This document discusses the recent 14th ISSPA conference held in Kona, Hawaii. It provides details on the workshops, field trips, and presentations during the 4-day symposium on topics related to soil and plant analysis. It also recognizes David Kissel as the recipient of the 2015 JB Jones Award for his contributions to the field over five decades. Additionally, it provides updates on SPAC activities including the board meeting, membership renewal, and new soil scoop offerings. Finally, it highlights the accreditation and expanded scope of reference materials for the Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency program.

1. Message from President Rob MikkelsonMessage from President Rob MikkelsonMessage from President Rob MikkelsonMessage from President Rob Mikkelson
The Soil~Plant Analyst
A NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE AGRICULTURAL LABORATORY INDUSTRY
A Quarterly Newsletter of the Soil and Plant Analysis Council, Inc., Spring 2015
Inside this IssueInside this IssueInside this IssueInside this Issue
SPAC Board MeetingSPAC Board MeetingSPAC Board MeetingSPAC Board Meeting 3
14th ISSPA, Kona, HI14th ISSPA, Kona, HI14th ISSPA, Kona, HI14th ISSPA, Kona, HI 4
JB Jones Award WinnerJB Jones Award WinnerJB Jones Award WinnerJB Jones Award Winner 7
SPAC ScoopsSPAC ScoopsSPAC ScoopsSPAC Scoops 8
ALP UpdateALP UpdateALP UpdateALP Update 9
Mid Atlantic MeetingMid Atlantic MeetingMid Atlantic MeetingMid Atlantic Meeting 13
Memoriam Don HorneckMemoriam Don HorneckMemoriam Don HorneckMemoriam Don Horneck 14
Memoriam Yash KalraMemoriam Yash KalraMemoriam Yash KalraMemoriam Yash Kalra 15
2015/2016 Calendar2015/2016 Calendar2015/2016 Calendar2015/2016 Calendar 16
Next IssueNext IssueNext IssueNext Issue
Next Issue June 2015Next Issue June 2015Next Issue June 2015Next Issue June 2015
Spot Light On SoilSpot Light On SoilSpot Light On SoilSpot Light On Soil 10
The Soil~Plant Analyst is published
quarterly by The Soil and Plant
Analysis Council, Inc. Editor: Robert
Miller, Contact Information: Soil
and Plant Analysis Council, ; Tel:
970-686-5702, email: secre-
tary@spcouncil.com web site:
http://www.spcouncil.com
The 14th ISSPA was held last week in Kona on the
big Island of Hawaii. We had a great meeting which
started with a two day pre-symposium tour of the
island of Ohau with a visits to the Polynesian Cul-
tural Center, Diamond Head and the USS Arizona
site Pearl Harbor Museum. The symposium was
held at the Marriot Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach
Hotel on Kailua bay. The symposium program began with four
1/2 day workshops covering laboratory quality, plant tissue inter-
pretation, soil health and special session on unravelling potas-
sium requirements and nutrition. The first day ended with a luau
dinner and cultural show for symposium delegates.
The 2nd day of the symposium focused on an introduction to Ha-
waiian Agriculture, overview of soil and plant testing in North
America, challenges in evaluating potassium fertility and ended
with a session the “International Year of Soils”. Two afternoon
sessions focused on data collection and soil analyses.
Day 3 of the symposium was a full day field trip to Hawaiian
Chocolate, a Living History Farm, botanical Garden and Mountain
thunder coffee on the west side of Kona.
The ISSPA 4th Day symposium focus had two sessions on potas-
sium nutrition and soil fertility, with presentations from authors
from in France, Germany, England, New Zealand, Australia,
China, Brazil and the USA. Afternoon sessions included presenta-
tions on phosphorus, zinc nutrition; nitrogen management carbon
mineralization. The last day included two sessions on potassium
soil test calibration; new soil analysis technologies; NIR instru-
mentation and CEC. It was great symposium and we would like to
thank all who attended. More details and photos from the sym-
posium can be found within this issue of the SPAC Newsletter.

