Erie County, NY Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Erie County, NY. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with New York's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The Cornell Cooperative Extension - Erie County serves as the primary educational extension center in Erie County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | Cornell Cooperative Extension - Erie County |
| Physical Address: | 21 S. Grove Street, Suite 240, East Aurora, NY 14052 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (716) 652-5400 |
| Email Contact: | erie@cornell.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://erie.cce.cornell.edu/ |
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 Erie County is Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory (CNAL).
| Official Testing Lab: | Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory (CNAL) |
| Lab Location: | 804 Bradfield Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $20 routine garden soil fertility test |
| Expected Turnaround: | 7 to 10 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://cnal.cals.cornell.edu/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Erie County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Cornell Cooperative Extension - Erie County (21 S. Grove Street, Suite 240, East Aurora, NY 14052).
- 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 Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory (CNAL).
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The CCE Erie Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | CCE Erie Master Gardener Volunteers |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (716) 652-5400 |
| Program Portal: | https://erie.cce.cornell.edu/gardening |
Volunteer Training: Cornell Extension comprehensive horticulture training.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Erie County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6a / 6b
Natural Soil Profile: Great Lakes Basin Silt Loam & Clay Loam
Popular Local Crops: Apples, grapes, sweet corn, cool-season vegetables, turf grass
Extension Specialist Tip: Western NY soils benefit from fall compost applications to break down heavy clay.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Erie County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Great Lakes Basin Silt Loam & Clay Loam characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Erie County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Erie County Directory)
The Cornell Cooperative Extension - Erie County is located at 21 S. Grove Street, Suite 240, East Aurora, NY 14052. You can call their main desk directly at (716) 652-5400 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Erie County garden samples through Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory (CNAL) costs $20 routine garden soil fertility test. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the CCE Erie Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (716) 652-5400 during plant clinic hours (Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Erie County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a / 6b. Local soil is characterized as Great Lakes Basin Silt Loam & Clay 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.