Soil carbon baseline and monitoring services for grant reporting

Jul 7 – Oct 28, 2026Updated Oct 28, 2026Reviewed by

How we measure

Which brands AI mentions

#BrandMentioned in
#1tiedPerennial49%
#1tiedRegrow42%
#1tiedChrysaLabs35%
#1tiedEarthOptics35%
#5tiedIndigo Ag30%

Mentioned in

ChatGPTChatGPTGoogle AI ModeGoogle AI Mode

Widest split: EarthOptics, 9% on ChatGPT and 62% on Google AI Mode.

  • #1tiedPerennialChatGPT 55%Google AI Mode 43%
  • #1tiedRegrowChatGPT 41%Google AI Mode 43%
  • #1tiedChrysaLabsChatGPT 41%Google AI Mode 29%
  • #1tiedEarthOpticsChatGPT 9%Google AI Mode 62%
  • #5tiedIndigo AgChatGPT 9%Google AI Mode 52%

Questions and answers

  • ChatGPTOct 28, 2026

    1. 1Yard Stick PBC
    2. 2SGS
    3. 3ChrysaLabs
    4. 4Kateri Carbon
    5. 5AGVISE Laboratories

    For grant reporting, I’d prioritize vendors that can document soil carbon at baseline, repeat measurements over multiple years, and provide a defensible audit trail—not just routine soil fertility tests.

    In the U.S., a useful starting point is the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) framework. Its Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activity (CEMA) 221 addresses soil organic carbon stock monitoring, including measurements before and after conservation practices. NRCS guidance emphasizes that detecting meaningful changes can require more than five years.

    Vendors to consider

    • Yard Stick lands $10.6M Series A to measure soil carbon | TechCrunch | Yard Stick PBC | 82 comments

    1. Yard Stick

    (Strong fit for field measurement)

    Provides soil carbon measurement, sampling-plan design, field-level data management, and reporting tools. Its system supports measurements to 1 meter and project methodologies such as Verra VM0042. Ask about repeat sampling and a multi-year grant reporting package.

    Website:

    • LABORATORIES – SGS Belgium

    2. SGS

    (Strong fit for independent assurance)

    Offers soil organic carbon baselining, bulk-density measurement, ongoing monitoring, and independent verification. A good candidate when grant funders require documented methodology and third-party assurance. Confirm the local field-sampling scope and deliverables.

    Website:

    • Bodenanalyse mit ChrysaLab: Der Alleskönner | profi online | profi

    3. ChrysaLabs

    Focuses on soil carbon measurement, sampling design, geospatial modeling, and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). Its documentation is designed to support traceability, uncertainty estimates, and registry-aligned reporting. Confirm that its deliverables meet your specific grant's requirements.

    Website:

    • Carbon Farming | UC Davis Institute of the Environment

    4. Kateri Carbon

    Combines physical soil sampling, carbon modeling, and remote sensing. Its stated approach includes baseline sampling to 1 meter and repeat sampling every 3–5 years. Worth considering for landscape-scale or ecological restoration projects.

    Website:

    • Soil Sampling and Preparation | Element

    5. AGVISE Laboratories

    A laboratory option for soil analysis. AGVISE is listed in the North American Proficiency Testing program's soil proficiency listings. It may suit projects that already have a qualified field-sampling team, but you would need to arrange monitoring design and grant reporting separately.

    Website:

    How to choose for grant reporting

    RequirementWhat to request from the vendor
    BaselineSoil organic carbon stocks, sampling depth, bulk density, GPS coordinates, and sampling design
    Long-term monitoringA repeat-sampling schedule, consistent methods, permanent sampling locations, and data retention
    Grant documentationMethods, laboratory results, QA/QC records, uncertainty estimates, and a funder-ready technical report
    Independent verificationQualifications of the sampler, lab accreditation or proficiency evidence, and third-party review if required

    For NRCS-aligned U.S. agricultural projects, ask vendors whether they can deliver CEMA 221: Soil Carbon Stock Monitoring. NRCS guidance specifies repeating measurements using the same georeferenced locations, sampling strategy, time of year, and laboratory; it recommends a second sampling 3–5 years after baseline.

    My recommendation: Start with Yard Stick for field measurement and data management, and SGS if independent verification is a major requirement. Neither should be assumed to satisfy a particular grant without checking the funder's specifications.

    One detail would help narrow this down: is the grant for agricultural land, forest or rangeland, or ecological restoration? I can also build a vendor comparison with estimated costs and reporting capabilities.

