Centre County, PA Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Centre County, PA. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Pennsylvania's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The Penn State Extension - Centre County serves as the primary educational extension center in Centre County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | Penn State Extension - Centre County |
| Physical Address: | 420 Holmes Street, Suite 322, Bellefonte, PA 16823 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (814) 355-4897 |
| Email Contact: | CentreExt@psu.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://extension.psu.edu/centre-county |
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 Centre County is Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory.
| Official Testing Lab: | Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory |
| Lab Location: | 111 Ag Analytical Services Lab, University Park, PA 16802 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $10 per routine soil fertility sample |
| Expected Turnaround: | 3 to 5 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://agsci.psu.edu/aasl |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Centre County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the Penn State Extension - Centre County (420 Holmes Street, Suite 322, Bellefonte, PA 16823).
- 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 Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory.
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Centre County provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Centre County |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Monday and Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (814) 355-4897 |
| Program Portal: | https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/centre |
Volunteer Training: 40 hours of Penn State faculty training.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Centre County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 6b
Natural Soil Profile: Hagerstown Silt Loam and Limestone Valley Soils
Popular Local Crops: Apples, corn, small grains, vegetables, pasture turf
Extension Specialist Tip: Pennsylvania ridge and valley soils naturally maintain good fertility; test soil every 3 years.
5. 🧮 Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Centre County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Hagerstown Silt Loam and Limestone Valley Soils characteristics.
📚 Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Centre County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
Frequently Asked Questions (Centre County Directory)
The Penn State Extension - Centre County is located at 420 Holmes Street, Suite 322, Bellefonte, PA 16823. You can call their main desk directly at (814) 355-4897 during standard business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Centre County garden samples through Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory costs $10 per routine soil fertility sample. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Centre County hotline by calling (814) 355-4897 during plant clinic hours (Monday and Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).
Centre County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b. Local soil is characterized as Hagerstown Silt Loam and Limestone Valley Soils.
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.