Waters Agricultural Labs

What Waters Agricultural Labs does

Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited agricultural testing laboratory founded in 1976 in Camilla, Georgia, by Dr. Raymond L. Waters. The company provides analytical testing services spanning soil, plant tissue, nematode, water, feed, fertilizer/lime, manure, microbiology, mycotoxin, heavy metals, pesticide/herbicide residue, and food safety analysis, plus specialty crop programs (Cotton Petiole, Onion Pungency). Four fully operational laboratories serve growers, agricultural dealers, food safety customers, livestock producers, and hobbyists across Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Mississippi, with FastBack 24-48-hour turnaround on most services.

The company's technology stack is built around AOAC, EPA, Standard, and FDA test methods executed by staff agronomists, chemists, microbiologists, and technicians, with proprietary analytical packages such as Soil Health Testing (Solvita CO2 Burst, Active Carbon, VAST Aggregate Stability, Organic Matter), SAP Analysis, BeCrop microbiome DNA testing via a Biome Makers partnership (Illumina MiSeq sequencing), and CEMA-216 soil health aligned with the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program. Data management is centralized in the proprietary LabTalk Online portal (MODUS-compliant, multi-user, multi-location), supplemented by Stripe-processed online bill pay. Precision agriculture offerings include GIS mapping and FieldAlytics software reselling.

Commercially, Waters Lab runs a hybrid sales-led and self-serve model: direct sales to agricultural dealers, growers, and food safety customers through four physical lab locations and dedicated phone/email channels, paired with self-service channels including the LabTalk Online portal for data/results and the Express Shop e-commerce platform (watersag.net) targeting small growers and homeowners. Revenue streams are primarily transactional (per-sample laboratory testing), with subscription-style recurring access via LabTalk Online, transactional fees via Express Shop, and professional services for precision agriculture mapping. Pricing is largely pay-as-you-go; standard sampling supplies are provided free of charge while soil probes and specific service pricing require direct lab contact. The company holds ISO 17025 (ANAB), USDA FSIS, USDA AMS, AOAC, AAFCO, and multiple state proficiency accreditations, and has no disclosed external investors, subsidiaries, or M&A activity.

Name

Waters Agricultural Labs

Legal name

Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://watersag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waters Agricultural Laboratories is a privately held, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited agricultural testing laboratory founded in 1976 that provides soil, plant, water, feed, fertilizer, microbiology, and food safety analysis from four laboratories across the Southeastern United States, serving growers, agricultural dealers, food safety customers, and hobbyists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Laboratory Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Testing & Nutrient Analysis Services (AFACAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural Water Testing Services (Irrigation, Groundwater, Surface Water) (AFACAKAC), Environmental & Regulatory Compliance Testing for Farms (Runoff, Nutrient Management, Wastewater) (AFACAKAN), Water, Ice & Process Utility Testing for Food Operations (AFALAAAJ), Process & Ingredient Water Testing (Product Contact/Blending Water) (AFALAJAB), Microbiological Water Testing (Coliform/E. coli, HPC, Legionella) (AFALAJAD), Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

Keywords

• Agricultural laboratory testing
• Soil fertility analysis
• Plant tissue testing
• Water quality testing
• Precision agriculture services

Headquarters

HQ city

Camilla

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Core revenue from agricultural laboratory testing services including soil analysis, plant tissue analysis, water analysis, nematode analysis, feed analysis, fertilizer analysis, microbiology, pesticide residue testing, mycotoxin detection, and specialized programs like cotton petiole and onion pungency testing. Services offered to agricultural dealers, growers, farmers, and various crop producers.
2. Online Express Shop: E-commerce sales of soil sampling bundles, water testing kits, soil sampling probes, and supplies for small growers, homeowners, and hobbyists through the online Express Shop.
3. Precision Agriculture Services: GIS mapping services, custom application maps, and precision agriculture data integration services for agricultural dealers and growers.
4. LabTalk Online Subscription: Data management portal providing electronic viewing of sample results, report downloads, data export, invoice viewing, and online payments for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Waters Agricultural Laboratories operates four ISO/IEC 17025-accredited agricultural testing laboratories across the Southeastern United States (Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi) providing analytical services such as soil testing, plant tissue analysis, nematode assays, water quality, feed and fertilizer analysis, microbiology, mycotoxin detection, food safety testing, and precision agriculture mapping. The company also offers LabTalk Online data management software and an Express Shop for sampling supplies targeting small growers.

