http://www.greenenergytimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GET_May-2019.pdf
​
Healthy Soils Legislation Helps Green New Deal
By Seth Itzkan, Steven Keleti, and Karl Thidemann

Congressional Democrats have offered an ambitious legislative framework for 2019. Titled the Green New Deal, it seeks to tackle impending climate threats while generating innovative opportunities in the energy, transportation, and agricultural sectors.

The Green New Deal includes support of soil health. Between 50% to 70% of agricultural soil has been lost, and rebuilding soil health is crucial for food system security, water quality, and climate change mitigation.
A bi-partisan movement at the state level is calling for what is termed “Healthy Soils Legislation.” Proposed bills nationwide promote good land stewardship through principles and practices that support the aspirations of the Green New Deal by providing practical support for farmers and ranchers, many of whom might not otherwise be supportive of climate efforts.

Speaking to this point, Bill McKibben, founder of the global climate movement, 350.org, stated, "Soil is increasingly taking its rightful and necessary place in the climate fight; this is a battle farmers and ranchers can help the world win."
​
"Soil is increasingly taking its rightful and necessary place in the climate fight; this is a battle farmers and ranchers can help the world win." - Bill McKibben

A promising indicator of this comes from New Mexico where a Healthy Soils Act was approved with rare, overwhelming consensus. The House version passed with a vote of 48-6 and the Senate version passed unanimously, 34-0.

Officially titled “An Act Relating to Natural Resources,” the New Mexico law creates a Healthy Soil Program and a Healthy Soil Grant Program in the state’s Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the program is “to promote and support farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology and water retention to improve the health, yield and profitability of the soils of the state.”

It should be noted that the phrase, “increase soil organic matter,” literally means to increase the carbon content of soil. Carbon is naturally accumulated in soil through the photosynthesis process. Conventional farming and ranching practices have greatly depleted soil of its carbon, contributing to global warming and exacerbating the impact of droughts and floods.

Fortunately, improved cropping and grazing methods embraced by environmentalists and producers, and emphasized in Healthy Soils legislative efforts, can reverse this negative trend and increase soil carbon, making these approaches important allies in the climate flight.

It is estimated that improving soil globally can sequester many billions of tons of excess atmospheric carbon annually. Such “drawdown” efforts — that pull carbon out of the air — will be essential as we take measures to bring atmospheric carbon dioxide back down to safe levels.

Commenting on the bi-partisan nature of the New Mexico effort, Jeff Goebel, a management consultant involved in drafting and lobbying for the legislation stated, “We understood that the only people who can actually change the health of the soil on a daily basis are ranchers, farmers, foresters, and gardeners. Therefore, we need to do everything possible to help land managers be successful. We were adaptive (consensual) in the language without giving up the integrity of the legislation.”

"We understood that the only people who can actually change the health of the soil on a daily basis are ranchers, farmers, foresters, and gardeners." - Jeff Goebel

Nebraska recently passed legislation to create a Healthy Soils Task Force to develop a healthy soils initiative and action plan. A Massachusetts bill, “An Act to Promote Healthy Soils,” directs the state to form a Healthy Soils Program that shall “seek to optimize climate benefits while supporting the economic viability of agriculture in the commonwealth…”. With strong bi-partisan support from both chambers, passage is likely. Healthy soils legislation has also been in legislatures in 2019 in the following additional states: Connecticut, Vermont, New York, Illinois, Iowa, Washington and Oregon.

A complete list of state-level healthy soils legislative efforts is available at the Soil4Climate website, www.soil4climate.org.

See full state legislative Google spreadsheet here ​

Comments from Steven Keleti

Connecticut (HB6647)  draft includes definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs; draft not filed, due to full docket – will be submitted for 2020 session.
Illinois (SB1980/HB2737) adds definition for “soil health”, and includes soil health in soil and water conservation districts law – moving forward in both chambers and has broad support.
(HB2819) allows Dept. of Natural Resources to require soil health requirements in leases of state land – tabled in committee
Iowa (HSB 78) provides for tax exemption for planting cover crops – stalled in committee.
(HF 102) provides "for a statewide soil resource health and recovery monitoring system” – stalled in committee.
Massachusetts (SD1438/HD3065) adds definition for “healthy soils practices” and sets up fund for programs, adds expert on healthy soils practices to food policy council – broad bi-partisan support with 37% of legislators co-sponsoring, hearing likely in May.
Nebraska (LB243) creates Soil Health Task Force – signed into law 4/17/2019!
(LB283) funding for creation of climate action plan, including through improvements to soil health – stalled in committee.
(LB729) provides incentives for cover crops  – stalled in committee.
New Mexico (SB218/HB204) sets up healthy soils program – signed into law 4/2/2019!
New York (A02718) provides tax exemption for carbon farming, with exemption based upon the economic value of carbon sequestered – in committee.
Oregon (HB2020) sets up cap-and-invest, allowing funding of agricultural sequestration of carbon – in committee.
Washington (SB 5947/HB 2095) sets up sustainable farm and field program – in committee at end of session.

