AgSource Laboratories Gap Water Sample: Last Pick-up for the Season

MARSHFIELD, Wis. – Announcing the official start of the 2018 AgSource Laboratories GAP water sample pick-up route service. After two successful seasons, we’re bringing back this service for farmers who need to get their GAP, which stands for ‘Good Agricultural Practices’, water samples to the laboratory in a safe and timely fashion.

In cooperation with the UW Hancock Agricultural Research Station and the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) office, AgSource will be picking-up  samples three days a week and taking them to the AgSource Laboratories facility located in Marshfield, Wis.

“This service is perfect for growers who need to take water samples for E. coli and coliforms, as well as any other water test,” notes Eric Helms, Director, Market Development for AgSource Laboratories. “We saw increased participation last year, and we are very grateful to the Hancock Research Station and WPVGA for allowing AgSource to use their office for our pick-up route again this summer.”

Cranberry, potato, fruit and vegetable growers collect ‘GAP’ water samples from irrigation and postharvest water sources. Samples are taken from May to October. Growers will need to comply with the 2015 Final Rule on Produce Safety of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), passed in November 2015, which requires E. coli testing. Audit organizations also require total coliform testing in order to be GAP certified.

Because of the 30 hour maximum sample hold time, water samples should be taken no earlier than 6:00 a.m. for pick-up the same day on Tuesdays and Fridays and 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Starting on June 5 and going until October 5, sterile bottles and submission forms can be picked up and dropped off at the two route locations.

Call AgSource Laboratories at 715.898.1402 with questions about the van route. Please do not contact Hancock Research Station or the WPVGA office. Pick-up times and dates are listed below.

Hancock – Supplies will be located in the Main Office building, on a table directly inside the door on the first floor landing. The building is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Address: N3909 County Rd V, Hancock, WI 54943
Pick-up Date/Time: Tuesday 8:30 a.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m.

Tuesdays

• June 5, 12, 19, 26
• July  3, 10, 17, 24, 31
• Aug 7, 14, 21, 28
• Sept 4, 11, 18, 25
• Oct 2

Fridays

• June 8, 15, 22, 29
• July  6, 13, 20, 27
• Aug 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
• Sept 7, 14, 21, 28
• Oct 5

Antigo – Pick-up your sterile bottles for E. coli and total coliform tests during business hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Address: 700 5th Ave, Antigo, WI 54409
Pick-up Date/Time: Wednesday 2:30 p.m.

• June 6, 13, 20, 27
• July 11, 18, 25 (No pick-up on Fourth of July holiday, Wednesday July 4)
• Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
• Sept 5, 12, 19, 26
• Oct 3

Cost of Water Analysis
To meet audit testing requirements, growers will need both total coliform and E. coli tests with results that actually count the bacteria colonies. The cost for both total coliform and E. coli tests is $30.00 per sample. Growers will be billed after samples are analyzed.

More Information
If you have any questions, please contact AgSource Laboratories, located at 3700 Downwind Dr., Marshfield, WI 54449, at [email protected] or 715.898.1402. It’s also possible to submit your soil or plant tissue samples at either drop-off location, simply first contact the laboratory to notify AgSource first. Please do not contact the UW Agricultural Research Station in Hancock or the WPVGA office.

For more information about AgSource Laboratories’ drinking water and wastewater testing options, visit our website, www.agsourcelaboratories.com.