Soil CARE Act of 2026

Soil health training for farmers and staff

If enacted, the bill would require the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to set up a Soil Health Training Program within 1 year. The program would include a nationally available online curriculum and in-person workshops offered in each NRCS Service region twice every two years. NRCS would make cooperative agreements with experts like land-grant universities, conservation districts, producer cooperatives, farming consultants, Long-Term Agroecosystem Research sites, and nonprofits to develop and deliver the training. The curriculum would cover ten specific units, including soil biology, transitioning to soil-health systems, organic production, diversified systems, conservation practices, Tribal and traditional ecological knowledge, needs of new and underserved producers, soil testing, and awareness of conservation programs. NRCS personnel and third-party providers would need to complete the online curriculum and, to the extent practicable, attend at least one in-person workshop, and NRCS would offer continuing education and update materials every 2 years. Congress would be authorized to appropriate $10,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out the program.