It is still reasonably possible for legislation to be filed this session in:
Ohio – draft legislation exists, adding definition of healthy soils practices to soil and water conservation districts law and creates fund for healthy soils programs; there appears to be a legislator interested in submitting the bill, yet more support is needed.
Vermont – H903 from last session probably will be taken up again, providing improvements to Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program.
Perhaps another healthy soils bill will also be filed.

It is likely that legislation supporting healthy soils will be before legislatures in 2020 in (east-to-west):
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Oregon, and Washington,
and possible in numerous other states.

Karl Thidemann Reciting "Climate Farming" Poem at Healthy Soils Hearing, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, Boston, MA.


Climate Farming
by Karl Thidemann

So, what's the future?
Is there no hope?
Healing the land
Can help us cope
And grow better food
With less flooding, too
Put carbon in soil
Is what we must do

Draw down the heat
Slow the sea rise
Let birds and bees
Thrive in the skies
Good farming is how
We deal with this mess
Now the climate's fixed
What's next to address?

This was for Massachusetts state legislators at the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture hearing on the Healthy Soils Act - "An Act to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth" - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S438.
The full testimony is here https://youtu.be/OQvfQcFeofM youtu.be/OQvfQcFeofM

#HealthySoilsAct

Seth Itzkan & Karl Thidemann, Cofounders of Soil4Climate Inc, give testimony to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture hearing on the Healthy Soils Act - "An Act to promote healthy soils and agricultural innovation within the Commonwealth," May 14, 2019. - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S438. Includes Karl Thidemann reciting his poem, "Climate Farming." 

​YouTube video is available here. 

Climate Farming
by Karl Thidemann

So, what's the future?
Is there no hope?
Healing the land
Can help us cope
And grow better food
With less flooding, too
Put carbon in soil
Is what we must do

Draw down the heat
Slow the sea rise
Let birds and bees
Thrive in the skies
Good farming is how
We deal with this mess
Now the climate's fixed
What's next to address?

#HealthySoilsAct

-- Notes from Steven Keleti to accommodate the map --
Hello all,
Quick summary: We need more help in Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri to build momentum.   Your help in any state makes it possible to expand the work in every state.
Texas and Pennsylvania are top priorities.
Latest good news: (Attached is the latest map of the status of state Healthy Soils legislation.)
Healthy Soils legislation for Massachusetts reported favorably and referred to House Ways and Means.
Draft legislation for Connecticut (deadline Feb 21) discussion with Environment Committee Chairs February 5th went well and Soil and Water Conservation Districts are supportive – on track for this legislation to be filed by deadline.
Draft legislation completed for Missouri (deadline Mar 1) - help needed to connect with Missouri supporters! draft removes sales tax exemption on fertilizers, pesticides, and fertilizers and commits that revenue to healthy soils fund.
Draft legislation started for Pennsylvania (filing deadline TBD)
Interest has been building in several states, including Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Mexico
Please reach out to those you know who may be interested in Healthy Soils legislation to join the Healthy Soils Legislation Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/healthy-soils-legislation
Upcoming deadlines:
Connecticut (committee bill filing deadline Feb 21)
Kentucky (filing deadline Feb 26)
Missouri (filing deadline Mar 1)
Ohio (filing deadline TBD)
Help is still needed to get bills on the docket! Getting Healthy Soils legislation on the docket increases awareness and education opportunities with legislators and their staffs. Who is interested?
Again, the letters on the map, indicating Senate and House members on the Agriculture Committees (chairs and co-chairs in a larger font), show why various states are higher priority, at least as far as shaping what happens in the Agriculture Committees relative to the September 2018 Farm Bill. Because of the lack of transparency from Republican legislators regarding the draft 2018 Farm Bill, a greater focus is being made on healthy soils legislation in states with Republican legislators.
Status on selected states:
Connecticut – On track for making legislative deadline of committee filing legislation by February 21st.
Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri – Initial draft for Healthy Soils legislation done for each state
Need more contacts to support legislation
Each need a group to be lead supporter for legislation
For each state, need to identify legislators who will support healthy soils legislation
Massachusetts – Healthy Soils H.3713 reported out favorably – referred to House Ways and Means
Need help reaching out to legislators to move forward
Need to create cost-benefit summary for legislators who want to have an indication of what funding may be requested later
New York – Recommendations for updates to Carbon Farming bill need to be reviewed
Need to recommend changes to define “economic value of carbon farming”
Need to identify revenue source to offset revenue lost due to carbon tax credits
Oregon – 'Clean Energy Jobs' or 'Cap and Invest’, HB4001/SB1507 had first public hearing at 3pm on February 7th
Vermont – H.661 An act related to regenerative organic farming
Could draft a short Healthy Soils bill to improve/expand 2008 law beyond “cover crops” and “carbon sequestration”, to generate interest as amendment to another bill
Best regards,
Steven (Keleti)
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/healthy-soils-legislation