2024 In Review - A Lab Perspective

Editorial by Agronomist Jamie Bultemeier

It seems as if the past few years have found new and intriguing ways to challenge agriculture. 2024 was up to the task and on par with that trend. This year has brought a wet spring for some, a dry summer and fall for most, and a shortened growing season for all. These challenges have also impacted the lab.

The spring soil sample season began early this year in January. There was a very brief pause between 2023 fall soil sampling finishing up in late December and spring 2024 soil sampling starting in early January. January 2024 produced the 2nd largest January of soil samples in lab history. January was followed by record February and March sample volumes. The spring rains were just enough to delay planting, but not soil sampling. Strong spring soil sample volumes continued through April and May when in-season sampling began. In season sampling carried the strong soil sample volumes through the month of June.

About the time the spring soil sample season was slowing, plant tissues began. A week or two earlier than normal. There was no break between the two seasons. The rapid fast paced operation of the lab continued without a break at record plant tissue test sample volumes in July.

While soil samples did set more monthly records in the summer months, the lab staff did get a very short, but needed break, in sample volumes in August. However, the break was short lived. The hot dry weather accelerated crop development from north to south in our trade area and the fall soil samples arrived early and without delay. Usually fall soil sample volume ramps up over a 3-4 week period, not in 2024… The lab went from a few thousand to full capacity in about a week. This fall there was no widespread or regional rains to delay or slow soil sampling. The samples came fast, in large numbers, and constantly for weeks. Breaking more monthly sample volume records in September and November necessitating the need for the staff to work several weekends in the pursuit of maintaining a reasonable sample turn time for our customers.

All of the 2024 weather challenges compounded for the lab, yet 2024 was a great year. For the first time since 2020 we had a complete staff, and great fall seasonal staff that stuck with the lab for the entire season along with many that returned from last year. We had amazing support from our customers with unparalleled kindness that grew as the year progressed into fall soil sample season. The positive notes written on shipping box flaps, submission forms, and extra notes shipped with the samples had a bigger impact than you can imagine. We had fun through social media noting the staff’s fondness for candy, and the candy that arrived in sample boxes made the long day easier and gave them more purpose in their work.

Reflecting back on 2024, I sit in awe of what we accomplished in partnership with our customers. While the term partnership is often overused, it is the only term I have to describe the working relationship between the lab and our customers. I can recount numerous examples of the lab and customers working together in full cooperation to meet the needs of our collective customers, breaking records all along the way.

As the year draws to a close, I am reinvigorated with the potential in this industry. The level of professionalism in our customers is outstanding and it only reinforces that we are fortunate to have a great customer base that we can grow alongside.


Relationships. They’re the most important things we help grow.

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