California specialty crop testing

Accredited Quality. 48-Hour Results. Lower Cost.

When plant tissue results miss the fertigation window, the opportunity to act is gone.

Specialty crop testing runs on a tight seasonal calendar. A slow turnaround can mean missing the application window. Fortunately, slow turnaround isn’t something California growers and advisers have to accept as the cost of doing business.

That’s because AgSource is built differently. As the world’s first accredited soil testing facility, our Lincoln, Nebraska laboratory has set the standard for reliable results for decades. Our centralized, high-throughput facilities run samples in large parallel batches with automated instrumentation and rigorous QC protocols — scale doesn’t mean shortcuts. Results in your portal typically within 48 hours of receipt for standard soil and plant tissue samples at a cost lower than most regional labs.

From field to results — faster than you'd expect

Monday AM

Sample pulled in field

Monday PM

Package shipped

Wednesday

2-day shipping to lab

Wed-Thu

Sample processed in lab

Friday

Results emailed and in portal

The AgSource Advantage

Our centralized, high-throughput model is built to deliver what California’s specialty crop season demands.

QUALITY

Accredited. Rigorous.
No shortcuts.

Automated instrumentation and rigorous QC protocols. Scale doesn’t mean shortcuts — our accreditation backs that up.

TURNAROUND TIME

Plant tissue results typically in 48 hours of receipt

Large parallel batches compress the analytical cycle — even with shipping from California to our Nebraska lab.

PRICE

Up to 30% less than regional labs

The same structural efficiency that speeds turnaround passes through directly to per-sample pricing.

PEOPLE

Agronomists who speak your language

Our team understands specialty crop systems — grapes, tree nuts, vegetables. Real support from people who know the work.

What this means for you

Decisions made within the same fertigation cycle, not the next one.

More frequent in-season sampling without budget pain — better-tuned fertility, less guesswork.

Convenient, timely reporting by email or portal.

Certifications

Our Lincoln, Nebraska, laboratory was the first accredited soil testing facility in the world and was the first to introduce electronic data transfer technology. Today, we continue the high standard of reliable test results and superior customer service established long ago.

To ensure reliable results, we routinely evaluate our performance with internal controls, including check samples, client duplicate samples and re-analysis of archived samples. AgSource Laboratories in Lincoln maintains certifications from:

Soil Science Society of America (NAPT-PAP)
Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency Program (ALP)
Laboratory Methods

Testing Services for Specialty Crops

SOIL

Diagnostic Package

Soil pH, Buffer pH, Soluble Salt, Organic Matter, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Nitrate, Sulfur, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Boron, CEC, Base Saturation

Soluble Nutrients (saturated paste)

EC, SAR, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Boron, Chloride, Phosphate, Bicarbonate, Ammonium, Nitrate, Sulfate, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Silicon

PLANT

Complete Leaf Analysis

Total Nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfur, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Boron, Aluminum

Complete Petiole Analysis

Nitrate Nitrogen, Phosphate Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, Sulfur, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Boron, Aluminum

SOIL HEALTH

Routine Package

Diagnostic Soil Analysis + Soil Health Score, CO₂ Respiration, Organic C:N Ratio, Water Soluble Analysis: Carbon, Total Nitrogen, Organic Nitrogen, Nitrate-N, Ammoniacal-N

Additional tests

Carbon (Total, Organic, Inorganic), C:N Ratio, Complete Bulk Density

Ready to get started?

Reach out to our team to learn more about testing services, turnaround times, and how AgSource can work for your operation.