No-Cost Soil Health Testing
No-Cost Soil Health Testing supports Maine farmers with testing to establish a soil management baseline and guide decisions about nutrient inputs, cover cropping, and field operations.
Funder: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Due Dates: Rolling (Testing available first-come, first-served, subject to availability)
Funding Amounts: Soil health testing provided at no cost
Summary: Supports Maine farmers with soil health testing to establish a baseline for nutrient inputs, cover cropping, and field operations.
Key Information: A farm may receive testing only once every three years.
Description
The Maine Healthy Soils Program provides no-cost soil health testing 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 helps Maine farmers establish a baseline for informed soil management. Testing goes beyond traditional soil nutrient analysis to measure physical and biological characteristics that affect soil productivity.
Results help farmers make future decisions about nutrient inputs, cover cropping, and field operations. The broader program aims to improve on-farm soil health alongside Maine’s agricultural economy and environment, helping farms adapt to a changing climate. Its holistic approach considers both farmland conditions and the capacity of the farm operation.
