HR4865119th CongressWALLET

Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

Introduced

Summary

Standardized soil carbon measurement would be created to track and model soil carbon and greenhouse gas impacts on U.S. farmland. The bill sets methods, technical help, a national inventory, and modeling tools tied to direct measurements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More on-farm soil carbon demos and longer trials

On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials would include soil health systems that keep or raise soil carbon and low‑cost tools to measure greenhouse gases. Trials now limited to three years would be allowed to run five years. The SARE program would run on‑farm demonstration projects for soil carbon. If you take part, you could test more options and have more time to see results.

Soil carbon inventory with farmer privacy

USDA would set up a Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network. Sampling on your land would only happen with owner permission. The inventory must protect private data and may not sell individual producer information. It would use the standard method, favor repeat sites, and publish public, aggregated reports every five years. A strategic plan would be due to Congress within one year. Congress would authorize $17.5 million each year for this program.

Standard soil carbon tests and help for farmers

Within 270 days, USDA would set a standard way to measure soil carbon. Producers could get voluntary guidance and technical help from NRCS. Help would be in multiple languages and in digital and paper form. It would apply to certain grant recipients and any producer who chooses to report. The method would set a standard depth, track soil organic carbon and other soil health, and handle lab differences and uncertainty. Congress would authorize $2 million each year for this work.

Tools to model farm emissions and soil carbon

USDA would build national tools to predict how farm practices change greenhouse gases and soil carbon. The tools must use real measurements, show uncertainty, and work across soils, crops, regions, weather, and farm sizes. They must be easy to use and in multiple languages. USDA would review them at least yearly and update within one year when needed. A first report to Congress would be due in two years, then each year. Congress would authorize $500,000 each year for this work.

AFRI adds soil carbon research priority

If enacted, the AFRI grant program would list soil carbon measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification as a priority topic. Universities and researchers could compete for AFRI grants to study these areas. This change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • McClellan

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/6/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 10/6/2025

  • Schrier

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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