Soil Sampling Basics: Pulling Soil Cores and Submitting Samples

UW Soil and Forage Lab

Private & Commercial Pesticide Applicators:

Private and commercial pesticide applicators with expired certifications will need to participate to renew their certifications. Manuals still need to be purchased online; no manuals available at county offices.

The University of Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program provides educational materials for the purpose of pesticide applicator certification in Wisconsin.

Check your Certification Status:

• Certification Validity: Certification is valid for 5 years.
• Certification Status Check: Applicators can check certification status here.
• Notifying expiring license holders: The PAT Program notifies farmers with expiring certifications, but it’s the farmer’s responsibility to track their status.

Private Applicators:

• A person who applies restricted-use (pesticide label identifies) pesticide to produce an agricultural commodity AND pesticides are applied on property that they own or rent, or their employer owns or rents.

Training Materials:

• All Private Applicator participants must purchase a 100/101 General Farm Training manual from the PAT Store – manuals cost $43
  • Private Applicators testing in Fruit Crops, Greenhouse or any other category – use this link.
  • Commercial Applicators purchase manuals at this link.
• If you need a mail in form, they can be accessed here or reach out to your local Extension office.
• Allow 5-10 days for your manual to ship. There is an additional shipping charge for rush delivery.

Learning the Material

• Self-study:
  • Study the manual independently
  • When completed, there are two testing options:
    • Contact a designated County Extension Office to schedule your test
      • Bring a calculator and pencils to testing site
    • Complete the test via Pearson Vue – there is an additional fee and you must schedule at one of their testing sites.
      • The test is still open book – but when using this method, Pearson Vue will provide a PDF for you to use, not the printed manual

• Self-paced Online Training
  • Available at PAT Store
  • Administered via Canvas – can complete at your own pace
  • Registration fee of $10
  • When completed, there are two testing options:
    • Contact a designated County Extension Office to schedule your test
      • Bring a calculator and pencils to testing site
    • Complete the test via Pearson Vue – there is an additional fee and you must schedule at one of their testing sites.
      • The test is still open book – but when using this method, Pearson Vue will provide a PDF for you to use, not the printed manual
  • Be sure to bring Course Completion Certificate to exam testing site

• Extension Hosted Zoom Training & Test:
  • Registration fee of $10 – purchase at PAT Store. No walk ins are allowed.
  • Bring manual and certificate to the training along with a calculator and pencils.
  • Training completed by Pesticide Applicator Training program staff via Zoom

• In-person Training & Test:
  • See PAT Store for schedule of in person options
  • Registration fee of $10 – purchase at PAT Store. No walk ins are allowed.

• US Drought Monitor: WI https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?WI
• Manure Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast Tool: http://www.manureadvisorysystem.wi.gov/runoffrisk/index
• Determining the value of Standing Alfalfa: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/articles/determining-the-value-of-standing-alfalfa-in-2023/
• Pricing Corn Silage: https://wisccorn.blogspot.com/2013/09/B045.html
• Tools for Pricing Standing Corn Silage: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/articles/tools-for-pricing-standing-corn-silage/
• Converting Dry Corn Price (per bu) to an Equal Wet Corn Price (per bu): https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a2-32.html
• Equivalent Price / Ton of: High Moisture Shelled Corn
• Equivalent Price / Ton of: High Moisture Ear Corn
• Adjusting Corn Silage Price Based on Harvested Moisture[LG1] 

• Ag Water Quality Topic Hub – https://agwater.extension.wisc.edu/
• Cool Bean – Soybeans – https://coolbean.info/
• Crops & Soils Topic Hub: https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/
• Small Grains Management – https://coolbean.info/small-grains/new-information/
• WI Cropping Systems Weed Science – https://wiscweeds.info/
• Renz Weed Science – Pastures & Forage – https://renzweedscience.cals.wisc.edu/
• Badger Crop Doc – https://badgercropdoc.com/
• Soil Science – https://extension.soils.wisc.edu/
• Integrated Pest & Crop Management – https://ipcm.wisc.edu/
• Discovery Farms Wisconsin – https://uwdiscoveryfarms.org/
• The Learning Store – UW Madison Division of Extension Publications – https://learningstore.extension.wisc.edu/collections/farming
• NRCS/FSA Offices: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app

• Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic – https://pddc.wisc.edu/
• Insect Diagnostic Lab – https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/
• UW Soil & Forage Lab – https://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/