-- 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

Dear Friends, Please help us spread the Soil4Climate movement by singing a verse and chorus of the Soil4Climate theme song, "Brand New Sky." Just make a selfie movie and tag us on Facebook and post with hashtags #BrandNewSky, #Soil4Climate, and #EarthDay. An instrumental version and lyrics and chords are available below and on our Artistic page.  This will be fun. Thank you so much!

Lyrics to Brand New Sky

​​Think of a world where everyone cares
About the land that everyone shares
Think of the soil that’s under your feet
And what it needs to make it complete
Under a brand new sky

We don’t have to settle for a dying planet
There is something we can do
We can save the land and everything upon it
All it takes is me and you

Take a look outside of your door
And find a world worth fighting for
Where there was once nothing to see
Now there is life all around me
Under a brand new sky

We don’t have to settle for a dying planet
There is something we can do
We can save the land and everything upon it
All it takes is me and you

The answer that we’re looking for is soil for climate
Put the carbon back in the ground
This can be a movement if we get behind it
Help us turn the world around

We don’t have to settle for a dying planet
There is something we can do
We can save the land and everything upon it
All it takes is me and you

© Kevin O’Connor and Seth Itzkan 2016

The best hats in the world are now available in our online store.  Please shop for them there. 

​THETFORD, Vermont – March 8, 2018 – Soil4Climate today proudly welcomed to its Advisory Board Elaine Ingham, Ph.D., a globally recognized soil microbiologist, and Charlotte Kahn, a well-known leader in the fields of social innovation and philanthropy. Ingham and Kahn join more than 30 other distinguished members of the Soil4Climate Advisory Board, comprised of individuals with expertise in disciplines including climate science, agricultural research, farming, policymaking, journalism, and environmental activism.