    Compare vendors and estimated costs

    Find vendors in New York

    Sources cited in this answer16

    Google AI ModeOct 28, 2026

    1. 1Regrow
    2. 2Regrow MRV
    3. 3Hone
    4. 4Hone Carbon
    5. 5Miraterra Soil

    When tracking soil organic carbon (SOC) for carbon grant reporting (such as USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities or corporate ESG programs ), you generally need a combination of physical/spectroscopic lab testing and MRV (Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) software platforms that combine soil sampling with biogeochemical modeling.

    Key vendors and platforms offering soil carbon baseline testing and long-term monitoring include:

    1. Enterprise MRV & Modeling Platforms (Best for Large Grants & Programs)

    • Regrow Ag (Regrow MRV): Widely used by major agribusinesses (like Cargill) to track, measure, and verify regenerative agriculture practices. It combines satellite data, farm management inputs, and the peer-reviewed DNDC biogeochemical model to quantify soil carbon outcomes and generate audit-ready reporting.
    • Carbon Crops: Specializes in tracking, verifying, and monitoring land-use and soil carbon changes for additionality and long-term grant commitments, utilizing remote sensing and data integration.

    2. Specialized Soil Testing & Measurement Providers

    • Miraterra: Offers targeted laboratory soil carbon testing, including specific panels for Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC), and Bulk Density (BD) calculations required for accurate baseline and change stock assessments.[1][2]
    • Hone Ag (Hone Carbon): Provides scalable, chain-of-custody soil carbon measurement services utilizing NIR (Near-Infrared) spectroscopy and lab infrastructure, built to meet stringent compliance and audit requirements (such as the Clean Energy Regulator standards).

    3. Institutional & Public Frameworks

    • USDA Soil Carbon Monitoring and Research Network (SCMN): If your project operates within federal frameworks or public-private funding initiatives, the USDA utilizes systematic site selection and national carbon assessment laboratories to benchmark working croplands and grazing lands.

    If you can share the specific grant program (e.g., USDA Climate-Smart Commodities, a private corporate supply chain initiative) or the acreage/crop type , I can help narrow down which vendor fits your exact reporting requirements.

    Sources cited in this answer3

  • ChatGPTOct 17, 2026

    1. 1Hudson Carbon
    2. 2Long Island Analytical Laboratories
    3. 3Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District
    4. 4USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

    For your grant reports, you’ll want a provider that does more than a one-time soil test. Ideally, you need a soil carbon baseline assessment plus a repeatable long-term monitoring program that documents changes in soil organic carbon over time and provides defensible data for grant reporting.

    There are several ways to find this service, depending on whether your project involves farmland, regenerative agriculture, pasture, forest restoration, or other land-management work.

    What to look for in a provider

    • Baseline soil carbon testing: Initial sampling, laboratory analysis of soil organic carbon, and documentation of sampling locations and depths.
    • Long-term monitoring: Repeat sampling using a consistent protocol, ideally with georeferenced sampling points.
    • Grant-ready reporting: Baseline and follow-up results, methodology, quality assurance documentation, data tables, and a clear record of changes over time.
    • Appropriate measurement methods: Ask whether they measure soil organic carbon concentration alone or also calculate carbon stocks using bulk density and soil depth. Carbon stocks are often more useful for tracking changes.
    • Data ownership and continuity: Make sure you can access the underlying data and continue monitoring with the same methods even if your grant or service provider changes.

    Where to start

    Since you're in the Long Island, New York area, these are useful local contacts and regional resources. One important distinction: a lab that tests soil isn't necessarily equipped to design and manage a multi-year carbon monitoring program, so confirm both capabilities before hiring.

    • Sign up for the 2025 season – BlackSoil

    1. Hudson Carbon

    (Strong research lead)

    A New York-based nonprofit research institute focused on soil carbon, regenerative agriculture, and measurement. Worth contacting about field sampling, research partnerships, and carbon monitoring data for a grant-funded project.

    Hudson, NY

    Visit Hudson Carbon

    • Who We Are | Long Island Analytical Laboratories, Inc.

    2. Long Island Analytical Laboratories, Inc.

    A local environmental testing laboratory in Holbrook that handles soil testing. Ask specifically whether it offers soil organic carbon analysis, bulk-density testing, and support for a standardized sampling protocol.

