UGA Cooperative Extension
Fayette County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Testing and Identification Services
For more than 90 years, UGA Cooperative Extension has been the trusted source of education, innovation and information for Georgia's agricultural industry. From the latest crop studies to the best land stewardship recommendations, we have the research-based information Georgia producers need.
Outdoor Water
Click here for frequently asked questions about Georgia's Outdoor Watering Policy
(last update 06/09/2010)
Water Conservation
Water is an important resource and the 40 Gallon Challenge will help you to reduce your water consumption and easily lets you see what your dedication can do to impact water quality and use. Click here to get started on the 40 Gallon Challenge.
Water Testing
The question of whether or not to have your water tested is a serious one. It concerns your health and the health of your family. Your water should be safe to drink and acceptable for all other household uses. In addition to illness, a variety of less serious problems such as taste, color, odor and staining of clothes or fixtures are symptoms of water quality problems. Even water that appears problem-free may not necessarily be safe or acceptable.
Fayette County Extension, through the University of Georgia Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories, offers a wide variety of water quality tests.
Routine tests for household wells, lead, nitrates, pesticides, minerals, pH and petroleum products are among the many tests that can be performed.
Costs for the tests are dependent upon which test is selected and payment is cash only.
Not everyone needs to test their water and it is impractical and unnecessary to test for all possible contaminants. The University of Georgia publication Testing for Water Quality provides a few guidelines for deciding whether or not to have your water tested, and if so, what tests would be appropriate for your situation.
Drinking Water Sampling Procedure
Soil Testing 
Soil tests such as those conducted through our office will help you develop and maintain a more productive soil by providing information about the fertility status of your soil.
Information from a soil test will help you select the proper liming and fertilization program to obtain the optimum growth of lawn, garden, ornamental and agronomic plants. With the growing prices of fertilizer and soil amendments, a soil test is a relatively cheap option that could potentially save you a lot of money.
One of the most important steps in soil testing is collecting the sample. Soil test results can be no better than the sample submitted to the Extension Office for analysis. Therefore, it is extremely important that soil samples be properly and carefully taken.
The standard routine soil test is $6.00 per sample plus $3.00 for shipping and handling (cash or check only please).
Specialty tests for pesticides, minerals, pH and petroleum products can also be performed. Costs for these tests are dependent upon which test is selected.
Bring your soil sample to the Fayette County Extension Office located in the Fayette County Administrative Complex. Contact information is below.
Resources on Soil Testing
Nematodes in the Soil
Nematodes are small, eel-like worms that live in the soil and feed on the roots of plants.
In the process of feeding, they cause the roots to become knotted and galled. Not only do they impair the root system so that water and nutrients cannot be taken up, they also cause injury which may enhance soil-borne disease development. Nematode damaged plants become stunted, turn yellow and wilt in hot weather.
The best time to determine if you have a nematode problem is in the summer and fall, when nematodes are most numerous. Roots may be dug from the soil and examined for the presence of root-knot galls. The numbers and kinds of nematodes in the soil may be determined by taking a soil sample to the Fayette County to be sent to the Nematode Assay Laboratory at the University of Georgia in Athens. Results in most cases will return in approximately two weeks along with applicable recommendations for any problems discovered
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Insect Identification
Proper diagnosis is critical to effectively manage pest problems on agronomic crops or ornamentals and turf. It's important to remember that only a small percentage of insects that occur on plants are pests. The ability to identify both pests and beneficial insects is necessary to achieve good pest management.
The Fayette County Extension Office and The University of Georgia Extension Entomology Department can assist homeowners, professional green industry personnel, and farmers with insect identification. Insect specimens can be submitted to the Fayette County Extension Office for identification. Results in most cases will be returned in approximately 24-48 hours along with applicable recommendations. There is no fee for this service.
Submitting Insects for Identification
In order to obtain a correct identification of an insect, the county agent must receive properly preserved specimens. When possible, it would be helpful to collect two or three specimens from the same location.
