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 Contact Information
Soil, Plant & Water
Feed & Environmental
Pesticide & Hazardous
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Lab Notes Effective July 1, 1998 our laboratories will begin reporting sample numbers and activities on the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) basis. This will bring our "Laboratory Year" and "Fiscal Year" together and simplify the preparation of annual reports, etc. which are based on the fiscal year. In the past, the laboratories have kept calendar year records so the transition will be a bit tricky as we start over on July 1. This should not affect county operations significantly. You will be provided information on how to access sample data for your county based on the new fiscal year reporting. I promise this will not be nearly so ominous as the year 2000 computer bug! By the way, soil sample numbers are about 10,000 or 12% below the corresponding 12-month period of last year. Most of the decline in samples occurred from November 1997 - January 1998 when fields were extremely wet. This past February and March were busier than the year previously, but did not make up the difference. We should end the fiscal year, June 30, at about 79,000-80,000 regular client soil samples tested. Thanks for sending them to us under some adverse, wet conditions this past fall and winter.
C. Wayne Jordan
Petiole Season Cotton petiole samples have started to trickle in to the Lab. As the sample numbers begin to increase, now is a good time for a refresher on proper submission procedures. Please note that in your fee schedule notebook, there is a section tabbed "Plant Tissue and Petiole Analysis." On page two of this section you will find the cotton petiole information. Notice on the petiole page, the statements in bold letters. These are simply to emphasize the importance of being accurate and consistent - thus, assisting us in providing the best service to your clients. You might want to consider providing a copy of this information to your clients when they pick up their petiole kits (highlighting specific instructions). Past history has shown us that inaccurate information is very difficult to clarify via the telephone. Such things as different kit numbers with same field numbers, same kit numbers with different field numbers, no dates listed, wrong sampling period marked, etc. are common mistakes for which to watch. Our goal is to provide quick and accurate results. The data can be downloaded to your computer on the afternoon of the day after the Lab receives the samples. We will continue to mail a copy of the reports directly to the clients, but using the computer data transfer program allows you to get the results to growers even sooner and that is important. If you have any questions and/or need additional information, please call the Lab. With your assistance, we look forward to a smooth petiole season.
Jeannie Dawson
Reminder....End-User Name Required Samples should be submitted in the end-user clients name. This is true even when third- party service providers such as private consultants may have delivered the samples to your office. It is especially important for soil samples in the "FREE" crop code category to be submitted in the farmer's name so that your office can provide the results and our recommendations directly to the client as an educational service. Since the County is first point of contact, the laboratories depend on you for the proper client and sample designation.
Feed Test Results We are redesigning the feed test results to be compatible with other laboratory report formats. In the next few weeks, the new forms will be tested and the mailing of hard copies to County and State specialist offices will be discontinued in favor of elec- tronic data transfer. Clients will continue to be mailed feed reports.
Pecan Tissue Testing It's time for pecan growers to collect leaf samples. Sampling instructions are in each mailing kit as well as in your Fee Schedule. Since the mailing kits are expensive, please encourage growers to take only the number of kits they realistically expect to use and to return unused ones to your office. Each year we supply more mailing kits than are returned with samples for analysis. It is intended to provide leaf sample kits to be used only with our laboratories.
C. Wayne Jordan
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