UW to close Madison Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory and consolidate services at Marshfield
The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison plans to close its Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory on the west side of Madison and consolidate services at the Soil and Forage Analysis Laboratory located in Marshfield.
That consolidation will happen gradually over the next year and is expected to be completed by November 2015, says Richard Straub, CALS senior associate dean. The Madison lab will continue to process samples in the near term. Meanwhile, the college will develop a plan for receiving samples in the Madison area and transporting them to the Marshfield lab in a way that allows for timely processing.
“This decision is strictly a financial one,” says Straub. “It was difficult, but by consolidating testing efforts at the Marshfield facility we will be able to remain competitive.”
The Madison Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory was established in 1913. The Marshfield Soil and Forage Analysis Lab was established in 1959. The labs provide analysis for soil, plants, forage, and manure. The Marshfield lab also fulfills a state mandate to certify the accuracy of the private sector laboratories testing soil.
For more: Richard Straub, rjstraub@wisc.edu, (608) 890-0225