Enroll in Free Nitrogen Soil Sampling by Oct. 2:

Farmers in 26 counties across the Middle Cedar and Greater Des Moines watersheds still have time to enroll in the Iowa Nutrient and Research Education Council's (INREC) free nitrogen soil sampling project.

The soil sampling pilot program hosted by INREC, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, allows participants to gather field-by-field data to help inform future nitrogen decisions. The deadline to sign up is Oct. 2.

Fall sampling provides a look at the nitrogen remaining in the soil after the growing season. Over multiple years, that information can help build a field-level history and show how residual nitrogen changes with weather, crops and management.

Researchers will also use the data to better understand nitrogen availability from year to year across the state. All data is shared anonymously with researchers at Iowa State University to refine recommended nitrogen rates through the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative's N-FACT tool.

Eligible counties include Benton, Black Hawk, Grundy and Tama counties in the Middle Cedar watershed, along with Audubon, Boone, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Dallas, Dickinson, Emmet, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Sac, Webster, Winnebago and Wright counties in the Greater Des Moines watershed.

Go online to www.iowanrec.org/nitrogen-soil-sampling-project to sign up.