A&L Great Lakes Laboratories, INC.

06/05/2026

Production agriculture is on the precipice of change again. The adoption of infield technologies has gone from early adopters to mainstream. The next question of “What do we do with all of the data collected?” is being answered. Those early adopters are effectively harnessing the data to make impactful business decisions in these challenging financial times. Is your team of advisors and suppliers ready to support your transition into this new era of information-based decision-making? We can partner with you to build the crop fertility data you need.

Learn more: https://www.croplife.com/editorial/dave-swain/innovation-is-essential-in-agtech-but-are-we-asking-the-right-questions/?utm_source=omail&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=smarttechenews05272026&oly_enc_id=2682C6209356D6W

06/03/2026

🌱 Taking Tissue Samples? Start Here.
Accurate plant tissue analysis starts with proper sampling. Use our Fact Sheet to ensure you're collecting the right part of the plant at the right growth stage—so your results align with established sufficiency levels.

✅ Maximize accuracy
✅ Improve crop performance
✅ Make data-driven decisions

Learn more: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0979/5626/files/FS34_-_Plant_Tissue_Sampling_of_Row_Crops.pdf?v=1747418802

06/01/2026

It was only a year after the construction of the new lab that the rapidly expanding ALGL market led to the first of many additions to the “new” lab facility in 1989.

05/29/2026

For most crops more nitrogen means more yield and better product. For some crops, like apples, more is not always better.

Read more: https://algreatlakes.com/blogs/news/managing-apple-expectations-with-nitrogen-regulation

05/27/2026

Between the need to reduce production costs and increased w**d pressures, herbicide applications require good management to be successful. To properly adjust spray waters with the correct adjuvants and conditioners you need to know what you’re starting with.

Learn more: https://www.croplife.com/crop-inputs/herbicides/hard-water-soft-control-how-carrier-quality-cuts-herbicide-performance/?utm_source=omail&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=clnews04082026&oly_enc_id=2682C6209356D6W

05/26/2026

As we celebrate 50 years of A&L Great Lakes Laboratories, we’re proud to honor the people who built the foundation of who we are today. Today we honor Dr. Richard Large, the “L” in A&L Agricultural Laboratories.

A native of Culver, Indiana, Dr. Large earned his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from Purdue University in 1962, where he was active in ROTC, the Agronomy Club, and served as President of the Council of Religious Organizations. He went on to serve in the U.S. military in Korea from 1962 to 1964, before continuing his education with a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in 1966 and a PhD in Agronomy from The Ohio State University in 1969.

After working as a consulting agronomist in Ohio, Dr. Large co-founded United Agricultural Labs with Don Ankerman in 1971, which later became A&L Agricultural Laboratories in 1973. Following Don’s passing in 1992, Dr. Large continued leading the company until his retirement in 2006.

Known throughout the eastern Corn Belt for his expertise in soil fertility, Dr. Large also established the customer-first service culture that continues to define A&L today. Many long-time clients still reference his knowledge, dedication, and commitment to building trusted relationships.

Dr. Large passed away on February 15, 2022, but his legacy lives on through the values, service standards, and scientific excellence that guide A&L Great Lakes Laboratories every day.

Watch his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk4QuRcNDV8

The 2017 Distinguished Alumni and Champions awards recognize those individuals who have made significant contribution to the mission of Division of Agricultu...

05/22/2026

We've been fielding quite a few questions recently about how cover crops impact your nitrogen plan. We've laid it all out in our recent blog post: https://algreatlakes.com/blogs/news/do-cover-crops-produce-nitrogen-for-your-next-crop

05/20/2026

If you are considering a plant tissue monitoring program this summer to keep track of your crop nutrition, we can help make it easier. We offer custom reporting for repeated tissue testing, but you need to enroll before the first sample is collected.

Now is a great time to get your fields enrolled, and gettting sample bags ordered by contacting you ALGL agronomist or emailing the lab at [email protected].

05/18/2026

Donald (Don) Ankerman was an agronomist at heart — and the “A” in A&L Agricultural Laboratories.

Raised on a farm just north of St. Marys, Ohio, Don earned his degree from The Ohio State University in the late 1950s and began his career as a consulting agronomist. He later partnered with Dr. Richard Large to help found A&L Agricultural Laboratories and played a key role in the establishment of A&L Great Lakes Laboratories.

Beyond his professional work, Don served in the Ohio National Guard, was an avid pilot, and remained deeply involved in his church and community. He was known for building strong, personal relationships with customers — connections that are still remembered and even referenced by clients today.

Don tragically passed away on March 11, 1992, at the age of 55, in a plane crash while piloting a home-built aircraft in Okeechobee, Florida. His passing marked a turning point for A&L Agricultural Laboratories, but his impact on the company and the agricultural community continues to be felt decades later.

05/15/2026

Soil Sample Shipping Tip: While it may seem that cross-folding the bottom box flaps and then taping the box is stronger, it actually reduces the load-carrying capacity of the box bottom. For the strongest possible box bottom, fold the flaps in opposite pairs , while taping with the "H" method (along seams and sides) provides superior strength for shipping and heavy soil samples.