    110 Colin Drive, Holbrook, NY 11741

    Phone: 631-472-3400

    Visit the laboratory website

    • From Market Pressure to Practical Solutions: — Soil & Climate Initiative

    3. Suffolk County Soil & Water

    A useful local public-sector contact for soil-health testing, soil information, and conservation guidance. Ask whether they can refer you to a qualified provider for long-term soil carbon stock measurements.

    423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 110, Riverhead, NY 11901

    Phone: 631-852-3285

    Suffolk County Soil & Water

    • How ‘carbon farming’ could help Oregon reach its climate goals - OPB

    4. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

    Particularly relevant if your project is on agricultural land. NRCS has a formal protocol, CEMA 221 — Soil Organic Carbon Stock Monitoring, for establishing baselines and measuring carbon stocks before and after changes in land management. Ask your local NRCS office about qualified providers and whether your project may be eligible for assistance.

    NRCS soil carbon monitoring guidance

    These are starting points, not a guarantee that each organization offers a complete, contracted multi-year monitoring service. I'd contact Hudson Carbon and NRCS first for the monitoring methodology and provider referrals, then use a laboratory to confirm the analytical component.

    What to request in your quote

    Ask each provider to quote a complete monitoring plan that includes:

    DeliverableWhat you need
    Baseline assessmentInitial soil carbon stocks, sampling locations, and sampling depths
    Laboratory analysisSoil organic carbon and bulk density measurements
    Repeat monitoringScheduled resampling using the same protocol
    Grant reportingAnnual progress summaries, data tables, methods, and quality assurance records
    Data packageRaw lab results, georeferenced sample data, and calculations you can retain

    For a long-term project, don't assume that soil organic matter percentage alone is sufficient. NRCS's carbon stock monitoring approach uses both organic carbon and bulk density, and meaningful changes can take more than five years to establish reliably.

    Let me narrow this down for your project

    One key question: What type of land are you monitoring?

    1. Land or project type

    Farm or agricultural land

    Pasture or rangeland

    Forest restoration or reforestation

    Community garden, urban soil, or other restoration site

    2. Project location

    [Input placeholder: County, state, or country] (Current value unavailable.)

    3. What service do you need?

    Full service: field sampling, lab work, monitoring, and reports

    Laboratory testing only

    Research-grade monitoring and statistical analysis

    4. Approximate budget, if known

    Under $5,000

    $5,000–$15,000

    $15,000+

    Not sure yet

    [Find suitable providers]

    With those details, I can narrow the search to providers that are a better fit for your grant requirements rather than just general soil-testing laboratories.

    Sources cited in this answer6

    Google AI ModeOct 17, 2026

    1. 1Regrow
    2. 2Perennial
    3. 3SCS Global Services
    4. 4DNV
    5. 5Ward Laboratories
    6. 6Eurofins
    7. 7AgroCares

    To set up a soil carbon baseline and pull together the long-term Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) data required for grants, you generally work with specialized agricultural technology platforms, digital MRV providers, or environmental testing/verification firms . They blend physical soil sampling with remote sensing and biogeochemical modeling to keep reporting robust and cost-effective.

    Depending on your project scale and grant requirements, you can look into these categories of providers:

    • Digital MRV & Modeling Platforms : Companies like Regrow Ag and Perennial specialize in end-to-end soil carbon quantification. They use physical baseline soil samples to calibrate advanced biogeochemical models, then track changes over time using remote sensing and digital soil mapping. This is ideal if you need scalable, registry-grade reporting.
    • Third-Party Verification & Environmental Auditors : Firms like SCS Global Services or DNV handle the rigorous validation and verification side. If your grant demands independent, third-party oversight of your baseline and ongoing data, these auditors ensure your metrics conform to recognized carbon accounting standards.
    • Agricultural Labs & Testing Services : Traditional agricultural testing heavyweights (such as Ward Laboratories, Eurofins, or AgroCares which offers digital monitoring tools) can perform the direct physical lab analysis for your soil organic carbon (SOC) and bulk density baselines. You will typically pair their lab data with an agronomic consultant or software platform to handle the multi-year tracking required for grant milestones.

    If you want, tell me:

    • What is the total acreage or number of sites you need to monitor?
    • What specific grant reporting standards or registry frameworks (e.g., USDA, Verra, state-level climate grants) do you need to align with?

    I can help narrow down whether a software-driven MRV platform or a traditional lab-plus-consultant route fits your project best.

    Sources cited in this answer6

Also asked as

  • I need to find companies that handle soil carbon baseline assessments and ongoing monitoring to satisfy grant reporting requirements.