2. Page 2 Spring 2015
Council Officers
President:
Rob Mikkelson— IPNI Tel: 209 725-0382.
Email: rmikkelsen@ipni.net
Vice President Elect
Hailin Zhang Oklahoma State University
405-744-9566; hailin.zhang@okstate.edu
Past President
Rao Mylavarapu— UFL, Tel: 352-294-3113
Email: raom@ufl.edu
Secretary/Treasurer:
Robert O. Miller— CSU, Tel: 970-686-5702.
Email: rmiller@lamar.colostate.edu
Individual Class Members:
Merle Vigil– USDA, Tel: 970 345-0517 .
Email: merle.vigil@ars.usda.gov
Brad Joern- Purdue Univ., Tel: 765-494-
9767. E-mail: bjoern@purdue.edu
Laboratory Class Members:
Dustin Sawyer–Rock River Lab, Tel: 920-
261-0446. Email: dus-
tin_sawyer@rockriverlab.com
Steve Harrold– ServiTech Labs, Tel: 620-
227-7123 email: ste-
veh@servitechlabs.com
Quirine Ketterings— Cornell University, Tel:
607 255 3061. Email: Qmk2@cornell.edu
Dirk Holstege-- UCD, Tel: 530-752-0148.
Email: dmholstege@ucdavis.edu
Corporate Members:
Oscar F. Ruiz, A&L Memphis Laboratory,
Memphis, TN. Tel: 901 213-2400,
oruiz@allabs.com
Ray Ward-- Ward Laboratories. Tel: 308-
234-2418. Email: RayWard@wardlab.com
Renew your membershipRenew your membershipRenew your membershipRenew your membership
Its time to renew your membership in the Soil and Plant
Analysis Council for 2015. Membership includes quarterly
newsletters, announcements on laboratory analysis work-
shops, laboratory supply discounts, discount registration for
the international symposiums. Membership include discount
rates for two journals: Communications in Soil and Plant
Analysis and the Journal of Plant Nutrition. Journal subscrip-
tion includes on-line access to past Journal issues. To renew
for 2015: contact Dr. Robert Miller SPAC Secretary a member
“.
NECi,NECi,NECi,NECi, Enzyme-based nitrate-N
analysis reagents and test kits
for laboratory and field. Analy-
sis of soil, water, or plant ma-
terials.
For more information on lab
and ag Applications, please
contact Andrew Sparda
Andrew@intuitiveconsultingsolutions.com

3. The Soil ~ Plant Analyst Page 3
.
SPAC Board Meeting 2014SPAC Board Meeting 2014SPAC Board Meeting 2014SPAC Board Meeting 2014
The 2014 Soil and Plant Analysis Board meeting was held Monday
November 3, 2014, at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, Long
Beach, CA. The board reviewed progress of publication of the
manuscripts from the 13th ISSPA in Communications in Soil and
Plant Analysis being prepared by Dr. Stuart Pettygrove. Publica-
tion is to be completed in March 2015. Final plans were discussed for the 14th ISSPA sym-
posium to be held in Kona, Hawaii, January 26-30, 2015. Two proposals were reviewed for
the 15th ISSPA were discussed and the board tentatively selected China as the site for the
symposium during the summer of 2017.
A proposal was submitted for SPAC to development Lab Botanical Certification Program
(BCP) for labs performing botanical analysis. BCP would benefit laboratory participants,
SPAC and provide additional assurance to laboratory clientele. A
four member committee was established to review the proposal.
The board remembered the passing of Dr. Don Horneck of Oregon
State University, September 28, 2014. He had been a member of
SPAC since 1989, and was SPAC president from 2006-2008.

