Soil testing is an important management practice on all farms, whether growing vegetables for fresh market or pasture for livestock.  It’s nearly impossible to determine what a soil needs to be productive, without a soil analysis. There are many types of soil analyses available depending on what information you are seeking.  The most commonly requested analysis is for nutrient content, though you may wish to know what organisms are working in your soil, if there are pesticide residues or determine the particle size analysis.

A Guide to Collecting Soil Samples for Farms and Gardens - This publication is a simple guide on “how to take a soil sample”. Remember, the results of the soil test will only be as good as the soil sample taken. Be thorough, collecting a representative sample of the complete area to be tested. Check with the local Extension Service office to see if there is a soil probe available for loan.

A List of Analytical Labs Serving Oregon - This list of labs is updated every few years. Before choosing a lab, call for current prices and procedures for mailing the sample. Labs will often have packages of several analyses for a lower cost than individual tests.

Soil Test Interpretation Guide - Soil tests results may look a little foreign! This guide will help sort out the key points. For further information about specific soil results, contact the local Extension Service office or a private consultant.

The OSU Soil Health Lab will conduct various tests to measure soil health but does not have the capacity to help with interpreting the results. The OSU soil health lab web site use to refer people to the Cornell University Soil Health Lab publication “Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health” at https://soilhealthlab.cals.cornell.edu/ to help with interpreting their soil health results. I checked the soil health lab web site but I did not find that referral listed anywhere so I don’t know the reason behind that. Other testing services the soil health lab provides includes soil fertility, heavy metal, water, plant tissue, and manure/compost analysis.

I don't  show any soil testing at the Linn County Extension office currently, but it is available in Lane County if you're ever down that way.

Lane County
Our Master Gardeners offer soil pH testing for home gardeners (home gardeners only, we refer commercial farmers to send samples to labs). We have soil collection dates scheduled for spring and fall where gardeners can drop off their samples. For more information, refer to: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/events/soil-ph-testing-19

For commercial farmers, or home gardeners who want a more complete test (ex. ph, nutrients, etc.) we refer them to the OSU Soil Health Lab or the Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District (in Eugene). We have also recommended Simply Soil Testing for home gardeners, but they are currently not operating.