Lime trial locations needed for 2026

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist

I have had a few questions this fall regarding lime application. Currently we have eight trials across the state of Minnesota evaluating rates and sources of lime. Sources include quarry lime from Goodhue County, pelletized lime (“pell lime”), and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) lime from the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. 

I will be providing an update on the lime research over the winter. One interesting thing we’ve seen so far is that a few trials have shown little to no pH change from the lime application. I would be curious to hear from retailers, consultants, and growers whether they have seen anything similar.  I still have enough lime for two field locations that I am looking to establish before the 2026 crop year.

Fields and soils needed for 2026

We are looking for two additional field locations to establish trials in the fall of 2025 or spring of 2026 on farmers’ fields. The sites are around 0.6 acres in size. I am looking for one additional sandy location north of the Twin Cities and one location in south-central or southwest Minnesota, ideally with crops such as dry beans or sugarbeet in the rotation. We are targeting sites with surface soil pH around 5.5 or less. 

Traditional ag lime, pell lime, and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative will be applied at different rates and we will measure yield for five cropping seasons after application. Yield data will be collected by University of Minnesota personnel from the fields. I need cooperating growers to manage the sites as they would normally.

I am also looking for collection points on sandy soils with pH near 5.0 for lab studies.  I need enough soil to fill a 5-gallon bucket to do lime calibration studies. This research will look closer at the guidelines for low cation exchange capacity (CEC) soil like sands to make sure the suggested rates will achieve the proper pH following lime application. 

Contact

Interested farmers and ag professionals can contact Extension nutrient management specialist Daniel Kaiser at dekaiser@umn.edu.

Funding for the studies has been provided by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the Sugarbeet Research and Education Board of Minnesota and North Dakota.

---

For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.