Standard soil carbon measurement methodology

(a) Methodology (1) In general 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. (2) Review In developing the methodology under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct a review of widely used existing methodologies for direct soil carbon measurement. (3) Consultation In developing the methodology under paragraph (1) and conducting the review under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consult with— (A) 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))); (B) soil carbon experts; (C) nonprofit organizations; (D) academic researchers; and (E) other stakeholders who reflect the operational, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity of United States agricultural operations. (4) Requirements The methodology developed under paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable— (A) be usable at any location at which soil carbon can be directly measured; (B) require measurement to a standard soil depth appropriate for the sample site, determined using the best available science; (C) measure the soil organic carbon concentration and any other soil health variables, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with stakeholders described in paragraph (3), to produce a standard set of reporting metrics; (D) produce data that is interoperable with other data collected by the Department of Agriculture; (E) account for calibration differences in soil analysis between testing facilities; (F) account for differences in uncertainty between different measurement tools; and (G) be usable for voluntary reporting of soil carbon data under subsection (b). (b) Voluntary soil carbon reporting (1) Technical assistance (A) In general 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). (B) Guidance Guidance provided under subparagraph (A) shall be, at a minimum— (i) available in multiple languages; and (ii) available to producers described in paragraph (2) in both digital and analog formats. (2) Applicability The guidance developed under paragraph (1) shall be applicable to— (A) 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 (B) any other producer that elects to voluntarily report to the Secretary direct measurements of soil carbon. (3) Programs described The programs referred to in paragraph (2)(A) include— (A) conservation innovation grants under section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8); (B) 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.); (C) the organic agriculture research and extension initiative established under section 1672B of that Act (7 U.S.C. 5925b); (D) 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 (E) such other programs as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (c) Updates (1) In general 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 science. (2) Interoperability In making any updates under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that information collected with the updated methodology remains interoperable with previously collected measurements. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each fiscal year.