Soil testing should be an important part of your management strategy, as it provides valuable information that can help you ensure that your soil and plants remain productive. February is a great time of year to test your gardens, pastures, hayfields and lawns for nutrient values of soil. Fields used for production of cultivated crops may be sampled anytime after harvest or before planting. Non-cultivated fields should be sampled during the dormant season. In either case, do not sample immediately after lime, fertilizer or manure applications because those samples do not represent the true soil fertility. Fields should be tested annually to measure the available nitrogen pool or as frequently as necessary to gain an understanding of how soil properties may be changing in relation to cultural practices and crop production. Soil samples may be taken yearround; however, winter months (and early spring) make an excellent time to evaluate soil nutrients.