Douglas County, NE Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Douglas County, NE. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Nebraska's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The Nebraska Extension - Douglas-Sarpy Counties serves as the primary educational extension center in Douglas County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | Nebraska Extension - Douglas-Sarpy Counties |
| Physical Address: | 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (402) 444-7804 |
| Email Contact: | douglas-sarpy@unl.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/douglas-sarpy/ |
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 Douglas County is UNL Recommended Regional Soil Labs.
| Official Testing Lab: | UNL Recommended Regional Soil Labs |
| Lab Location: | Sample forms at Omaha office |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $15 per routine garden sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 5 to 7 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://extension.unl.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Douglas County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Nebraska Extension - Douglas-Sarpy Counties (8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124).
- 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 UNL Recommended Regional Soil Labs.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Nebraska Extension Master Gardeners Douglas-Sarpy provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Nebraska Extension Master Gardeners Douglas-Sarpy |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (402) 444-7804 |
| Program Portal: | https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/douglas-sarpy/master-gardener/ |
Volunteer Training: UNL Extension intensive 40-hour horticulture course.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Douglas County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 5b
Natural Soil Profile: Loess Prairie Silt Loam
Popular Local Crops: Corn, soybeans, sweet corn, tomatoes, turf grass
Extension Specialist Tip: Nebraska soils have strong natural potassium reserves; test to prevent over-fertilization.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Douglas County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Loess Prairie Silt Loam characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Douglas County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Douglas County Directory)
The Nebraska Extension - Douglas-Sarpy Counties is located at 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124. You can call their main desk directly at (402) 444-7804 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Douglas County garden samples through UNL Recommended Regional Soil Labs costs $15 per routine garden sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Nebraska Extension Master Gardeners Douglas-Sarpy hotline by calling (402) 444-7804 during plant clinic hours (Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM).
Douglas County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b. Local soil is characterized as Loess Prairie 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.