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For Immediate Release
January 10, 2025
Maine Healthy Soils Program Partners with Woods End Laboratories to Offer No-Cost Soil Health Testing
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry’s Maine Healthy Soils Program (MHSP) is excited to announce a new partnership with Woods End Laboratories to bring no-cost soil health testing to Maine farmers.
Since 1974, Woods End Laboratories, has been a pioneer in soil health testing, blending a foundation in soil science with a commitment to sustainability. Over the decades, the lab has become a partner for farmers, land managers, and researchers seeking a thorough understanding of soil ecosystems. Based in Maine, Woods End Laboratories is well positioned to offer regionally relevant soil health testing to producers across the state.
Woods End’s primary focus is to develop practical, natural approaches to soil analysis through cutting-edge research and proactive farmer outreach. The lab is dedicated to supporting the local agricultural community and is excited to continue its contributions through this initiative.
This partnership, pending final contract approval, kickstarts a foundational MHSP initiative that provides tailored soil health data to participating farms. These data can be used to inform management decisions, which in turn can improve farm biological and ecological stability. Implementation of soil health best practices is critically important to the long-term viability and resiliency of Maine farms in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.
No-cost soil health testing addresses a key financial and technical barrier that Maine farmers face when considering how to integrate soil health best practices into an existing farm management plan. MHSP staff will work with participating farms to collect soil samples and interpret the test results so participants can feel secure in translating data into action.
Sign up today by following this link and selecting the ‘Soil Health Testing – Soil Sampling’ service.
Note that service implementation is contingent upon final contract approval; any delays or modifications to the approval process may impact the availability of services.
Contact:
Matthew Boucher, Ph.D.
State Soil Scientist
matthew.boucher@maine.gov
(207) 215-5569
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