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Wyoming — UW Extension (lab-referral framework + Bighorn Basin sugarbeet/dry-bean overrides)

v1.0 (2026-05-27) · University of Wyoming Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Newsletter (Orozco A., 'Testing Your Soil,' June 2022, Crook County / Natrona County / Campbell County issues): https://wyoextension.org/natronacounty/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-june-agnewsletter.pdf — Extension Educator names Ward Laboratories Inc. (4007 Cherry Ave., Kearney, NE 68847; https://www.wardlab.com/) as the recommended commercial soil-test lab for WY producers; the S-4 routine package ($20/sample, 0-8" surface + 8-24" or 8-36" subsoil for residual NO3-N) is named as the most-recommended package. UW Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center (WRRC) 'Resources and Soil Kits' page (https://www.uwyo.edu/wrrc/resources-soil-kits.html) explicitly states: 'The soils information one can secure from proper use of these kits is not a substitute for soils information that can be had from certified soil testing laboratories' — confirming UW has no certified analytical lab. Wyoming Department of Agriculture 'Other WY Labs' page (https://agriculture.wy.gov/index.php?section=other-wy-labs) lists regional referrals: AgSource-Harris (Lincoln NE), Agvise (Northwood ND), Bighorn Co-op (Greybull WY), Simplot Grower Solutions (Powell WY), U-Idaho Analytical Sciences Lab (Moscow ID), Colorado State University Soil Water and Plant Testing Lab (Fort Collins CO), Utah State University Analytical Lab (North Logan UT). UW Powell R&E Center sugarbeet N response trials (Van Tassell et al. 1996 J. Production Agriculture 9:390; 1988-1993 data; 0-320 lb N/ac response curves): https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2134/jpa1996.0390 — historic UW research anchoring Bighorn Basin sugarbeet N convention. UNL Maharjan Soils Lab + Western Sugar Cooperative ERS N model study 2025-2029 (Ankomah/Heldt/De Silva/Maharjan, published Feb 2026 via Wyoming Livestock Roundup, originally UNL Feb 24): https://www.wylr.net/2026/02/27/optimizing-nitrogen-management-aids-sustainable-and-profitable-sugarbeet-production/ — relevant to NE/CO/WY contiguous sugarbeet production region. USDA NASS Wyoming Agricultural Statistics 2024 (https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wyoming/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/WY-2024-Bulletin.pdf) — top crops by production: alfalfa hay 1.77M tons from 590K ac, sugarbeets 847K tons, corn 9.03M bu, dry beans 299K cwt, winter wheat 90K harvested ac. Neighbor anchor: Colorado State University Extension Crop Series — calibrated Olsen-P + Mehlich-3 high-plains framework; secondary anchor Montana State University Extension EB0161, reprinted December 2023, by Jacobsen, Jackson, and Jones — for northern WY mountain valleys.