4. Page 4 Spring 2015
14th ISSPA14th ISSPA14th ISSPA14th ISSPA ---- Kona, Hawaii USAKona, Hawaii USAKona, Hawaii USAKona, Hawaii USA
Cacao pod on
tree, Hawaiian
Chocolate
ISSPA Tour
Members
Bob Cooper owner of
Hawaiian Chocolate
Photos of the 14th ISSPAPhotos of the 14th ISSPAPhotos of the 14th ISSPAPhotos of the 14th ISSPA
Mid Week SymposiumMid Week SymposiumMid Week SymposiumMid Week Symposium
TourTourTourTour

5. Page 5
Page 5The Soil ~ Plant Analyst
Living History
Farm Vegetable,
oriental white
radish
Sunrise on
Kailua Bay
Nat and Anne
Dellavalle on
Mid-week Tour

6. Page 6 Spring 2015
14th ISSPA Group Reception Photo January 29, 2015

7. David Kissel, is recipient of the JB Jones Award pre-
sented at the 14th ISSPA at the symposium held in
Kona, Hawaii. Dr. Kissel has been an agronomist/soil
fertility expert for five 5 decades. He obtained his un-
dergraduate degree in Agronomy from Purdue Univer-
sity in 1965, and spent the next four years obtaining
and finishing his masters and doctoral degrees from
the University of Kentucky with major in Soil Fertility
and Chemistry. He held faculty positions at Texas A&M
University (1969-1978), Kansas State University (1978-
1988), and University of Georgia (1989-2013, and is
currently an emeritus professor). He is an author or co-
author of over 100 refereed scientific articles and nu-
merous popular scientific articles on nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use and cycling
in soils and crops, and active on soil acidity research. He is an active member of Soil
Science Society of America, served as Editor in Chief of the Soil Science Society of
America for three years (1988-1990) and as President of the Soil Science Society of
America (1995). He received various honors including the Fellow of the American Soci-
ety of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the American Association for
the Advancement of Science. In 2006, he received the Robert E. Wagner Award (Senior
Scientist) from the Potash and Phosphate Institute. He was president of the Soil and
Plant Analysis Council 2009-2010 and organized the 11th ISSPA held in Santa Rosa CA
in August 2009. The SPAC board would like to congratulate Dr Kissel on his accom-
plishments and recognition of receiving the JB Jones Award for 2015.
The Soil ~ Plant Analyst Page 7
JB Jones AwardJB Jones AwardJB Jones AwardJB Jones Award————David KisselDavid KisselDavid KisselDavid Kissel
JB Jones Award winners (left to right) Nat Dellavalle (1995), John Ryan (2007), David Kissel (2015),
Ray Ward (2011), Arrie Van Vuuren (2013) and George Rayment (2003) attending the 14th ISSPA..

8. Page 8 Spring 2015
www.flowinjection.com, +1 425 376 0450
The Soil and Plant Analysis Council offers standard soil scoops for soil testing laborato-
ries (formerly marketed by the Illinois Soil Testing Association ISTA). Standard scoops
sizes are: 1g, 2g, 4g, 5g, and 10g based on an assumed soil density of 1.18 g per cubic
centimeter, and are manufactured from
high quality steel with wooden handles.
New for 2015 SPAC offers two handle
sizes 3.0” and 4.5” in length, along with
high density foam grips. Additional scoop
sizes of 0.5g and 15 g are now available,
and special soil scoops based on volume
or scooped mass density can be specialty
ordered per request.
Scoops can be purchased via an email order addressed to the SPAC secretary, rmil-
ler@lamar.colostate.edu.
SPAC Standard Soil ScoopsSPAC Standard Soil ScoopsSPAC Standard Soil ScoopsSPAC Standard Soil Scoops

9. The Soil ~ Plant Analyst Page 9
ALP Program CertificationALP Program CertificationALP Program CertificationALP Program Certification
The Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency Program (ALP) is now an accredited proficiency
provider for agricultural laboratory testing under ISO 17043 by ACLASS, an accreditation
body for proficiency providers in North America. This achievement required an extensive
external audit of program standards, documentation of operations and represents the
level of professional expertise characterized by the program.
New for 2015, ALP will utilize soils collected from each of the four US regional work-
groups and a fifth representing Canada each proficiency cycle. The program has devel-
oped an extensive archive of new soil materials from
each US region and recently augmented the archive
with additional soil collections from six Canadian prov-
inces.
Together accreditation and enlargement of the scope
of proficiency materials, the ALP program continues to
demonstrates its commitment to the Ag laboratory
analysis industry.

