Soil labs by state
Nebraska
Nebraska Extension currently directs homeowners to commercial soil-testing laboratories rather than to a current UNL routine soil-test lab. UNL’s Horticulture page says the UNL Soil and Plant Analytic Lab closed effective July 17, 2008, and current Extension guidance tells residents to contact a soil-testing lab for a kit and submittal form.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Find your county Extension office
- Official page →
Official resources in Nebraska
UNL Extension page listing current Nebraska soil and water testing laboratories and noting the former UNL soil lab closure.
UNL Extension guidance for home gardeners on choosing tests, collecting samples, and requesting a kit and submittal form from a lab.
Official county Extension page showing that some Nebraska Extension offices offer soil-testing kit pickup and refer samples to outside labs.
Official county Extension finder residents can use to locate their local Nebraska Extension office.
State laboratory page describing NDA’s regulatory labs and who they accept samples from.
Key facts for Nebraska
- UNL says its Soil and Plant Analytic Lab closed effective July 17, 2008. (UNL HLES: Nebraska Soil & Water Testing Labs)
- Lancaster County Extension says homeowners should contact a soil-testing lab for a sample kit and submittal form. (UNL: Soil Testing and Amending)
- Lancaster County Extension says soil testing can be done anytime the soil is not frozen. (UNL: Soil Testing and Amending)
- Lincoln-Logan-McPherson Extension says it has soil-testing kits available for pickup at its office. (UNL: Water, Soil & Feed Testing?)
- That same county Extension page says samples are sent to American Ag Lab or Ward Lab, and the lab sets the pricing. (UNL: Water, Soil & Feed Testing?)
- Nebraska Extension’s directory page includes a County Extension Finder for local offices. (EPD: Nebraska Extension's Expertise and Personnel Directory)
What to do next
- Use the UNL soil-lab list to choose a Nebraska lab, then request that lab’s soil kit and submission form before sampling.
- If you prefer local help, check your county Extension office first; some offices offer kit pickup even though testing is done by outside labs.
- Find your county office through the Nebraska Extension directory, then ask about local drop-off practices and help interpreting results.
Helpful guides
- How to take a soil sample for a lab test
- University soil labs vs. private labs vs. home kits
- How to read a soil test report
- Soil pH and lime: what your test is telling you