Question
I live in Arizona, have garden soil containing a lot of horse manure and would like to know where to get a modestly priced soil test quickly. Thank you.

Answer
Wallace Laboratories in El Segundo, California, notes:'The per capita rate of Soil testing is very low in the Southwestern States.  California has a rate of one test per 2,091 people per year while Arizona has a rate of one test per 958 people per year.'  No wonder you're wondering where to go.

University of Arizona posts a schedule of private Soil Testing facilities in your state with their contact information:

cals.arizona.edu/animalwaste/notebook/labs.html

They do not post the rates, unfortunately.  Unfortunately, being private profit-making ventures, they are going to cost a boatload a money compared to the $20 comprehensive analysis you get in some other states.

By the way, don't you have a Senator running for President?

Soil testing seems to be one of those things your government says you should pick up the tab.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.  It's just that in my book, Soil Testing IS important -- VERY important.  ESPECIALLY with all the anti-Soil Test messages that want you to buy fertilizers for things you don't need.  If you test your Soil, you might find that out.

Capitalism is not supposed to work this way.

OK, I'll shut up now.  I'm sorry you can't get your Soil tested in Arizona for a reasonable American drop in the bucket.  If you live near the New Mexico border, you can go here:

swatlab.nmsu.edu/

The Soil, Water, and Agricultural Testing Laboratory at New Mexico State University lets you order a la carte specific tests.

In Nevada, the Extension Services conduct free tests for pH and salinity.  But for more extensive reports, you'd have to go to a private service.

If you can get to Utah, the Soil Testing Lab at Utah State University runs tests for local extensions: (435) 797-2217.  Salinity tests are recommended due to the region's low rainfall.

California has a premier pest control research program, probably the best in the nation if not the world.  Their Soil Testing work however is elusive.  Individual Coop Extensions at the County level may have a system; it's hard to believe this would not be easier to navigate, but I do not know how you get your Soil tested in California without going to a private high priced facility probably staffed by Nobel Prize in Science winners from Cal Tech and Stanford.

So that's all the bad news for the day.  Government budgets are tight; nobody has money for these things; and Soil Testing is STILL the most important thing you can do.  Given your Manure-laden plot, it is a report that will probably hold some very encouraging data as well as some red flags to correct.  When you're done, you'll have Soil with incredible potential.  Good luck, and thanks for writing.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER