No-Cost Soil Health Testing
No-Cost Soil Health Testing supports Maine farmers with soil assessments that guide nutrient inputs, cover cropping, and field operations to improve soil health and help farms adapt to a changing climate.
Funder: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Due Dates: First-come, first-served (Testing, subject to availability)
Funding Amounts: Soil health testing provided at no cost
Summary: Provides Maine farmers with soil health testing to guide decisions about nutrient inputs, cover cropping, and field operations.
Key Information: Farms may receive testing once every three years.
Description
The Maine Healthy Soils Program provides no-cost soil health testing to Maine farmers in partnership with Augusta-based Woods End Laboratories. Administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Agricultural Resource Development Division, the service goes beyond traditional soil nutrient testing to measure physical and biological characteristics that affect soil productivity. Results establish a baseline for future decisions about nutrient inputs, cover cropping, and field operations.
The service is part of the program’s broader work to help farmers adapt to a changing climate while improving on-farm soil health and supporting Maine’s agricultural economy and environment. Its holistic approach considers both farmland conditions and the overall capacity of each farm operation.
