We've Enjoyed a Cultivated History
The first soil lab in Texas and one of the oldest Ag labs in the US.
TPS Lab, formerly Texas Plant and Soil Lab, is located in the Upper Rio Grande Valley and was established in 1938 by Dr. George Schulz as Texas Soil Laboratory, Inc.
Originally from Germany, Dr. Schulz emigrated to the US in 1933 through Ellis Island. Jobs were hard to find, then, even for a man with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He found a job in Wisconsin testing milk and later went to Florida to work with citrus. He was eventually enticed to start a commercial soil testing lab in McAllen, Texas, to serve the citrus growers in the area.
Our Crop Specialists
Noel Garcia, CCA
COO / Senior Consultant
Noel Garcia is head Crop Production Consultant and Chief Operations Officer for TPS Lab. He was trained and mentored by Esper K. (Kay) Chandler, the Certified Agronomist and Soil Scientist who spear-headed and co-founded the Ask the Plant® program with his business partner Dr. Albin D. Lengyel, a pioneer in the practical application of plant analysis, particularly petiole (leaf stem) sap testing.
His experience began in 1991, mastering the skills of laboratory work and field services. After the passing of Esper K. (Kay) Chandler in November 2008, he took over the helm of the Ask the Plant® program. Because of his experience and expertise, he began speaking at workshops for local groups and communities, including workshops for ACRES U.S.A.
Dr. Larry Zibilske PhD
Soil Microbiologist
Dr. Larry Zibilske is an invaluable resource to the Ask the Plant® program and Vice President of Research for TPS Lab. Formerly a senior research scientist with the USDA-ARS Kika de la Garza Subtropical Research Center in Weslaco, Texas, Dr. Zibilske's career includes 19 years at the University of Maine as tenured professor. The Ask the Plant® program is very fortunate and pleased to count on him as a Crop Production Consultant.
If you would like to get the great minds of Ask the Plant® focused on increasing and improving your crop production while lowering cost, then contact us online and ask for a Free Estimate on what the Ask the Plant® Crop Production Consultants can do for you. You may also call us direct at 956-383-0739 during week-day business hours CST.