Product overview

Waters Agricultural Laboratories is an agricultural testing laboratory offering a comprehensive portfolio of analytical services across 4 laboratory locations in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Mississippi. The core offering consists of soil, plant, water, feed, fertilizer, and microbiology testing services. LabTalk Online serves as the primary data management platform for accessing results and making payments. Advanced diagnostic services include BeCrop DNA testing for soil microbiome analysis, SAP Analysis for plant nutrient monitoring, and Soil Health Testing packages including CEMA-216 for NRCS programs. The company also provides precision agriculture mapping services and an e-commerce Express Shop for small growers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LabTalk Online: Online data management portal for electronic viewing of sample results, downloading reports, exporting data, printing reports, viewing invoices and making payments.
• Express Shop
• Wintex Videos

Products and services

• Soil Analysis Core soil nutrient analysis service for agricultural growers and dealers, offering multiple packages from basic to comprehensive nutrient analysis to support fertilizer application decisions.
• Plant Analysis Plant tissue testing to detect growth cycle nutrient deficiencies and hidden plant hunger, including basic tests for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, boron, zinc, manganese, iron, and copper with recommendations.
• Nematode Analysis Nematode identification and population count analysis in soil samples with treatment recommendations to prevent crop damage and yield loss.
• Water Analysis Water quality testing for irrigation suitability, livestock suitability, fish pond recommendations, domestic suitability, poultry suitability, nutrient solution, FHA/real estate testing, and spray water testing.
• Fertilizer & Lime Analysis Quality control testing for fertilizers and raw materials using AOAC methods with 24-48 hour turnaround, testing for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium content in blends, homogenized products, by-products, liquid or dry fertilizers.
• Feed Analysis Feed and forage testing including moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorus, and mineral analysis to ensure livestock receive adequate nutrients.
• Food Safety Testing ISO 17025 accredited food safety services including microbiological analysis of irrigation water, fruits, vegetables, soil, plants, manure, and compost, plus E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria testing and pesticide residue analysis for GAP compliance.
• Microbiology Microbiological analysis using AOAC, Standard, or EPA test methods that are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, including coliform counts, E. coli plate counts, yeast and mold counts, and Staphylococcus aureus counts.
• Pesticide/Herbicide Residue Testing

Quantifiable outcome

• FastBack 24-48 hour turnaround on most services
• +2 more outcomes

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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Biome MakerscoreTechnology or IntegrationWaters Agricultural Laboratories has partnered with Biome Makers to offer BeCrop DNA Analysis—a high-resolution analysis of the soil microbiome using 16S rRNA and ITS marker genes sequenced by Illumina MiSeq Technology. This partnership enables analysis of soil microbial communities, nutrient cycling bacteria and fungi, soilborne pathogens, biocontrol agents, and natural PGR producers for comprehensive soil biological quality assessment.
• FieldAlyticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaters Agricultural Laboratories is a reseller of FieldAlytics Precision Ag Software, an advanced web/cloud-based mapping system featuring Asset Tracking, Zone Management, Automated Yield and As Applied Integration, Variable Rate Seeding, Aerial Imagery, and Work Order Tracking. Waters Lab provides training and support for the software.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Bioanalytical Services: Eurofins is the global parent/operator behind Waypoint and other ag-testing brands, offering food safety, environmental, and agricultural testing at massive scale. Comparable offering but as part of a broader lab-services portfolio rather than a focused agricultural player.
• SGS Agribusiness: SGS is a global testing and inspection giant with a dedicated agricultural services line (soil, water, fertilizer, crop protection, seed testing). An incumbent peer with similar offering but materially larger footprint, multi-region logistics, and broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Midwest Laboratories: Midwest Laboratories is a privately held ISO 17025-accredited agricultural testing lab offering soil, plant, water, feed, manure and pet food analysis. Highly comparable mid-size independent peer with similar accreditations and testing portfolio.
• ServiTech Laboratories: ServiTech operates as an independent ISO 17025-accredited agricultural testing laboratory serving growers, dealers and agronomists with soil, plant tissue, water and feed analysis. Functions as a direct competitor in roughly the same customer segments as Waters Lab.
• A&L Analytical Laboratories: A&L Analytical is one of the largest independent agricultural testing labs in North America, offering soil, plant tissue, water, feed, fertilizer and microbiology analysis. Directly comparable to Waters Lab in core service mix and independent, privately held positioning.
• AGQ Labs USA: AGQ Labs provides agricultural testing services (soil, plant tissue, water, pesticide residue, food safety) with US operations. Comparable peer in service mix, accreditations, and customer base, especially in specialty crops and food safety compliance testing.
• Waypoint Analytical (subsidiary of Eurofins): Waypoint operates one of the largest US ag-testing lab networks with ISO 17025-accredited soil, plant tissue, water, feed, and pesticide residue analysis under multiple regional brands. Same core testing menu as Waters Lab but with national scale and a corporate parent.
• Brookside Laboratories: Brookside is a long-standing independent agricultural testing laboratory offering soil, plant tissue, water, and feed analysis to growers and dealers, comparable in operating model and customer mix to Waters Lab.

Regional players

• Cawood Scientific: Cawood Scientific is an independent agricultural and environmental testing laboratory group operating across the UK and Ireland. Comparable in service mix (soil, plant tissue, water, manure) and independent private operating model, though primarily UK-based rather than US-Southeast.

Others

• Biome Makers: Biome Makers is the technology partner Waters Lab uses to deliver BeCrop DNA Analysis; it operates the soil-microbiome sequencing platform that Water Labs resells to growers. It is an enabling technology partner rather than a direct competitor, providing the DNA pipeline behind the Waters product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waters-agricultural-laboratories-inc.

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Waters Agricultural Labs