10. Page 10 Spring 2015
The Soil and Plant AnalystThe Soil and Plant AnalystThe Soil and Plant AnalystThe Soil and Plant Analyst is pleased to announce Spotlight on SoilSpotlight on SoilSpotlight on SoilSpotlight on Soil an ongoing practitioner pro-
file written by Andrew Sparda.
Earlier this year I had an interview with Dr. Robert Schindelbeck of Cornell University who as-
sisted with the development of the Adapt N model.
What motivated you to pursue a graduate degree in soil science? I was raised in a high school
environment of the 1970’s where I developed a biased critique of the world I was about to en-
ter in to. It seemed that careers were driven towards specialization in rather specific manufac-
turing and engineering fields. General fields of study were seen as weak and unfocused. It
seemed to me then that the alternative agricultural movement was demeaned and was treated
as an escape from the economically driven social realities of a consumer-based marketplace.
And off to college I went. After two semesters in engineering at college, I was fortunate to take
a soil science class as an elective. I enjoyed an understanding of the workings of natural sys-
tems and the interdependencies of basic systems the ecological strategies of nature. I re-
evaluated my former lessons and realized that I could use a specialized approach to obtain in-
formation and then try to weave these pieces into a functioning whole.
With all of the "Buy Local" promotion and the increase in organic farming of late...How do you
see this influencing food safety? Buying local keeps RETAIL food dollars within the farm com-
munity. It is the fact that consumers can find (local) growers with (local) products that they
want that takes the money “from the middleman’s pocket” and puts it into the grower’s. Some-
times retail marketing requires time and effort that the actual farmer might not have time for
but his / her FAMILY can perform these tasks. Consumers also have opportunities to interact
with producers and their families to close the gap between food production and food consump-
tion. It appears that this interest from consumers towards growers promotes locally produced
food choices by consumers which might include for example whole fruits over sticky, packaged
fruit-like chewables.
When visiting labs I often hear the complaint that "they can't find qualified applicants with an
agricultural or laboratory background." There is a significant increase in Soil Health awareness
but a shortage of soil science majors. How do you propose we change that? We are seeing a
large influx of sharp young minds eager to learn about soil and plant growth processes. These
students want to experience nature “from the ground up” so that they can be part of food pro-
duction coupled with land stewardship. The young people come from all sorts of diverse back-
grounds but repeatedly we hear them say that they want to understand the dynamic complex
ecosystem called a garden soil. By understanding some of the machinations behind the devel-
opment of a fertile soil a person can then participate in a directed “best management plan” to
support their growing system.
There seems to be a widespread movement across the country, but significantly young people,
who are committing themselves to understanding the natural processes involved in maintain-
ing a food supply. They see great opportunity to create synergies and positive feedback be-
tween producing food, enjoying it and returning waste to produce and sustain the cycle. They