Insects may not be identifiable beyond family or even order level after being crushed or decayed. Most specimens you encounter are small enough to be placed in a jar or other protective container. Large insects such as butterflies, wasps and beetles should be placed in a large jar or a small crushproof container.
Never mix moths and butterflies with other insects or put other insects into a killing jar that has contained them. Their dust-like scales quickly cover other insects and greatly complicate proper identification.
Mites, thrips and scale insects should be brought in with the host plant because they are easily damaged by removal and their characteristic appearance on the plant is often crucial to identification. If possible, small caterpillars, grubs and maggots should be brought in live in a plastic bag with some of the host material. Sometimes they cannot be identified until they are reared to the adult stage.
Tips for Submitting Insect Specimens
To obtain rapid, accurate identification of insect specimens, be sure to include the following information:
- Where specimen was collected.
- Your name and address.
- Date it was collected.
- Host plant(s) or whatever the insects were feeding on, if applicable.
- Stage of growth: seedling, blooming, fruiting, one week before harvest, young animal (less than three months old), mature animal.
- Degree of infestation.
- What, if any, chemicals have been applied.
Resources for Insect Identification
The following websites have more information on insect identification and control:
- Public Health Insects
- Household Insects
- Ornamental, Lawn and Turf Insects
- Pasture and Forage Insects
- Forestry Insects
- Vegetable Insects
- Fruit Insects
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Plant Disease Identification
Proper diagnosis is critical to effectively manage plant disease problems on agronomic crops or ornamentals and turf. Disease organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses can damage and/ or kill a wide variety of plant materials in Georgia. It is essential to identify the organism accurately before implementing control strategies. Proper identification prevents waste of time and money by using the wrong material to control a pest and also prevents exposure of the environment to excess pesticide.
The Fayette County Extension Office can assist you with disease identification on agronomic crops, ornamentals and turfgrass.
Plant disease samples can be submitted through the Fayette County Extension Office for appropriate recommendations, including cultural practices and chemical recommendations, to reduce disease damage. Results in most cases will be returned in approximately 24-48 hours. There is no fee for this service.
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Plant Identification 
Plant identification can be important in several ways. Plant identification is critical for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the proper use of pesticides in agriculture and horticulture situations. It is also helpful to the clientele that just want information on that weed, flower, shrub or tree growing in their landscape.
The Fayette County Extension Office can assist farmers, homeowners and professional green industry personnel with the identification of plant species.
Plant specimens can be submitted to the Fayette County Extension Office for identification. Results in most cases will be returned in approximately 24-48 hours along with applicable recommendations and or information. There is no fee for this service.
Tips for Submitting Plant Specimens
In order to obtain a correct identification of a plant, the county agent must receive properly preserved specimens. When possible, it would be helpful to collect a sample of the plant's stem, eight to twelve inches long, with the leaves still attached. Also, if possible, include any flowers, fruits, cones or buds of the plant.
Deliver the specimen fresh to the county Extension Office. If immediate delivery to the Extension Office is not possible, after collection press the specimen while fresh to flatten out the leaves and prevent curling. Placing the specimen between two large books or other similar objects for 24 hours works well. Plant samples may not be identifiable if they have been crushed, decayed or dried and shriveled.
To assist in obtaining a rapid, accurate identification of plant specimens, be sure to bring the following information:
- Description of site where plant was collected. (Sun/shade, natural area/landscape, wet/dry area etc.)
- Your name and address.
- Date it was collected.
- Description of plant (size, shape, description of flowers, etc.).
- Stage of growth: seedling, blooming, fruiting.
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Plant Nutritional Testing
Several tests can be performed through leaf tissue analysis. Costs for the tests are dependent upon which test is selected.
Results in most cases will be returned in approximately two weeks along with applicable recommendations for any problems discovered.
For more information on testing, please contact the Extension Office.
