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Bartow County
UGA Extension Office

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Select a topic:

Agritourism & Pick Your Own Food Preservation Pesticide Licensing
Animals / Livestock Food Processing (Commercial) Poultry Tips | Backyard Flocks
Aquaculture / Ponds Forages / Pastures       Small Ruminants | Goats
Beekeeping Forestry & Wildlife Sustainable Agriculture
Commercial Services Fruits | Small Fruits (Commercial) Turfgrass | Lawns
Diagnostic Services Fruit & Vegetable Gardening  Urban Agriculture
Enterprise Budgets Greenhouses & Nurseries Vegetables (Commercial)
Equine Resources Invasive Species Weather Station (Rome)
Farm Resources Landscape Professionals Weeds, Diseases, and Pests
Field Crops Local Associations Wildlife Damage

 

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Home Lawns, Gardens & Landscapes:

For free publications relating to lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, fruits and nuts, vegetables, etc., please visit our UGA Extension Publications page and type in a keyword ('tomatoes', 'pecans'....) in the 'Search Expert Resources' box.

Search UGA Extension Publications

Pesticide Applicator Licensing:

Local Farm Resources

Commercial & Professional Services

Local Agritourism & Pick Your Own Farms:

Local Agricultural Associations

Local Diagnostic Services*

Soil Testing

Determining the fertility level of a soil through a soil test is the first step in planning a sound lime and fertilizer program. Most Georgia soils are low in pH and/or one of the essential plant nutrients. Therefore, to maintain normal plant growth, lime and fertilizer must be applied in sufficient quality to meet the crop requirement. A soil test is the best means available to determine this requirement.

Effective January 1, 2026 testing prices will be as follows for Bartow County residents.

  • Routine Soil Test.................................$10.00 per sample (includes postage):
    Includes pH, Lime Requirement, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Manganese. At least a pint of soil is needed per soil sample to be tested. The lab cannot process samples that are less than a pint. Be sure to pull the soil sample from several spots at random to get a good representative sample. You may bring samples in a pint size plastic freezer bag (filled full) if you don't have a soil sample bag. Please follow the procedures for collecting soil samples below.
  • Soil Test Frequently Asked Questions
  • Note: Soil sample bags can be picked up at the Extension office.

Water Testing

  • Water Quality Publications: Household Water
  • All well water samples should be collected from the first draw of water out of the kitchen faucet or from the faucet used most often for drinking. A first draw water sample is collected (after a minimum of 6 hours, but not more than a 12 hour period) during which time there was no water usage from that faucet prior to sampling. Either early morning or evening upon returning from home are the best sampling times to ensure a good sample. Place a clean sample container below the faucet and gently open the cold water tap to fill sample bottles. At least a 1 pint (500 mL) is needed for most samples. 
  • Water Sampling Instructions (scroll to bottom of website)
  • Expanded Water Test..........................$65.00 per sample (includes postage):
    Designed to address common well water problems in Georgia such as corrosion, high levels of iron and manganese, and nitrate from various sources. This test package should be done at least once on wells before using a less inclusive test. The Expanded Water Test is required for installation and design of home water treatment systems. This test includes the Basic Water Test (see below), Anions, Soluble Salts, and Alkalinity tests.
  • Basic Water Test...................................$25.00 per sample (includes postage):
    pH and Water Hardness, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Aluminum, Chromium, Manganese, Copper, Cadmium, Iron, Zinc, Sodium, Nickel, Magnesium, Boron, Molybdenum, and Silica
  • Water Lead Test Only...........................$45.00 per sample (includes postage):
    Lead testing is recommended for homes and/or wells built prior to 1985. Pipes could contain lead solder which could leach into your drinking water.
  • Water Arsenic Test Only.......................$45.00 per sample (includes postage):
    Arsenic testing is recommended for wells located on old farm sites where pesticides may have been used for cotton production or fruit orchards between 1920-1940.
  • Lead and Arsenic Test Combined--If you would like to have your water tested for both Lead and Arsenic at the same time, the fee is only $55 for a combined sample.
  • Bacteria Test........................................$46.00 per sample (includes postage):
    The most common microbiology test checks for the presence of E. coli and total coliform bacteria. This test requires a special test kit with sample instructions available at the Extension office. This test is recommended annually on home wells. Bacteria testing is also available to local residents through the City of Cartersville Water Lab. Call 770-387-5681 for more information. Visit this website for more information about disinfecting your well water through shock chlorination.
  • Fish Ponds (general water quality)...........$40.00 per sample (includes postage):
    Ponds should be sub-sampled at various depths and positions across the body of water and then combined to create one sample. Requires at least a pint (500mL) sample size. Visit this website for more information about interpreting Fish Pond Water Analysis Reports.
  • Other Water Tests are available upon request.
  • Note: Water test bottles can be picked up at the Extension office.

Forage Testing..............................................$20 (basic forage analysis)

Forestry or Tree Disorder Troubleshooting..$15 (only for samples sent to lab)

Insect Identification......................................no fee (for in-office diagnosis)

Nematode Assays .......................................$15 (samples sent to lab)

Plant Disease Diagnostics............................$15 (only for samples sent to lab)

Plant or Weed Identification.......................no fee (for in-office diagnosis)

Radon Testing..............................................$15

Turfgrass Troubleshooting..........................$15 (only for samples sent to lab)

Wildlife Identification..................................no fee (for in-office diagnosis)

 

* Most samples are processed by our lab within 5-7 business days.

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For more information about Agriculture and Natural Resources, contact the Bartow County Extension office at (770) 387-5142.