International Customers
Worldwide Support for Farm Productivity
SWEP soil testing services are utilised by farmers involved with Sustainable agriculture in more than 26 countries Worldwide. We maintain registered quarantine facilities on-site in order to receive samples from anywhere in the world. We ensure a rapid turnaround time of results and recommendations in 5-working days from receipt of sample.
To post soil samples from within Australia please download our soil submission form and follow instructions (please also see points to remember below).
To post soil samples from outside of Australia please follow these instructions:
- Download and print International soil submission form
- Download International Price List and choose the tests you require
- Follow all instructions on this submission form including how to correctly take a soil sample (see points to remember below)
- Package your sample/s securely and print up Quarantine Address label and attach to outside of package
- Include payment in Australian Dollars. We accept payment via Credit card or online
- Ensure you post via Express Mail Service (EMS) – noting the Customs number
- Please email us this customs number and let us know when you posted the sample – thank you!
Points to remember when taking samples
- You are looking for a representative average of a particular area, this means the area should be uniform in terms of soil colour and texture, land use and fertiliser management.
- You need to take several cores ‘plugs’ from around the area to the same depth. For example, take from the top down to 15cm for land use wheat.
- Ensure you use a stainless steel sampler of poly pipe (do not use a shovel unless it is stainless steel). Mix the cores thoroughly and put 300g into a zip-lock plastic bag.
- Fill out the submission form and include with your sample (as a minimum we require Name of sample, Depth of sample and Landuse).
- Package securely along with submission form.
- Ensure you use Express Mail Service (EMS). If you need to use another courier service such as DHL or TNT please make sure you pay all the charges (courier an quarantine charges). If they pass extra charges onto us we will have to pass it on to you to pay.
If you have any queries please email us services@swep.com.au or phone us on + 61 3 9701 6007 during 9am to 5pm Eastern standard times.
Download this form, fill in and post with your soil samples
Collecting soil samples for analysis
Remember, you are looking for a ‘Representative sample’ of a particular area. Look for changes where the soil varies in colour/texture, land use or fertiliser application. Look for distinct changes, such as pasture on hills, cropping or flats. Most importantly, you need to use the right soil sampling implement and sample to the right depth with every core.
As a general rule;
Each sample area is uniform in terms of: soil type, topography, land use, crop variety & fertiliser history.
One sample can cover up to 40 hectares (100 acres) if irrigated land. For dry land, one sample can cover up to 80 hectares (200 acres).
Samples should cover the root zone in which plants are grown. Samples should be taken from the surface down to the depth indicated below:
– Pasture 0 to 10cm
– Vegetables / Field crops (eg. Wheat) 0 to 15cm
– Tree / Vine crops 0 to 25cm
All cores should be consistent eg. All cores taken to a depth of 15cm from the surface to the bottom of the core and approximately 20-25mm in diameter. If obvious soil differences occur within an area if would be wise to test this separately. If this is not possible leave this area out of the sample as a major soil type variation may alter results significantly.
Use a stainless steel core sampler (other metals produce distorted results for Iron, Copper & Zinc etc.)
Collect 20 – 30 cores in a zigzag path – choose carefully so you can easily go the same way next time, ideally retest every 1 or 2 years following the same path, using the same sample depth, at the same time of the year, this way you can track changes that occur over time.
Avoid patches of very good or very poor growth, areas near fences, gates, troughs, livestock camps, dung or urine patches – anywhere that may distort your results.
Mix these cores very thoroughly in a clean plastic bucket (wear gloves) and remove any growing matter (grass etc), write the relevant information on a sealable plastic bag.
Take 300g of the mixed cores, and fill into the sample bag (excluding as much air as possible) and ensure the bag is tightly sealed. Each sample bag should represent a separate area and therefore will be charged per bag/test.
Complete the soil submission form and ensure sample bags are clearly marked.
Directions on sending in soil samples
Collect your sample/s according to instructions below, and then place 250g to 300g of mixed soil in sealable plastic bag/s.
Note: Each soil sample bag should represent a particular area and therefore charged per sample bag.
Complete all details on soil submission form with as much information as you can provide and enclose the completed form with your soil sample/s.
Include payment with your samples (credit card details, cheque or online payment is available. Please contact us if you would like to pay via EFT).
Samples submitted without payment will not be processed until payment is received by SWEP unless prior arrangement has been made.
Ordering SWEP Soil Tests Online
Soil tests (Overseas Orders)
If you are outside Australia you can pay for your tests either via PayPal, or via credit card details on the sample submission form. There are quarantine requirements for samples coming from outside Australia, so please read through our directions below for Sending samples from Outside Australia. Overseas customers will find the prices converted to their local currency by PayPal at no cost.
Standard Soil Balance Analysis (Overseas) (ST-1) $120.00
SWEP offer Secure Online Payment with PayPal for online ordering of the Standard and Complete soil tests and popular optional extras (our usual payment methods are still available too). Please note, not all options are available via PayPal – for our complete range of tests and options please click here and follow the submission directions for other payment methods. For Overseas clients please see Soil tests (Overseas orders) above. NB. Prices below are in Australian Dollars (AUD), and do not include Australian GST. For Australian residents using PayPal, this will be automatically added as you go.
Please note: Since not everyone needs a sample kit to send their samples, we do not automatically send a kit when orders are received. If you are ordering tests from within Australia and would like a sample kit, please contact us to request one.
Ordering Instructions:
After clicking on one of the Add to Cart buttons you will be directed to the PayPal site and a simple 5-step process:
Step 1: Purchase details. The details of your purchase will appear in a new window. Here you have two choices – either proceed with the payment process or (if you want to add more items) continue to select other tests or optional items.
Step 2: Payment method. Once you are ready to proceed you can either use a PayPal account, or your credit card details.
Step 3: Your details. Here you will be asked for your postal address details (the place you want us to send the test report) and either your credit card or PayPalaccount details (depending on your choice in step 2). It is important to complete all details.
Step 4: Review details. Here you can check the details you have entered and make corrections if necessary. Once you click Continue, you will be returned to the SWEP website.
Step 5: Confirmation email. You will receive notification of your purchase details by email.
Important: Please print a copy of your email notification from PayPal and enclose it with the sample(s) as proof of purchase.
NB. Prices above do not include Australian GST. For Australian residents, this will be added during the payment process.