Starting Nov. 1, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will no longer routinely mail out paper copies of agronomic reports. This policy will apply to reports for soil tests and nematode assays, as well as plant tissue, waste, solution and soilless media analyses.
All these reports are readily available through the NCDA&CS Agronomic Division’s Web site, www.ncagr.gov/agronomi.
Switching exclusively to electronic reports will allow our Agronomic Division to save a lot on postage, printing and paper.
In addition to environmental and fiscal benefits, this change should increase convenience and efficiency for our customers because online reports are available more quickly than mailed reports. They also make record keeping much easier because they can be easily downloaded and saved. Plus, the analytical data can be exported to a spreadsheet.
Eventually, the department would like to notify all clients via e-mail when their reports are available online. Clients who provide a valid e-mail address on their sample information form, or who register an e-mail address with the Agronomic Division online, can receive electronic notification. In the interim, all others will receive a postcard with instructions on how to find their reports.
Clients who visit the Agronomic Division home page should select the “Find Your Report” link from the left-column navigation bar. This link takes visitors into the division’s laboratory-information site, known as PALS. For most people, using the “Quick Report Search” link is the most convenient way to access reports.
Basic instructions are outlined at www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/reportsearch.htm. Anyone who has difficulty using the PALS report-search feature or has questions can call (919) 733-2655 for assistance during regular weekday office hours.