Soil and forage testing companies
To test the nutrient status of a soil and create a nutrient management plan, you must collect a soil sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis. On this page, you’ll find a list of companies that offer soil-testing services and possibly forage analyses.
The cost for a simple pH, P, K and Mg soil test is around £18–24 per sample, but can vary depending on what other tests are included. The addition of soil organic matter, as required for some sustainable farming schemes, can add between £6–£16 to the cost.
Benefits of soil testing
- Increased productivity through identification of soil or nutrient factors that may be limiting plant growth
- Increased profitability through using fertilisers more efficiently – right fertiliser, right place, right time
Benefits of forage testing
- Increased profitability through understanding nutritional value of forage to allow for efficient expenditure on feeds
- Increased productivity through improved livestock feed efficiency
Laboratories where you can send your soil and forage samples
See below a list of laboratories that will analyse soil samples; they may also provide forage analysis.
Most UK soil laboratories are members of the Professional Agricultural Analysis Group (PAAG). Members of the group perform proficiency tests (often called ring tests) carried out by Wageningen University that guarantee analysis from any member can be trusted.
Most UK forage laboratories are members of the Forage Analysis Assurance Group. Members of the group perform annual proficiency tests to guarantee that results can be trusted.
Company | Location* | Phone | Membership | Sample type |
---|---|---|---|---|
AFBI Hillsborough | Northern Ireland (Co Down) | 028 9268 1583 | FAA Group | Forage |
AgroChemex | Essex | 01206 281703 | PAAG | Soil |
Anglian Soil Analysis Ltd | Lincolnshire | 01205 460590 | PAAG | Soil |
Eurofins Agro Testing UK | Suffolk | 01902 955300 | PAAG | Soil and Forage |
Fast LLP | Kent | 01795 533225 | PAAG | Soil |
Hill Court Farm Research | Gloucestershire | 01452 840693 | PAAG | Soil |
James Hutton Limited | Scotland (Dundee City) | 01382 568568 | Soil. Forage TBC | |
Lancrop Laboratories | Yorkshire | 01759 305116 | PAAG | Soil and Forage |
NRM Laboratories | Berkshire | 01344 886338 | PAAG | Soil |
OMEX Agriculture | Norfolk | 01553 760011 | PAAG | Soil |
Richard Austin Agriculture Ltd | Lincolnshire | 01205 722755 | PAAG | Soil |
*Locations are not a reflection of service coverage. Check company websites for more information.
Companies that will collect your soil and forage samples and have them analysed for you
See below a list of companies that will collect your soil samples and have them analysed by a laboratory for you; they may also provide forage analysis.
Company | Location* | Phone | Sample type |
---|---|---|---|
4R Reassurance | Goucestershire | 0345 64 64 314 | Soil and Forage |
ACS Farm Image | Kent | 01795 410854 | Soil and Forage |
ADAS | Cheshire | 0333 014 2950 | Soil and Forage |
AGRI SOIL | Northamptonshire | 0770 381 8093 | Soil |
Agrii | Gloucestershire | 08456 073322 | Soil and Forage |
Assured Agronomy Ltd | Lincolnshire | 07971 671115 | Soil |
British Sugar plc (Limex) | Peterborough | 0800 090 2376 | Soil |
C A Agricultural Services | Cambridgeshire | 01487 829 080 | Soil |
Charlotte Allen Soil Samples | Derbyshire | 07786 158837 | Soil and Forage |
Cobb Agri | Herefordshire | 01981 259995 | Soil and Forage |
Davies Organic Consultancy | Cornwall | 07968 328647 | Soil and Forage |
Field Science | South West (Bristol) | 0117 985 8580 | Soil and Forage |
ForFarmers UK Ltd. | Suffolk | 0330 678 0982 | Soil and Forage |
G.O.Davies (Westbury) Ltd | Shropshire | 01743 884717 | Soil and Forage |
Joseph Morton's | Northern Ireland | 028 9261 0485 | Soil, Forage TBC |
Keith Mount Liming Ltd | Suffolk | 01284 811729 | Soil |
Kingshay | South West (Somerset) | 01458 851555 | Soil and Forage |
Mole Valley Farmers Ltd | South West (Devon) | 01769 576232 | Soil and Forage |
NUVetNA | Nottinghamshire | 0115 9516447 | Forage |
NWF Agriculture Ltd | Cheshire | 0800 262397 | Soil and Forage |
OMEX Agricultural | Norfolk | 01553 760011 | Soil |
Origin Fertilisers (UK) Ltd | Hertfordshire | 01763 255500 | Soil |
Pearce Seeds Ltd | South West (Dorset) | 01935 811400 | Soil |
RHIZA | Gloucestershire | 03300 949150 | Soil and Forage |
Rumenco | Staffordshire | 0800 833675 | Forage |
SAC Consulting | Cumbria | 01539 566226 | Soil and Forage |
Sciantec | Yorkshire | 01757 242400 | Soil and Forage |
Shepherd Seeds | Lincolnshire | 01673 308492 | Soil and Forage |
SOCOTEC UK Ltd | Staffordshire | 01283 554400 | Soil |
Soil Fertility Services Ltd | Norfolk | 01366 384899 | Soil and Forage |
SOYL | Berkshire | 01635 204190 | Soil |
Terrafarmer | Yorkshire | 01347 844132 | Soil and Forage |
Timac Agro UK | Hertfordshire | 01582 958444 | Soil and Forage |
Trouw Nutrition GB | Derbyshire | 01335 341100 | Forage |
*Locations are not a reflection of service coverage. Check company websites for more information.
We have endeavoured to include all UK companies who offer these services on this page. If your company offers these services but you are not included on this list please contact info@ahdb.org.uk.
Useful links
AHDB’s Nutrient Management Guide
How to measure soil nutrients, pH and organic matter
Information on soil management
How to calculate the dry matter (DM) of forage
Information on grass and forage management
Find out more about the Forage Analysis Assurance Group, including sampling guidance
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