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webster n. y. u.s.a.

i have kinsey ag services do my soil testing for the past few years and they do send back recomendations as well as the soil results,they say my o.m.at12 is over the max of 8 that they reccomend.anybody have good results with high readings of organtic matter? also, is this the right time to spread gypsum or wait until spring. thanks.

11/26/2006 8:27:15 PM

[email protected]

Conventional Ag services would say this. But we're not conventional growers. Nothing we do makes agronomic sense.

But let's also keep in mind that the biggest fruit ever grown was done so on a new patch where the organic matter probably hasn't broken 10% yet (I'm not at liberty to get specific).

I think we'll be seeing a downward trend in % Organic Matter in the future. Many folks have far surpassed 10% (myself included) only to pay a heavy price in soil borne diseases during wet seasons.

11/26/2006 10:41:20 PM

Indiana

Indiana growers used Kinsey Ag several years ago. Around 2001 if I remember right. I do believe Kinsey Ag is a good company to consult for field crops, but I also believe he ran a few of our past growers soil "into the ground" no pun intended. He was recommending so much potassium that I believe the pumpkins were quitting growth. Now of course this could be many other things, but I never got the impression that they knew what they were telling us for giant pumpkins specific. They also didnt return my results for over 2 months one year, and it was only after I demanded a refund that I was told the results were already sent. Oddly enough postmarked the day after I complained........

I personally would save the extra money Kinsey's cost and do a comprehensive analysis at A&L Labs Fort Wayne. Dan Kite works on many samples from giant pumpkin growers, and is getting a good idea of what it takes.

Tom Beachy

11/26/2006 11:49:34 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Mike Buttress who is with A&L Labs in Modesto, CA has also done a lot of testing for AG growers and has a pretty good feel for what our plants and pumpkins need.

11/27/2006 12:23:20 AM

Napa Valley, CA

Tim - regarding the right time to spread gypsum.......I asked Dr. Donald Horneck (Agronomist with Oregon State University), who was the Guest Speaker at our CA Seminar this year, about this.
He said fall was the best time to add gypsum but if you didn't get it done, it wouldn't hurt anything if you added it in spring.

11/27/2006 12:52:32 AM

Sheridan . NY

As talked about above-- most soil test are done for the general crop growing or grower --Ive been doing soil test for pumpkin growers the past 5 years giving total results and suggestion's for GP'S with a 2 page report with color graphics and pie comparson of you soil and optimum soil- Plus I offer call you and go over you test from top to bottom -- www.candfert.com --- 28 years GP And 40 years of farming-- C&J PRODUCTS.INC

11/27/2006 8:22:33 AM

Central Ca

Mike Buttress at A&L Laboratory helped me double my personal best.

11/27/2006 6:49:53 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Sheesh! I'm calling Mike!

11/29/2006 10:37:39 PM