Sec. 3. Standard soil carbon measurement methodology
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Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a standardized methodology to directly measure soil carbon for research and conservation purposes. In developing the methodology under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct a review of widely used existing methodologies for direct soil carbon measurement. In developing the methodology under paragraph
(1)and conducting the review under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consult with— agricultural producers, including socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2003(e) )); soil carbon experts; nonprofit organizations; academic researchers; and other stakeholders who reflect the operational, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity of United States agricultural operations. The methodology developed under paragraph
(1)shall, to the maximum extent practicable— be usable at any location at which soil carbon can be directly measured; require measurement to a standard soil depth sufficient for measuring the core set of variables described in paragraph (5), determined using the best available science; or if measurement to the standard soil depth described in clause
(i)is not practicable due to insufficient soil depth or other factors relating to the applicable sample site, require measurement in accordance with an alternate approach developed by the Secretary, using the best available science, that— requires measurement to the maximum allowable depth of a sample site; and produces data that is interoperable with data collected by measurement to the standard soil depth in accordance with clause (i); measure the core set of variables described in paragraph
(5)to produce a standard set of reporting metrics; produce data that is interoperable with other data collected by the Department of Agriculture; account for calibration differences in soil analysis between testing facilities; account for differences in uncertainty between different measurement tools; and be usable for voluntary reporting of soil carbon data under subsection (b). The methodology developed under paragraph
(1)shall measure the following core set of variables for each sample: Bulk density. Organic carbon concentration. Rock fraction volume and weight. Other variables, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall provide to producers described in paragraph
(2)technical assistance, including guidance, for voluntarily measuring, monitoring, and reporting to the Secretary soil carbon data using the methodology developed under subsection (a). Guidance provided under subparagraph
(A)shall be, at a minimum— available in multiple languages; and available to producers described in paragraph
(2)in both digital and analog formats. The guidance developed under paragraph
(1)shall be applicable to— producers that are recipients of grants under programs described in paragraph
(3)to voluntarily measure, monitor, and report to the Secretary soil carbon outcomes under those programs; and any other producer that elects to voluntarily report to the Secretary direct measurements of soil carbon data. The programs referred to in paragraph (2)(A) include— conservation innovation grants under section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8 ); the sustainable agriculture research and education program under subtitle B of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5801 et seq. ); the organic agriculture research and extension initiative established under section 1672B of that Act ( 7 U.S.C. 5925b ); grants under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 3157(b) ); and such other programs as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. The Secretary shall seek to provide culturally appropriate technical assistance and guidance under paragraph
(1)to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (as defined in section 355(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2003(e) )). The Secretary shall update the methodology developed under subsection (a)(1) and the guidance issued under subsection (b)(1)(B) as needed to reflect the best-available data science. In making any updates under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that data collected with the updated methodology remains interoperable with previously collected measurements. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each fiscal year.
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- 16 USC 3839aa–8
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Sec. 3
Standard soil carbon measurement methodology
Cite16 USC 3839aa–8
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