11. Page 11The Soil ~ Plant Analyst
are clever enough to also know that there is an important economic component to consider
when evaluating options. These young leaders will develop new niches of opportunity for eco-
nomic reward by answering public demand for “greener” food choices.
There is great value in the understanding of the biological as well as the chemical and physical
properties. From your perspective what is the most critical parameter of an agricultural labora-
tory services work-up? The Cornell Soil Health Assessment was borne out of a collaboration of
University faculty, research staff, Extension Educators and growers who were dissatisfied with
diagnosing crop growth using the limited information obtained from routine N-P-K soil testing.
The group’s expertise spanned soil and plant disciplines and each member had experienced
situations where the standard nutrient recommendation showed very adequate levels of essen-
tial nutrients but crop performance was sub-optimal. It was agreed that we needed to find a
suite of soil tests that “covered all the bases”- going beyond nutrient supply to tests of the soil
physical environment and to testing of the soil biological realm. We have come a long way with
evaluating and managing soil fertility but if there were other or even greater limitations to plant
performance we should know about these so that they too could be managed.
Much brainstorming and field testing work focused on identifying rapid, inexpensive and mean-
ingful soil tests that could be used to this end. A key component of the entire strategy of the
program was to bring focus to the essential soil processes that a “healthy” soil must perform.
If these processes could be measured with “indicator” soil tests, ranges could be developed to
score the soil capacity to perform the functions. The fruit of these efforts was the Cornell Soil
Health Report which displays the lab results from each of the tests and then scores each result
as low medium or high for that soil textural class. An overall Soil Health score is produced to
provide a reference value for the field tested or the varied management practices within a field.
Using the above suite of tests we could now have an indication of soil biological functioning
and which functions require attention to restore balance to the system. These soil processes
could be augmented through soil management - changing crop choices and rotations, incorpo-
rating cover crops, adding organic or mineral nutrient amendments or changing tillage prac-
tices. Providing linkages between these management practices and their effects on the essen-
tial soil functions enables growers to adjust practices useful to their farm. Each farm enter-
prise can work through their specific circumstances to find their best strategies to address con-
cerns.
Water quality is a key aspect of the soil analysis interpretation...How do you see emerging tech-
nology working to the benefit of such agricultural and ecological assessments? Soil quality is
the focus of our work but we also recognize that air quality and water quality must also be con-
sidered when managing agricultural production systems. In large scale agricultural production
of cereal grains, electronic displays of color coded field data, especially yields, allows for wide
comparisons across areas or management zones. Familiarity with these emerging technolo-
gies provides another tool to enhance both sustainability and economic viability. Again fresh
young minds bringing computer skills which make them capable of displaying complex informa-
tion in ways that enable growers to make better management decisions. Growers are increas-
ingly seeking expertise and are willing to pay consultants for information and for providing an-
swers to their questions .

12. Page 12 Spring 2015
m
Quite often I am astonished as to how many growers do not review their soil laboratory reports
or precisely quantify their inputs and / or amendments. How can we work to bring more trans-
parency to data management in agriculture? We see more and more effort and expertise being
devoted to data collection using a wide variety of instruments and devices. Large amounts of
data can be collected across a season or harvest. Management of this collected data allows a
person to “use what they already know” and build upon it to ask questions to move forward.
Without assessing your starting point and understanding where you are at, new information can
quickly become overwhelming. The Adapt N interface compiles a lot of data for the user defined
field soil types, cropping systems and soil management approaches. Many tables with useful
output parameters (precipitation input per event, crop growth stage prediction, soil nitrate levels
in the rooting zone) are provided to the user. Repeated runs of the model using altered soil
management practices allows for “scenario testing” to evaluate the effects of these practices on
the soil parameters and the predicted N requirement of the crop.
.
The Adapt N model is a very powerful tool and clearly represents compelling innovation. Has
Adapt N gained significant international traction? The Adapt-N model couples computer as-
sisted record keeping, daily weather information and a plant growth model to predict nitrogen
levels in the soil and plant. From the user supplied input data the model shows what nitrogen
levels are found in the soil on that day and an output is generated each day we can see the in-
fluence of our soil management (chemical additions, plowing, planting date, etc.) on nitrogen
concentrations in the soil profile by creating new “runs” of different scenarios to learn of out-
comes from the management changes. The model output includes a daily graphical display of
inorganic nitrogen levels by depth. The effects of past rainfall on the nitrogen levels can then be
easily seen. Ultimately the model produces a nitrogen fertilizer recommendation to maximize
corn (or commodity) production.
Accurately meeting corn nitrogen needs is difficult in the best of years. Throughout the season
inorganic nitrogen is either added by the grower as fertilizer or made available from the soil or-
ganic nitrogen storage. The goal is to ensure that nitrogen is available in adequate amounts in
the soil profile when the plant can assimilate it. If a large nitrogen pool is available early in the
season before the crop can access it, it may be wasted if plant roots are too short to access it.
Later, it may be leached away or denitrified to gas and ultimately lost to the environment while
leaving the crop with yield reducing nitrogen levels in the soil. This weather and data driven ap-
proach to soil nitrogen dynamics is finding its way into use by progressive growers interested.
The cost of using the model is quite modest for the potential savings in nitrogen cost across
large acreages and beneficial to off-site land and water where any unused nitrogen could have
negative effects. Here again we are seeing agricultural consulting enterprises filling a niche of
being available to assist with the computer interfacing aspects of the model.
What do you enjoy most in your ongoing research and passionate outreach work? Each day
there are persons who become interested in understanding the complex and interwoven as-
pects of nature. There are opportunities to teach and learn from each other and often it seems
that a good “old” idea presented in a new way can be life-changing or life-affirming. Becoming
part of an agricultural production system supplies an individual with opportunity to contribute to
the essential task of feeding a society. Finding your way is enhanced with an authentic under-
standing of the pieces of the whole. Natural systems are simply waiting for inquisitive individu-
als to recognize and explore their workings and their beauty.
Andrew Sparda: Email: Andrew@intuitiveconsultingsolutions.com
Website: www.intuitiveconsultingsolutions.com

