Soil labs by state
New York
In New York, the main land-grant university soil-testing option residents can find through official sources is Cornell University's Cornell Soil Health Laboratory, with county-level help through Cornell Cooperative Extension. For contamination concerns, the New York State Department of Health directs gardeners to use ELAP-certified laboratories, while Cornell provides nutrient and soil-health testing information and local Extension contacts.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State soil lab
- Cornell Soil Health Laboratory
- Lab website
- Official page →
- Basic test price
- $100 per sample
- Find your county Extension office
- Official page →
Official resources in New York
Official Cornell page listing soil health packages, prices, sample sizes, and recommended uses.
Official Cornell page for downloading submission forms and following sample-submission directions.
Official Cornell shipping instructions page with mailing guidance and the lab shipping address.
Official county office finder for contacting the local Cornell Cooperative Extension office in New York.
Official state guidance for contaminant and lead testing, including use of ELAP-certified laboratories.
Key facts for New York
- Cornell Soil Health Lab's Basic Soil Health Analysis Package costs $100 per sample and requires 5 cups of soil.
- Cornell's submission page says mailed samples need a completed submission form included in the shipping box.
- Cornell's shipment page suggests rapid shipping and USPS Priority Mail flat-rate boxes for mailed samples.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension says it has local offices in all New York counties and all five NYC boroughs.
- An official CCE county soil page says residents can take representative samples to a local Cooperative Extension office for processing and lab submission.
- NYS DOH says contaminant testing should use ELAP-certified labs, while nutrient-testing information is available from Cornell.
What to do next
- First decide whether you need nutrient/soil-health testing through Cornell or contaminant/lead testing through an ELAP-certified lab.
- If using Cornell's lab, download the correct submission form, collect the required soil amount, and mail the sample promptly using the lab's shipment guidance.
- Use Cornell Cooperative Extension's local office finder, then ask your county office whether homeowner soil samples can be dropped off locally or must be mailed directly.
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