APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN TO TAKE PART IN THE FINAL YEAR OF THE STATE OF THE SOILS ASSESSMENT

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has opened applications for growers, graduate students, agricultural professionals, and conservation district staff interested in contributing to the State of the Soils Assessment.

What is the State of the Soils Assessment?

The State of the Soils Assessment has four objectives:

1. Assess baseline Washington state soil health,
2. Understand the impacts of climate, crop type, and management on soil health,
3. Develop guidelines that are cost effective for producers to assess soil health, and
4. Develop decision support tools that are crop specific.

Along with WSDA and Washington State University leading this project, it is supported by agricultural producers, staff, students, and conservation districts throughout Washington. Individualized soil health reports are given to participating producers comparing their soils to similar crops, regions, and the entire project. Across Washington, the Washington State Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) has collected hundreds of soil samples and conducted management surveys from diverse regions and cropping systems.

Crops and counties represented in the State of the Soils Assessment can be found at WSDA’s interactive soil sample map.

How do you apply as an agricultural producer, grower, graduate student, or conservation district staff to contribute to the State of the Soils Assessment?

For the fifth and final year, WSDA will pay contributors for a laboratory soil health analysis for eligible projects for their support in collecting soil samples and completing grower management surveys. Participating growers will also be provided training and individual soil health reports by WSDA. To apply, please review the Request for Applications and WSDA’s Health Monitoring Standard Operating Procedures. Approved applicants must commit to cover costs to identify and inter producers, conduct soil sampling, provide required equipment, attend in-person training, follow WSDA standard operating procedures, immediately complete and return all required forms after sample has been taken, and complete and return management surveys to WSDA by March 31, 2024.

Tentative Timeline:
January 8, 2024 Request for applications announced,
February 9, 2024 Applications due,
February 23, 2024 Funding decisions announced,
March 2024 Required in-person training (date and central WA location TBA),
March 31, 2024 Completed management surveys submitted to WSDA,
April 1 - June 1, 2024 Soil samples collected and shipped; Forms submitted to WSDA,
October 1, 2024 Laboratory sample analysis completed, and
November 1, 2024 Soil health reports sent to participants (pending all requirements complete).

Application forms must be completed and submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by February 9, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

For more soil sampling resources for the State of Soils Assessment go here.