Agricultural Plant and Crop Testing

Order Sampling Kits
Download Request Forms
Track Lab Jobs
Technical Notes
View results
Contact Us

Agricultural Plant and Crop Testing

Plant materials can be tested for mineral nutrients or feed quality. Plant nutrient levels are valuable to identify nutrient deficiency or toxicity and to monitor the fertiliser programme.

Why Test Pasture and Plants?

Soil and herbage analyses help pastoral farmers and their advisers choose the best fertiliser programme. They also highlight mineral imbalances that might be affecting the health of pasture or animals that feed on it. Herbage tests of pasture complement soil tests and allow important trace nutrients like cobalt, selenium, copper and iodine to be adjusted for improved animal health. Using both herbage and soil testing will provide a better overall picture of the farm nutrient status for an improved fertiliser programme.

What tests to order?

  • For pasture, the Mixed Pasture Profile analysis is commonly selected and this contains a Basic Plant Profile with added cobalt, molybdenium and selenium tests.
  • For those wanting a more comprehensive view of their pasture, especially when metabolic disorders are an issue Hill Labs offers an Extended Feed Profile. This suite contains the Mixed Pasture Profile combined with the Feed Profile.
  • Clover-only testing is another useful way of understanding potential soil mineral issues. This is because clover develops mineral deficiencies before pastural grasses and is therefore an early indicator of potentially looming soil mineral issues.
  • The Animal Dietary Mineral Balance (ADMB) Report is a value-added report that can be requested on all Mixed Pasture Profile tests. This report shows the animal requirements and dietary intake per nutrient for a specific livestock class. To get this report as part of your testing all you need to do is ask for the ADMB Report and supply details of the animals being fed.

Helpful links

Our team of testing experts has meticulously crafted these documents to offer recommendations tailored to your testing requirements.

Crop Guides

View

Technical Notes

View

Analysis Request Forms

View

Latest Stories

Staff Profile: Brad Stevens

With more than 25 years in the kiwifruit industry, Brad Stevens leads Hill Labs' Bay of Plenty Branch, overseeing kiwifruit sampling and maturity testing while supporting teams to deliver accurate, timely results.
View  
  16 Nov 2026

The Expertise Behind Reliable Residue Testing

Behind every pesticide residue test result is a team of experts helping ensure accuracy, reliability and confidence across the food supply chain. Meet some of our scientists whose knowledge, experience and innovation support Hill Labs' pesticide residue testing service and help deliver trusted results for growers, producers and exporters.
View  
  29 Oct 2026

Where Science Meets Service: Meet the Food Commercial Team

The Food Commercial team plays a vital role in connecting clients with Hill Labs' food testing expertise. Acting as the bridge between clients and laboratory teams, they facilitate communication, manage enquiries, coordinate testing requirements, and ensure customers receive timely, accurate support throughout their testing journey. 
View  
  28 Oct 2026

View all related news

What our customers have to say

"We've always found them to be responsive in getting results back and giving advice on problems we might be facing."

Andrew Hutchinson, Technical Manager, Turners & Growers

"We strongly recommend Hill Labs as a sound testing service provider to the honey industry."

Nick Walker, Technical Manager, Egmont Honey

"Their sample registration system has made things simple and seamless - collect, scan and send!"

Mathew Bannister, Compliance Manager, First Fresh New Zealand

Accreditations

As a New Zealand accredited laboratory by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), Hill Labs' commitment to quality is tantamount to our overall operating philosophy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work.

View our full accreditations