Soil CARE Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a national soil health training program for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service staff and approved third-party providers, using online courses and regional in-person workshops to teach soil-building practices and updated conservation standards.
Show full summary
- NRCS staff and approved third-party providers would have to complete a nationally available online curriculum and, where practicable, attend at least one in-person workshop to improve delivery of soil health practices.
- Producers — including new, underserved, and Tribal producers — would get soil health education materials and training on topics like organic production, perennial and diversified systems, livestock integration, soil biology, testing tools, and program options.
- Universities, conservation districts, producer co-ops, nonprofit regenerative groups, and Long-Term Agroecosystem Research sites can enter cooperative agreements to help deliver training and updates.
*Authorizes $10.0 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to run the program, which would increase federal spending if appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Funding for soil health training
If enacted, the bill would authorize $10,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Soil Health Training Program. The authorization would cover fiscal years 2027 through 2032. This is an authorization only; Congress would still need to appropriate the money before it could be spent.
Soil health training for producers
If enacted, the Secretary of Agriculture would set up a Soil Health Training Program in NRCS within 1 year. The program would use cooperative agreements with experts and offer a national online curriculum and in-person workshops. Each Service region would get training twice every 2 years. The curriculum would include ten units (soil health principles; transitioning to soil-building systems; organic production; diversified systems like agroforestry and grazing; soil biology research and impacts; key conservation practices; Indian Tribes and traditional knowledge; needs of new and underserved producers; soil testing tools; and available conservation programs). The Secretary would update the curriculum every 2 years, provide continuing education to NRCS staff and approved trainers, and require them to give soil health materials to producers.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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