Bill > HR4865

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for researching and measuring soil carbon sequestration in agricultural lands. The legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a standardized methodology for directly measuring soil carbon, which will be usable across different locations and account for various scientific factors like measurement uncertainty and testing facility differences. The bill creates a voluntary reporting system for agricultural producers to share soil carbon data, provides technical assistance in multiple languages, and expands existing research programs to include soil carbon measurement and monitoring. It also establishes a Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network that will collect soil carbon data every five years from representative sites across the United States, ensuring privacy protections for landowners and maintaining a publicly accessible database of findings. Additionally, the bill mandates the development of predictive modeling tools that can estimate the impacts of different land management practices on atmospheric carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide levels, with requirements for ongoing review and updates. The research aims to help agricultural producers understand how their land management strategies affect carbon sequestration and environmental outcomes, with an emphasis on consulting diverse stakeholders including socially disadvantaged farmers, soil carbon experts, academic researchers, and other relevant parties. The bill authorizes specific funding for these initiatives, including $2 million annually for methodology development, $17.5 million for the soil carbon inventory network, and $500,000 for predictive modeling tools.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4865/all-info