Seeding has begun in some areas of Manitoba, but there's still time to get soil testing done.

While some producers test fields in the fall, Manitoba Agriculture crop nutrition specialist John Heard says soil testing also works well in the spring. He says it's important for farmers to test soils in order to take an inventory of the nutrients in the ground.

"If you're anywhere near sandy soils, right next to your nitrogen number you've got to be looking at your potassium number, particularly with the amount of soybeans being grown now. They're a heavy feeder on potassium and sandy soils just don't have the reserves that our clays do," Heard says.

Heard says it's also important to look at phosphorus and sulfur levels, although he adds in Manitoba, many of our soils are well-stocked with nutrient reserves.