NRCS requires a Qualified Individual (QI) to document, interpret and complete related activites for a handful of their Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMA); including the 215 In-Field Soil Health Test Assessment, 216 Soil Health Testing and 217 Soil and Source Testing for Nutrient Management. 

These practices are most often included in EQIP and CSP Regenerative Pilot Program (RPP) contracts, although may also be included in others where applicable. The Southern RI Conservation District has several qualified individuals on staff that meet the requirements to assist you with completing these CEMA's. Our staff are not only versed in NRCS programs and standards but also have a diverse background of professional and educational exprience related to soil science, ecology, hydrology and general environmental science. 

SRICD can offer two fee-for-service options:

1. District staff will take care of the entire process for you, from start to finish. We will consult with your NRCS representative and design a sampling/assessment strategy for your operation. We will conduct the in-field soil collection and assessment, ship the samples off to the soil lab of your choice (as long as they have the required accreditations), interpret the results and develop recommendations based upon your objectives and the conservation plan. We will develop a final report to then submit to NRCS for reimbursement. 
2. District staff can guide you to collect the required samples and how to ship them to qualified testing laboratories. We can still interpret the results for you and complete the necessary report requirements to then submit to NRCS for reimbursement. 

For any option, we can take care of correspondence with the soil testing labs and the upfront payments for the sampling. All you would have to worry about is paying the District directly.

Fees 

• Direct labor is billed at an hourly rate of $75/hr. This includes travel time, field work, reporting writing and any associated communication between parties.
• Mileage to and from any visit is calculated at the current federal rate of $0.76/mi. Visits within 10 miles of a staffs work station will be free of charge. 
• Fees for testing lab samples vary. Current pricing may be found in the following document and on each labs respective website. This list only includes accredited labs within our region. This list is not inclusive of all labs that may offer NRCS eligible soil tests. 

216 Soil Lab List & Pricing 08172026.pdf

• Shipping costs to send samples will be based off a USPS flat rate fee. On average, these have cost $15.00 but may vary upon number of samples included and weight. 

Depending on the scope of each project and how many CEMA's are planned in a contract, costs and time needed will vary.  Please contact us directly for more information if you are in need of having a CEMA completed and we can provide a quote within 24 hours of the services to be done!