Advancing Soil Health Research

Summary#

This measure directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create and use standard ways to directly measure, monitor, report, and analyze soil organic carbon. Within 270 days the Secretary must develop a standardized measurement methodology after reviewing existing methods and consulting producers, soil experts, researchers, nonprofits, and other stakeholders. The measure requires technical assistance and guidance for producers who voluntarily measure and report soil carbon, with guidance available in multiple languages and in digital and paper forms.

The measure amends existing research programs to fund new projects on soil carbon measurement and adds on-farm demonstration trials of soil carbon practices. It establishes a Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network to select sample sites, take measurements every 5 years, keep a soil characteristics inventory, and publish aggregated results and reports on trends and management impacts. The Secretary must get landowner permission before sampling, may not make participation a condition of receiving other program benefits, and must protect identifiable or proprietary producer information.

The measure also requires development and maintenance of predictive modeling tools that estimate how management practices affect soil carbon and agricultural greenhouse gases (carbon, methane, nitrous oxide). The tools must be based on direct measurements, account for soil type, land use, crop, weather, and other factors, be user-friendly and available in multiple languages, and be reviewed at least yearly. The Secretary must report to Congress on progress and tool accuracy.

What it means for you#

  • Farmers and ranchers can choose to take part in voluntary soil carbon measurement and reporting. The measure requires the Secretary to provide guidance and technical help for those who do. Guidance must be in multiple languages and in both digital and print formats.
  • Landowners must give permission before any sampling on their land. Participation in sampling or the inventory cannot be forced as a condition for other program benefits.
  • Researchers, universities, and certain institutions can partner with the Secretary to run the soil characteristics inventory and help develop models and analysis.
  • Aggregate data and analyses from the inventory and measurements will be made publicly available; individual or proprietary data must be protected and not sold.

Expenses#

  • Section 2 (standard measurement methodology and voluntary reporting assistance): authorized $2,000,000 per fiscal year.
  • Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network (new section 1240N): authorized $17,500,000 per fiscal year.
  • Predictive modeling tool development and maintenance: authorized $500,000 per fiscal year. These are authorizations of appropriations; the actual funding depends on future appropriations decisions.

Proponents' View#

Supporters of the measure, as reflected in its text, aim to: develop a common, science-based way to directly measure soil carbon; provide voluntary technical help and guidance to producers who measure and report soil carbon; expand research and on-farm demonstration projects about soil carbon sequestration; build a national inventory with recurring measurements and public analysis; and create modeling tools that predict how management practices affect soil carbon and agricultural greenhouse gases. The measure also emphasizes stakeholder consultation and protections for private landowners and data privacy.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.