Frequently asked questions

  • Precision Land Service proudly serves farmers and businesses throughout Iowa and northwest Missouri. Based in Adel, Iowa, our team has deep knowledge of local soil types, growing conditions, and regulatory requirements specific to the Midwest agricultural region. We're committed to bringing our expertise to clients across the broader Midwest when project scope and value align. Our willingness to travel for larger projects means that whether you're managing 500 acres in Guthrie County or overseeing a multi-thousand acre operation in neighboring states, you can access the same unbiased, results-driven precision agriculture consulting. Contact us to discuss how our expertise can benefit your operation, regardless of location.

  • Soil sampling services vary depending on your acreage and analysis needs. Most customers can get started with our precision soil sampling program for about $12/ac. Contact us to get a personalized quote.

  • Our soil sampling includes creating sampling plans, collecting and analyzing samples at Midwest Laboratory, preparing fertility analysis with initial yield goals and generating N-P-K-S and lime prescriptions for a corn-soybean rotation. Volume discounts are available, and prescriptions can be reused in future years at no additional cost, if no changes are made; modifications to existing prescriptions are billed at $2.25/acre (with volume discounts available). Laboratory analysis covers basic fertility parameters plus sulfur, with optional micronutrient testing for an additional fee.

  • The turnaround time (TOT) for soil sampling results typically ranges from 7-10 business days during peak soil sampling season in the fall, when labs experience higher volumes. During the spring sampling period, you can generally expect faster results due to reduced demand at testing facilities.

    To optimize your turnaround time and receive more accurate fertility recommendations, we recommend providing us with calibrated GPS yield data well before your scheduled soil sampling.

    For time-sensitive projects or to discuss expedited sampling options, contact our team directly. We'll work with you to meet your operational timeline and ensure you have the insights needed for informed agronomic decisions before the planting season.

  • The best time for soil sampling in the Midwest depends on several factors unique to your operation, including your workload schedule, available labor resources, tillage plans, and fertilizer application timing. There is no single "perfect" time that works for every operation.

    Both fall and spring soil sampling offer distinct advantages for Midwest growers. Fall sampling (typically September through November) allows you to plan nutrient applications well ahead of spring planting, while spring sampling (March through May) provides data closer to the growing season. The key to accurate, reliable results isn't necessarily which season you choose, it's consistency.

    For the most meaningful year-over-year comparisons and fertility recommendations, we recommend sampling during the same season each time. Whether you choose fall or spring sampling, maintaining that consistent schedule ensures your soil test results remain comparable over time, allowing you to track nutrient trends accurately and make informed agronomic decisions.

    Our team can help you determine the optimal sampling schedule based on your specific operation's needs and crop rotation plans.

  • Precision Land Service offers personalized analysis and recommendations, not a one-size-fits-all approach. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality soil sampling results by following our proven collection protocol where we take multiple cores in a specific pattern for each 2.5 acre grid, not just one spot, to provide a holistic analysis of your entire field.

  • When you work with us, you own 100% of your sample results. We don't lock you into additional purchases and you're free to buy your fertilizer wherever you want, which has led to significant cost savings for many of our clients.

  • Yes, we can use soil samples with complete lab analysis to prepare a spatially-driven valuation of depreciable excess soil fertility when farmland is purchased by an eligible buyer. We will provide you with the analysis, maps, and documentation needed to report excess soil fertility deductions to the IRS.

  • We offer four primary and six “hybrid” soil fertility plans:

    1. Midwest Laboratories Fertility Plan – Research-based recommendations from one of the region's most trusted agricultural testing facilities

    2. Purdue University Fertility Plan – Built on Purdue's extensive agronomic research and proven nutrient management principles

    3. Iowa State University Fertility Plan – Leveraging Iowa State's renowned soil fertility research and Midwest-specific guidelines

    4. "Smart" Removals Plan – A nutrient replacement strategy based on actual crop removal rates and yield data

    Hybrid plans are uniquely created from combinations of the primary plans, described above. Offering our clients 10 different fertility plans provides options for our clients. Farmers select one of our science-driven fertility plans to maximize the fertility applied using their available budget. This precision approach maximizes your return on investment.

    Our team will help you select the fertility plan that best fits your goals, land tenure, and budget.

  • We work with everyone from individual farmers to large agricultural operations.

  • Precision Land Service offers custom solutions as part of the following services:

    • Evaluate depreciable excess soil fertility

    • Collect tissue, manure, and stalk nitrate samples

    • Equipment calibration and technology configuration support

    • Insurance claim-related consulting services

    • Environmental compliance services including air quality inventories, DNR and EPA reporting, and compliance audits

    See a full list of our services.

  • Our custom solutions account for clients' actual input costs and provides you with options that best fit your budget and land ownership or rental longevity. Our unbiased analysis gives you independence from product sales pressures. Since you own the soil sampling results - you are free to purchase your inputs from the most competitive vendor - not just the vendor that did your sampling. Our unbiased results gives you recommendations that are best for your operation - NOT the fertilizer vendor!