should be as uniform as possible in terms of soil type and cropping and fertilizing history.

  Where to sample

• For practical purposes it should be an area you expect to fertilize as a unit.

  Where to sample

• Collect a number of cores or slices by walking in a zig-zag pattern over the area.

  Take a good sample

Depth

• Sampling depth should be 4 to 6 inches deep for lawns, turf, or other perennial sod, or tillage depth (usually 6 –10 inches) for annually tilled crops.

  Choose one of the following tools, soil probe or auger

Cores

• Consider 10 cores as the minimum for home gardens and lawns up to 10,000 square feet in size.

  Take a good sample

• Larger areas should be represented by at least 15 to 20 samples.

  Take a good sample