13. Page 13The Soil ~ Plant Analyst
Mid-Atlantic Soil Workgroup Meeting
The 2015 Mid2015 Mid2015 Mid2015 Mid----Atlantic Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Working Group MeetingAtlantic Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Working Group MeetingAtlantic Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Working Group MeetingAtlantic Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Working Group Meeting was organ-
ized by John Spargo of Penn State Univ. and was held February 10-11, 2015 in Richmond,
VA at the Embassy Suites Hotel sponsored by Southern States Cooperative. Presentations
over the two program included: North American potash supply chain - Robert Mullen, Pot-
ashCorp; Do we need to revisit critical soil test K for corn in Delmarva? – Amy Shober, Uni-
versity of Delaware; Soil testing quality assurance and quality control – Leticia Sonon, Uni-
versity of Georgia; Measurements of active soil organic matter – Steve Culman, Ohio State
University; Interpretation of routine measures of soil quality: qualitative or quantitative? –
Josh McGrath, University of Kentucky; Interpretation of cation ratios in corn tissue – Robert
Miller, Colorado State University; Reducing matrix effects in an axial viewed plasma – Mike
Rutzke, Cornell University; Cotton petiole testing as a diagnostic tool – Hunter Frame, Vir-
ginia Tech University; Sulfur Fertility for Kentucky Agriculture – Edwin Ritchey, University of
Kentucky; The Potential use of fresh squeezed leaf sap as a diagnostic method to monitor
the nutrient status of plants – Mike Rutzke, Cornell University; Programs on soil restoration
standard for New Jersey – Stephanie Murphy, Rutgers University.
Five presentations were made by instrument vendors which included: New ICP spectrome-
ter technologies from Spectro – Bob Dussich, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments; Elemental
Analyzer Consumables– Scott Hughes, EA Consumables; Sample introduction system for
analysis of soil samples by ICP-AES – Sergei Leiken, Texas Scientific Products; High
throughput trace elemental soil analysis using ICP-OES – Craig Seeley, Thermo Scientific;
Elementar update – Mark Larson, Elementar. ALP update – Robert Miller, Technical Direc-
tor Colorado State University and NAPT update – Karen Gartley.

