National study offers free soil sample analysis for farmers
Farmers can receive a free soil analysis while supporting soil health research. Complete a survey and send in your sample to join.
Farmers across the U.S. are invited to participate in a national research study examining how farm management practices affect soil health and agricultural resilience. Participants will complete a short survey and submit a soil sample using a provided kit with prepaid shipping.
All participants receive a free soil sample analysis, along with a soil health report and “compensation for their time,” according to a press release. The study hopes to help soil science researchers better understand how different farming systems perform under varying environmental and economic conditions.
This effort is part of the Ag Resilience Coordinated Agricultural Project (RCAP), a multi-state collaboration focused on identifying practices that support resilient agricultural systems. The project includes a wide range of operations, such as row crops, livestock, forages, and specialty crops.
Participation involves answering questions about recent management practices and collecting a soil sample. Individual responses remain confidential and findings are reported only in aggregate.
The project is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture through the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems program.