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S3820119th CongressWALLET

Soil CARE Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator 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.

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  • 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.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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