With only a few exceptions every US state has a university based extension program that operates a soil lab. These soil testing labs can used by both commercial growers and farmers and home gardeners. Most tests are very affordable (~$20 or less) and there are instructions for how to collect and package the samples on each website.
It is common for the service to also include fertilizer or other amendment recommendations based on the test results and the crop or plants you want to grow. These are typically customized by the state (for example, here in New England, there are special requests for those interested in growing blueberries – a popular crop in the region). Your extension may offer other regionally appropriate options.
Alabama – Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory
Alaska – University Of Alaska Fairbanks Soil Labs
Arizona – University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Arkansas – University of Arkansas Soil and Research Laboratory
California – University of California Cooperative Extension (add your county to this search to narrow the list)
Colorado – Colorado State University
Connecticut – University of Connecticut – Soil Testing Program
Delaware – University of Delaware Soil Program
Florida – University of Florida Cooperative Extension
Georgia – University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Hawaii – University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Idaho – University of Idaho – Soil Chemical and Physical Analyses
Illinois- University of Illinois Extension – Soil Labs
Indiana- Purdue University Soil Sampling & Testing
Iowa – Iowa State University closed their lab in 2017 (visit this link for alternative labs in nearby states)
Kansas– Kansas State University Agronomy Soil Testing Lab
Kentucky – The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
Louisiana – Louisiana State University – Soil & Plant Analysis Lab
Maine – The University of Maine – Cooperative Extension
Maryland – University of Maryland Co-Op Ext Soil Testing Services
Massachusetts – University of Massachusetts Soil Testing Program
Michigan – Michigan State University
Minnesota – University of Minnesota – The Soil Laboratory
Mississippi – The Mississippi State University
Missouri – University of Missouri Extension – Soil & Plant Diagnostic Services
Montana – Montana State University Extension – Soil Information and Labs
Nebraska – University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Soil Information and Labs
Nevada – University of Nevada Reno – Environmental Soil Analysis Laboratory (this will forward you to nearby state labs)
New Hampshire – University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
New Jersey– Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Office Soil Test Program
New Mexico– New Mexico State University – Soil Labs
New York– Cornell University Cooperative Extension
North Carolina – North Carolina Department of Agriculture – Soil Services
North Dakota– North Dakota State University Soil Lab
Ohio – The Ohio State University – Soil Resources
Oklahoma – Oklahoma State University
Oregon– Oregon State University Central Analytical Laboratory
Pennslyvania – Penn State Soil Testing Services
Rhode Island – University of Rhode Island Soil Program (Use the program at UMass)
South Carolina – Clemson University Cooperative Extension
South Dakota – South Dakota State University – Soil Labs
Tennessee – University of Tennessee Soil, Plant, and Pest Center
Texas – Texas Agrilife Extension Service Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Service
Utah – Utah State University Soil Laboratory
Vermont – University of Vermont Soil Testing
Virginia – Virginia Tech Soil Lab
Washington – Washington State University Soils and Soil Testing
West Virginia – West Virginia University Soil Laboratory
Wisconsin – University of Wisconsin Soil & Plant Analysis Laboratory
Wyoming – University of Wyoming – Soil Laboratory
Updated April 2022
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