Episode 506 dives into soil nutrition and the real-world decisions behind soil testing with Jace Whitehead of EnviroAg Laboratories, an OSU Plant & Soil Sciences grad who built a soil testing lab from his hometown roots and now supports producers across the Southern Plains. The crew breaks down what soil test “extractions” actually measure, why Mehlich-3 and Bray phosphorus numbers can disagree (especially in low pH soils), and why saturated paste is equal parts chemistry and “perfect brownie mix.” They also sort through base saturation talk, potassium response drivers, rooting depth, and why tissue test numbers can swing with weather more than soil supply.

Up front, you’ll also hear a quick crop update recorded at the Oklahoma Cattle Conference: wheat and canola are starting to respond, diamondback moths are showing up in canola, and the big message for 2026 is to protect flexibility—make informed fertility calls, watch moisture conditions, and don’t spend like it’s a “maximum yield” year if the economics don’t pencil.

10 Takeaways

1. In 2026 economics, flexibility matters—don’t lock in every fertility decision early.
2. Use in-rich strips and real field info to guide N rates, especially in a “cost-cutting year.”
3. Phosphorus is the troublemaker: pH and soil chemistry can make test results look contradictory.
4. Mehlich-3 vs Bray disagreements often come down to what chemical pools each extractant can access.
5. If pH is low, fix that first—otherwise you can “chase P” without getting the response you expect.
6. Saturated paste is useful for salinity/salt issues, but it’s a technique-sensitive, “art + science” test.
7. Base saturation ratios sound appealing, but often don’t pay to chase compared to bigger constraints.
8. Heavy clay and shallow rooting can masquerade as “cation ratio problems”—look for the real limiting factor.
9. Potassium response may be tied to rooting zone depth/limitations more than a simple top-6-inch soil test.
10. Tissue test numbers can swing with the environment; treat them as clues, not automatic prescriptions.

Timestamped Rundown

00:00:00–00:01:35 — Welcome + episode setup

Dave previews the topic: soil nutrition deep dive and an interview with Jace Whitehead, OSU Plant & Soil Sciences alum and soil-testing lab owner.

00:01:35–00:22:44 — Crop update (recorded Feb. 13, 2026)

Wheat/canola starting to respond; moisture “patchy,” with rain hopes and a reminder not to overreact early.

Nitrogen timing: don’t feel forced to put “all eggs in the basket” early; use information and flexibility.

Push for in-rich strips and better decision-making in a “cost-cutting year.”

Pre-plant planning: soil test now for summer crops; consider partial replacement strategies on P & K if economics demand it.

Canola scouting note: diamondback moth reports.

Market reality check: wheat may look good but price is weak; “hot crops” might be four-legged.

00:22:44–00:24:30 — Guest introduction

Brian introduces Jace Whitehead and the unusual path: starting a soils lab and building sample volume through precision ag services.

00:24:30–00:29:30 — Environmental testing + saturated paste

Jace explains oilfield-related soil testing and salinity work; one-to-one extracts and saturated paste use cases.

Brian’s saturated paste explanation: “perfect brownie mix” consistency as the endpoint.

00:29:30–00:36:10 — Why phosphorus tests disagree (Mehlich vs Bray)

Jace raises a producer-facing problem: Bray numbers low at low pH while Mehlich can run higher.

Brian breaks down the chemistry: extractants differ in what forms they pull, and acidity complicates interpretation.

Practical takeaway: address pH first; be cautious about overconfidence in a single number.

00:36:10–00:40:45 — Business realities + soil trends

Jace talks scale (thousands of samples/year) and why “one-off” conversations are hard to fund at low per-sample pricing.

Trend discussion: rotation can drive better management attention to pH and nutrients; canola helped push rotation thinking.

00:40:45–00:49:30 — Base saturation, K response, and rooting depth

Base saturation & ratios: strong theory, but often weak economic payoff to chase in practice.

High-magnesium soils: often a “correlation not causation” story tied to heavy clay/rooting restrictions.

Big idea: we’ve over-focused on a 6-inch slice; better fertility management looks at the rooting zone and limiting layers.

Tech wish list: on-the-go tools (even GPR-style concepts) to map depth/limitations.

00:49:30–00:57:15 — What it means for producers + tissue testing reality

“Find trusted advisors” who can handle both plant and soil chemistry questions, and keep asking questions.

Tissue tests: Brian explains how nutrient concentrations can swing with weather/conditions, making blanket recs risky.

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