14. Page 14
Spring 2015
Donald Horneck, passed away suddenly on September 28, 2014 at
his home in Irrigon, OR. He was 56. He was born February 28, 1958
in Chicago, IL and earned his BA degree at Monmouth College Mon-
moth, IL in 1980 majoring in Geology and Biology. In 1982 he
earned his MS degree is Soil Science from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and managed the Mississippi State University Ex-
tension Service Soil Testing Laboratory in Starkville, MS from 1982-
1984. From 1984 through 1993 He managed the Oregon State Uni-
versity Soil Testing Laboratory and in 1994 he graduated with his
PhD in Soil Science with Chemistry and Environmental Engineering minors and was hired by
Agri-Check in Umatilla, OR as the Soil Chemist/Agronomist. Since 2000 he has been em-
ployed as an Extension Agronomist by Oregon State University at the Hermiston Agricultural
Research & Extension Center and a member of the OSU faculty. His research on potato and
onion production practices in eastern Oregon and Washington improved production prac-
tices in the region and he was often called upon to provide educational training on potato
production. He held certifications as a Certified Crop Advisor and a Certified Professional
Soil Scientist and received multiple university faculty and professional society awards.
He was an active member in Soil Science Society of America and served as S-8 Division chair
from 2005-2006; chair of the NAPT oversight committee S890 2006-2007; and served on
S877 and S899 committees. He was an active member in the of the Soil and Plant Analysis
Council (SPAC) for twenty-five years and served as President 2005 through 2007 and helped
organize the 3rd International Symposium in Olympia, WA and 10th in Budapest, Hungary. He
contributed three chapters to a SPAC book entitled “Handbook of Methods for Plant Analy-
sis” in 1998. He was a member of the Western Society of Soil Science, Oregon Society of
Soil Scientists and National Extension Association. He was an active member of the Western
Education/Extension and Research Activities (WERA-103) Committee and assisted in plan-
ning eight workshops and co-authored the publication on “Soil, Plant and Water Reference
Methods for the Western Region” as well as authored several articles for the regional news-
letter. He authored/co-authored thirty-six extension publications, nine peer reviewed papers
and forty-five scientific abstract proceedings.
Dr. Don Horneck was a member of the advisory board for the Pacific Northwest Vegetable
Association and was active in planning annual conventions. He provided educational pesti-
cide and CCA licensing for field men in eastern Oregon. He had made international lectures
on atmospheric ammonia in Mexico and Guatemala. Recently he provided consulting ser-
vices internationally to developing a soil testing laboratory at INAGRO Scientific and Techno-
logic Park of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. He was active in the Hermiston commu-
nity as a soccer coach and referee in AYSO and highschool soccer in eastern Oregon. Don
especially enjoyed rock collecting and gem polishing and spent many hours collecting across
Eastern, OR. He was a member and former president of the Hermiston Hatrockhounds and
local chapter of the Lions International. He is survived by his wife Victoria Horneck and three
children.
Memoriam: Don HorneckMemoriam: Don HorneckMemoriam: Don HorneckMemoriam: Don Horneck

