§2005 Soil and water conservation program

Summary

The Secretary must create a national soil and water conservation program with help from the public, conservation districts, State, tribal, and national groups, and other agencies. The program will guide USDA work that helps landowners and land users, when they ask, to improve soil and water on private, tribal, and other non‑Federal land. It will be based on the Nation’s resource appraisal and consider short‑ and long‑term needs and the roles of Federal, State, tribal, and local governments. The program covers eight main analyses, including the Nation’s soil and water problems; current government authorities and needed changes; how well current programs are working; options for conserving and improving soil and water and recommended choices; whether collecting and using organic wastes (like manure, crop and food wastes, industrial organic waste, sewage sludge, and wood residues) to improve soil is practical and what it would cost; needed Federal and non‑Federal inputs; cost–benefit of practices; and irrigation methods and impacts. When reviewing programs, the Secretary must focus on demonstrations, new ideas, and tracking results to promote useful practices and performance standards. The Secretary must ask for and consider recommendations on improving the program. The initial program had to be completed by December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2016, and an update must be completed by December 31, 2023.