Help Us Learn About New England’s Farms and Farmers

Want to learn more about the health of your soil? Get free soil health testing on your farm by participating in our New England Soil Health Survey! Free soil testing is available through this new program from AFT New England and the USDA ARS Food Systems Research Unit. Farms in Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are eligible to receive free soil health testing on up to three fields after completing a short survey.  

The New England Soil Health Survey will build our understanding of the impacts farmland conservation and conservation planning have on soil health in New England. Over the next two years, our goal is to reach 200 farmers and collect soil samples on 600 fields. Farmers and conservation staff can collect and submit samples independently or request support from AFT staff. To request AFT staff support, please reach out to the New England Soil Health Specialist, Kevin Antoszewski, at kantoszewski@farmland.org. 

Data collected as a part of this project will be anonymized. We hope to learn about how farmers think about soil health, what practices achieve results, and how farm planning impacts soil health outcomes.