15. Page 15The Soil ~ Plant Analyst
Memoriam: Yash KalraMemoriam: Yash KalraMemoriam: Yash KalraMemoriam: Yash Kalra
Yash P. Kalra passed away November 28, 2014, in Edmonton, Canada at
the age of 74. Yash is survived by his wife, son and daughter, brothers
and sisters and many nieces and nephews.
Yash was a soil chemist with Canadian Forest Service for 43 years.
Throughout his distinguished career, Yash made many contributions to
the scientific community. B.Sc. Agriculture, Agra University, Kanpur, India
1961, M.Sc. Agricultural Chemistry, Agra University, Kanpur, India, 1963,
and M.Sc. Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, 1967.
He was an active member of 13 professional societies and served as President for six of
these organizations. Yash received numerous awards and honors and was a Fellow of AOAC
International, Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Indian Society of Soil Science.
In addition to his career, Yash was an outstanding humanitarian. He was involved with 28
local charities and in 2011 the City of Edmonton awarded him with a “Salute to Excellence
Citation Award” for his years of contribution to his community. Those who knew Yash know
that he loved trivia and had a fantastic memory. Yash could, if challenged, write the entire
chemical periodic table, including molecular weights. He had a witty sense of humor, loved to
demonstrate puzzles and always a smile.
Soil and Plant Analysis Council ContributionsSoil and Plant Analysis Council ContributionsSoil and Plant Analysis Council ContributionsSoil and Plant Analysis Council Contributions
Yash was an active member of SPAC since 1988 and served on the Board of Directors from
1992 to 2004. As well, he served as President from 2000 to 2002 and was Chair of the 7th
ISSPA held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in August 2001. In 1993, he was awarded the “J.
Benton Jones, Jr. Award” for his significant contributions to the development of methods of
soil and plant analysis, contributions as an author of multiple publications and for his service
to the SPAC organization.
Yash served as a member of the Editorial Board, Communications in Soil Science and Plant
Analysis from 2001 to 2009. He also contributed a book chapter in T.M. Hood and J.B. Jones,
Jr. (Editors), “Soil and plant analysis in sustainable agriculture and environment” and func-
tioned as Editor for the “Handbook of reference methods for plant analysis” (1998). He was
also the Co-editor of “Soil analysis: Handbook of reference methods” (1999).
Yash has the distinction of being the only scientist in the world to have participated in all the
first twelve international symposia on soil and plant analysis: Fresno, CA (1989), Orlando, FL
(1991), Olympia, WA (1993), Wageningen, the Netherlands (1995), Bloomington, MN
(1997), Brisbane, Australia (1999), Edmonton, Canada (2001), Somerset West, South Africa
(2003), Cancun, Mexico (2005), Budapest, Hungary (2007), Santa Rosa, CA (2009), Chania,
Crete-Greece (2011).

16. Page 16
Calendar of Events for 2015Calendar of Events for 2015Calendar of Events for 2015Calendar of Events for 2015 ---- 2016201620162016
June, 7 - 9, 2015, SERA-IEG-6 Meeting, Gaines-
ville, Florida, USA.
June 21 - 25, 2015, Rhizosphere 4. Maastricht,
The Netherlands, www.rhizo4.org
July 5 - 10, 2015, Canadian Soil Science Society
Annual Meeting, Montreal, QC Canada
July 28 - 30, 2015, Info Ag, Saint Louis, Missouri,
USA, www.infoag.org
October 5 - 9, 2015 International Society of Root
Research - 9. Canberra, Australian Capital Terri-
tory, Australia http://wp.csiro.au/isrr9-2015/
November 4 - 5, 2015 - 05. North Central Exten-
sion-Industry Soil Fertility Conference. Des
Moines, IA. USA. http://www.ipni.net/ncsfc
November 15 - 18, 2015. ASA-CSA-SSSA Annual
Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
February 15 - 16, 2016. Mid-Atlantic Soil Work
Group Meeting, Richmond, Virginia, USA..
April 4 - 7, 2016. Western Coordinating Commit-
tee on Nutrient Management, WCC-103, Fort
Collins, CO.
Agricultural L aboratory Proficiency
Program — Serving the Testing Industry
The ALP Program Advantage
• ACLASS accredited provider of proficiency services
• Professional proficiency provider, CTS 41 years experience
• The most experienced provider of PT services in North America
• The only Ag Proficiency program that evaluates bias and precision
• The largest database for soil pH, P, K, Zn, and SOM in North America
• The only program to utilize soils from 54 States and Provinces
• Compliant with international accreditation, ILAC G13
• Exclusive PT provider for ISTA Laboratory Accreditation Program
• Sole program using certified soils for Environmental Analysis
To enroll contact: Collaborative Testing Services
(571) 434-1925 or (970) 686-5702
The ALP ProgramThe ALP ProgramThe ALP ProgramThe ALP Program ———— is a registered provider with EPTIS , a recognized International programis a registered provider with EPTIS , a recognized International programis a registered provider with EPTIS , a recognized International programis a registered provider with EPTIS , a recognized International program
for proficiency providers. For more information contact:for proficiency providers. For more information contact:for proficiency providers. For more information contact:for proficiency providers. For more information contact: Alp@cts-interlab.com