The following diagnostic services are available through MSU Extension - Bay County. Details on how to collect and submit samples, as well as the costs associated with each of these services, can be found on the Diagnostic Services webpage.
- Plant Health Analysis
- Plant / Weed Identification
- Insect, Spider, Tick or Other Arthropod Identification
- Nematode Analysis
- Verticillium Analysis (potato soil or stems only)
Soil Testing
Home Lawn/Garden Soil Sample
You may come into our office to purchase a self-mailer kit. The cost is $25 which includes the shipping and handling for it to be sent to the Soil and Plant Nutrient Lab on Campus.
- OR -
You can visit our site www.msusoiltest.com and order a self-mailer kit - follow instructions on the kit.
Soil Test for Field/Crops (Food Plots)
You may come into our office to purchase a soil test box in which we will provide you with the box and the information sheet that you will fill out and send in with the box. The soil boxes for farm/field crops do NOT include shipping - you purchase the box for $12 from us and then you must pay the shipping when you send out your soil.
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You can submit a sample directly to the lab, by enclosing approximately two cups of soil in a zip type sandwich bag. Enclose a check made out to MSU for $12 per sample (Standard test).
Fill out an information sheet Field/Crop Soil (pdf) and send along with your sample to:
Please note: At this time, payment for services or purchases by debit or credit card is not available. If you come into the office to purchase something, we can take cash or check. Checks can be made payable to Michigan State University. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Unfortunately, no. The only information a soil test will provide concerns the nutrients and the acidity of the soil. If you suspect a toxin may be present in your soil, you should seek out an independent laboratory capable of testing for specific toxins.
For more common questions click here
