The Soil CARE Act of 2026 (Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act), the Senate companion to HR-7474, would require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain a national training program for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) personnel and certified third-party providers on the science and practice of soil health management. The program would offer a free online curriculum plus in-person workshops twice every two years in each NRCS region, developed under cooperative agreements with land-grant universities, conservation districts, organic and agroecology nonprofits, and Long-Term Agroecosystem Research sites. Required curriculum components span 10 topics, including regenerative practices, organic production, agroforestry, prescribed grazing, Indian Tribes and traditional ecological knowledge, climate-resilient soil practices, and tools for small and underserved producers. The Secretary must update the curriculum every two years. The bill authorizes $10 million across fiscal years 2027-2032. Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon is the lead sponsor with Sens. Wyden (D-OR) and Welch (D-VT).
Congressional Summary
Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2026 or the Soil CARE Act of 2026This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a training program for soil health management in Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs.Under the bill, soil health management means land management methods used to increase and balance soil health, such as microbial biomass and macrofauna, for the purpose of improving biological functions, including forming and stabilizing soil structure, cycling nutrients, controlling pests and disease, and degrading or detoxifying contaminants.The training program must (1) provide education, resources, and technical support to NRCS personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies, science, and practices for improving soil health; and (2) assist NRCS personnel and third-party providers in supporting agricultural producers in understanding and implementing soil health management systems that regenerate farmland.The training program must be available twice every two years in each NRCS region and include both an online curriculum and in-person training workshops.The training program must be developed and delivered through cooperative agreements with entities with soil health management systems expertise and experience working with and training producers.The bill includes minimum curriculum requirements for the training program, including specific units on soil health and diversified production systems.USDA must review and update the training program curriculum and materials every two years.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-02-10
- Date Added
- 2026-05-12
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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