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A cost-effective way to crank up your composite soil samples

The most common soil sampling practice is to collect one composite sample per field. This article will describe a low-cost way to take your composite samples to a new level.

An appropriate composite is based on 12-20 sub-samples or “cores” collected from the most productive areas of a field. (See the sidebar for more specific instructions.) These are usually mid-slopes. For this one primary composite sample, you want to avoid collecting from hill tops, low spots and saline areas. This mid-slope composite will help you select an appropriate fertilizer blend and rate that supports those most productive areas.

However, by avoiding the low-producing areas – the hill tops, the low spots – you may be missing critical insights to boost yield potential in those areas.

You can’t blend samples from low-producing areas into your primary mid-slope composite. The resulting average will produce soil test results that are almost useless. So you need more samples. The extra cost of a second, or third, targeted composite from that field may reveal some interesting issues that could be solved, or at least improved, with localized management.

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Breakfast on the Farm - August 23, 2025

Video: Breakfast on the Farm - August 23, 2025


Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Location: Norfolk County Fairgrounds & Schooley Orchards/Apple Hill Lavender
Start your morning with a delicious farm-fresh breakfast and experience life on the farm — hands-on, up close, and unforgettable.
After breakfast at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds, take a guided tour of Schooley Orchards/Apple Hill Lavender. Stroll through apple orchards and lavender fields, meet local farmers, and discover how your food is grown and raised right here in Ontario.
What you can look forward to:
  • Local farm-fresh breakfast
  • Meet and learn about farm animals
  • Interactive exhibits and games
  • Farm equipment showcase
  • Self-guided tours through orchards and lavender fields
  • Fun and educational activities for all ages
This is a unique opportunity to connect with local agriculture, learn where your food comes from, and enjoy a memorable family outing.