Q.Soil Health & Amendments
How do I read a soil test report?
A.
Focus on five core values: pH (target 6.0-7.0 for most crops), organic matter percent (4%+ is good), and available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and the cation exchange capacity (CEC). The lab will rate each as Low/Medium/High and recommend amendments if needed. Reading order: pH first (everything else fails if pH is wrong), then OM, then nutrients.
State extension labs provide soil tests for $10-20 and include crop-specific recommendations. Most farm soil-test problems are pH related — lime is the highest-leverage amendment for acidic soils.