What Ward Laboratories does

Ward Laboratories is a full-service agricultural testing laboratory headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska, founded in June 1983 by Ray and Jolene Ward. The company provides analytical testing across seven major service categories: soil and soil health, feed and NIRS forage, plant tissue, water, fertilizer and lime, manure/compost, and craft-brewer water. Under second-generation President Dr. Nick Ward (appointed 2014), the lab operates from a nearly 36,000 sq. ft. facility with 50 full-time employees and has processed over 4 million samples cumulatively for more than 10,000 customers across 15+ countries. The technical stack combines Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for rapid forage analysis, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis for soil microbial populations, whole genome DNA sequencing for soil biological profiling, and traditional wet chemistry methods, supported by a PhD-level scientific team including R&D leadership hired in 2021 and 2024.

The business operates on a transactional, pay-as-you-go pricing model with à la carte tests ranging from $17.35 (basic soil) to $300 (plant testing kits) and bundled CEMA 216 packages priced $149.50-$250.35. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company's e-commerce storefront and direct mail-in sample submission; there is no field sales team, and customers ship physical samples to the Kearney facility and receive results with expert agronomic recommendations within 1-4 days. Revenue streams consist of per-sample laboratory testing fees plus e-commerce sales of testing kits and supplies (soil probes, hay probes, sample bags, prussic acid kits). The company holds multiple industry certifications (Iowa Certified, MAP, NFTA, ALTA SAC, AAFCO proficiency programs) and APHIS permits that enable international sample acceptance. Recent strategic moves include partnerships with The Soil Inventory Project (June 2026, integrating with Fieldvision for NRCS CEMA 216 workflows) and Super Biochar (September 2025, soil remediation and carbon diagnostics), positioning Ward at the intersection of regenerative agriculture, climate-tech verification, and traditional agronomic testing.

Name

Ward Laboratories

Legal name

Ward Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://wardlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ward Laboratories is a Kearney, Nebraska agricultural testing lab serving farmers, ranchers, livestock producers, agronomists, and craft brewers with soil, feed, plant, water, and manure analysis. Founded in 1983, the family-owned lab operates a 36,000 sq. ft. facility using NIRS, PLFA, and DNA sequencing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Regulatory Compliance Testing for Farms (Runoff, Nutrient Management, Wastewater) (AFACAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Tissue & Sap Testing Services (AFACAKAB), Nematode & Pest Diagnostics Services (AFACAKAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural testing services
• Soil health analysis
• Feed forage analysis
• Plant tissue testing
• Water quality testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Per-sample testing fees for soil, soil health, feed, forage, plant tissue, water, manure, and fertilizer analysis. Customers submit physical samples via mail or shipping, receive results via email with expert recommendations. Turnaround typically 1-4 days for most analyses.
2. Testing Kits and Supplies: Sale of testing kits (soil health, water, feed, plant analysis, prussic acid) and laboratory supplies (soil probes, sample bags, bottles, hay probes) through e-commerce storefront. Includes prepaid postage options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ward Laboratories is a full-service agricultural testing laboratory that analyzes soil, soil health, feed, forage, plant tissue, water, manure/compost, fertilizer, and lime samples submitted by customers via mail and shipping. The lab combines NIRS, PLFA microbial analysis, DNA sequencing, and traditional wet chemistry methods to deliver results with agronomic recommendations in 1-4 days. It also sells testing kits and sample collection supplies through its e-commerce storefront to support field sample collection.

