Hinds County, MS Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Hinds County, MS. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Mississippi's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The MSU Extension - Hinds County serves as the primary educational extension center in Hinds County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | MSU Extension - Hinds County |
| Physical Address: | 1750 Hinds County Hwy, Raymond, MS 39154 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (601) 857-2241 |
| Email Contact: | hinds@ext.msstate.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | http://extension.msstate.edu/counties/hinds |
2. Official Soil Testing Laboratory & Pricing
Testing your soil is the single most important step before adding fertilizers or agricultural lime. The official testing laboratory serving Hinds County is MSU Soil Testing Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | MSU Soil Testing Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 190 Bost North, Mississippi State, MS 39762 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $8 routine soil test |
| Expected Turnaround: | 3 to 5 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | http://extension.msstate.edu/lawn-and-garden/soil-testing |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Hinds County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the MSU Extension - Hinds County (1750 Hinds County Hwy, Raymond, MS 39154).
- Collect Sub-Samples: Use a clean stainless steel trowel to take 10 to 12 soil cores from a 4-to-6-inch depth across your garden or lawn area.
- Air-Dry: Mix sub-samples in a clean plastic bucket and air-dry on clean paper at room temperature (never use an oven).
- Submit Sample: Return your filled soil box to the extension office or mail directly to MSU Soil Testing Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Central Mississippi Master Gardeners provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Central Mississippi Master Gardeners |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (601) 857-2241 |
| Program Portal: | http://extension.msstate.edu/lawn-and-garden/master-gardener |
Volunteer Training: 40 hours of MSU Extension training.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Hinds County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 8a / 8b
Natural Soil Profile: Coastal Plain Loess Silt Loam
Popular Local Crops: Cotton, soybeans, sweet potatoes, pecans, bermudagrass
Extension Specialist Tip: High summer rainfall leaches nutrients; test soil annually to maintain fertility balance.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Hinds County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Coastal Plain Loess Silt Loam characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Hinds County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Hinds County Directory)
The MSU Extension - Hinds County is located at 1750 Hinds County Hwy, Raymond, MS 39154. You can call their main desk directly at (601) 857-2241 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Hinds County garden samples through MSU Soil Testing Laboratory costs $8 routine soil test. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Central Mississippi Master Gardeners hotline by calling (601) 857-2241 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Hinds County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a / 8b. Local soil is characterized as Coastal Plain Loess Silt Loam.
Written & Verified by Sahajul
Verified Author & Founder
Sahajul is an independent agricultural data researcher based in India and founder of LocalSoilLab.com. He specializes in compiling, structuring, and verifying US land-grant university extension services, soil lab testing fee schedules, and county Master Gardener contact directories directly from official .edu and USDA NIFA portals.