Product overview

Ward Laboratories offers a full-service agricultural testing laboratory with a portfolio of interconnected testing services for soil, soil health, feed, forage, plant, water, manure, fertilizer, and lime analysis. The core offerings center on seven major testing categories (Soil & Soil Health, Feed & NIRS, Plant, Water, Fertilizer, Manure/Compost, and Craft Brewers), with specialized add-on modules like NRCS CEMA 216 Soil Health Testing, Soil DNA (whole genome sequencing), and Prussic Acid Testing available within each category. Testing kits and supplies support sample collection in the field. Services are priced à la carte with individual analysis available alongside bundled packages. The company also partners with The Soil Inventory Project (TSIP) for integrated platform access and with Super Biochar for soil remediation diagnostics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soil & Soil Health Analysis Comprehensive soil testing for agricultural producers including Routine Soil Analysis (S-1, S-4), Soil Health Assessment combining biological, chemical, and physical indicators, PLFA microbial analysis, nematode testing, and soil DNA sequencing. Used by farmers, ranchers, agronomists, and government programs to inform fertilizer, lime, and soil management decisions.
• Feed & NIRS Analysis Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis of forages and feeds providing protein, energy levels, forage quality indexes, and relative feed value; includes F-10 Cattle Ration Analysis, F-11 Proximate Analysis (poultry), F-12/F-13 Swine Ingredients/Diets, F-14 Pet Food Guaranteed Analysis, nitrate testing, prussic acid testing, and mineral analysis. Targets forage producers, livestock (cattle, horses, small ruminants, poultry, swine, pets, camelids) and pet food manufacturers.
• Plant Analysis Plant tissue testing services including P-2 Routine Plant Tissue Testing (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients), P-4 Stalk Nitrate (corn nitrogen fertilizer effectiveness), P-419 Cover Crop Routine, and P-420 Cover Crop Super Complete. Helps agronomists and crop consultants diagnose nutritional deficiencies and monitor plant nutrient content during the growing season.
• Water Analysis Water quality testing for agricultural, household, and commercial applications. Services include W-1 Irrigation Water Quality, W-4 Livestock Suitability, W-501 Brewer's Test, W-5 Household Complete Mineral Test, W-7 Household Coliform Bacteria, W-810 Hydroponic Fertilizer Test, and W-903 Wine Water Test. Analyzes minerals, contaminants, bacteria, and suitability for various uses including craft brewing, irrigation, livestock, and household.
• Fertilizer & Lime Analysis Fertilizer and lime quality testing including Screening Test (approximate fertilizer analysis measuring calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, zinc), Fertilizer Analysis ($17.60 per element), Lime Purity (%CaCO3), and Lime Quality (%ECC with fineness of grind and sieve analysis). Used by fertilizer dealers, lime producers, and growers to verify product quality.
• Manure, Slurry, Compost & Wastewater Analysis Nutrient composition testing for manure, slurry, and compost including Manure & Compost Standard (pH, nitrogen fractions, phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients, soluble salts, moisture, dry matter), Manure & Compost Standard + Ash, and Manure & Compost Standard + Total Carbon. Helps livestock and crop producers optimize crop application rates and meet environmental compliance.
• Testing Kits & Supplies Sample collection and shipping supplies sold via the Ward Laboratories e-commerce storefront, including Soil Probe Kit ($168-$173), Feed Testing Kit ($13.75-$61.25), Water Testing Kit ($54.50-$106.50), Soil Health Assessment Kit ($65), Prussic Acid Kit ($25), Plant Testing Kit ($160-$300), hay probes, sample bags, and shipping materials. Includes prepaid postage options for some kits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped Nebraska farmers lower nitrogen usage by roughly a third per bushel of corn grown

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• The Soil Inventory Project (TSIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Partnership announced June 24, 2026 combining Ward's analytical expertise with TSIP's Fieldvision platform for end-to-end soil sampling workflow. Includes turnkey pathway for USDA NRCS CEMA 216 protocol for Regenerative Pilot Program participants. Direct API connections enable seamless data flow between systems. Available at ward.tsip.org.
• Super BiocharcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025Strategic partnership announced September 18, 2025 pairing Super Biochar's AI-guided biochar blends with Ward Laboratories' independent soil diagnostics. Focuses on soil remediation, carbon removal, and brownfield projects. Formal launch at Climate Week NYC on September 26, 2025.
• Craft Brewer AssociationsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerWard Labs is endorsed by craft brewers' guilds and associations across the nation. Good beer starts with good water, and Ward provides affordable, accurate water testing kits to ensure brewing quality.
• NIRS Forage and Feed Testing ConsortiumcoreOthersRebecca Kern-Lunbery serves in multiple leadership roles on the NIRS Forage and Feed Testing Consortium Board, providing industry-standard calibration equations for forage analysis.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfy4zlRdL90rdL9w7kK3nAw
• Facebookfacebook.com/wardlabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ward-laboratories-inc

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ward Laboratories