New York Healthy Soils Policy

State Flower: Rose

Legislative Status Update

Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act

The Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program

NOT PASSED: The Carbon Farming Act

State Contacts & Resources

Legislative Status Update

Updates in 2026:

A5147 [LS] Establishes a Green New Deal for New York task force; requires such task force to develop a detailed statewide, industrial, economic mobilization plan for the transition of the New York economy to become greenhouse gas emissions neutral by 2030 and to significantly draw down greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality; Creates a Green New Deal task force to plan a net‑zero economy by 2030; calls for investing in sustainable farming and land‑use practices that increase soil health and store soil carbon – in committee
A5660 [LS] Establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a “carbon farming” land management strategy; directs DEC to develop regulations related to certifying the amount of carbon sequestered or emissions reduced; Carbon Farming Act establishes a certification committee and tax credit; defines carbon farming as sequestering greenhouse gases in agricultural soils and boosting soil health – in committee
A6192/S5759 [LS/LS] Relates to the management of PFAS in biosolids in the state by establishing a moratorium on land application of biosolids and requiring testing and reporting of certain groundwater, biosolids, and soil; establishes the PFAS agricultural response program and fund to assist farms found to have levels of PFAS contamination which exceed regulatory standards; establishes the NYS biosolids task force to evaluate the risks and benefits of various methods of biosolids disposal; provides for the repeal of the moratorium and the task force upon the expiration thereof; Imposes a 5-year moratorium on the land application, sale, and distribution of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) as fertilizer, compost, or soil amendment in NYS, due to PFAS contamination risks. Excludes compost derived solely from food or vegetative waste. Addresses long-standing concerns about soil contamination from PFAS and other pollutants in biosolids. Temporarily halts biosolid-based soil inputs to protect soil integrity.
S1529 [LS] Establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a “carbon farming” land management strategy; directs DEC to develop regulations related to certifying the amount of carbon sequestered or emissions reduced; Senate Carbon Farming Act promotes soil‑carbon sequestration; states that incentivizing soil‑carbon storage enhances soil health, cuts greenhouse gases and boosts farm productivity – in Senate

Updates in 2025:

A8091 [LS] Provides that certain purchase contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental resilience, racial equity, valued workforce, valued agricultural sector, animal welfare, and nutrition; Values‑based procurement bill lets governments prefer food suppliers who use soil‑health practices—cover crops, no‑till, rotations—to improve soil health and sequester carbon – in Assembly at adjournment
K472 [LS] Recognizing May 29, 2025, as Learn About Composting Day; Recognizes May 29 2025 Learn About Composting Day; stresses that composting reduces waste and improves soil health by adding nutrients and soil biota – adopted 5/5/2022

Updates in 2024:

A2299/S1058 [LS/LS] Establishes the agrivoltaics viability pilot program within the farmland viability program to provide grants to identify the best practices and strategies for dual-use solar energy projects that protect soil health during construction and decommissioning of solar arrays, utilize sustainable agricultural production practices, monitor any benefits solar energy may have on farms and to the state, track economic viability, study the commercialization of dual-use solar energy projects, and encourage equitable engagement of stakeholders – stalled in committee
A2652 [LS] Establishes a Green New Deal for New York task force; requires such task force to develop a detailed statewide, industrial, economic mobilization plan for the transition of the New York economy to become greenhouse gas emissions neutral by 2030 and to significantly draw down greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality; includes “investing in sustainable farming and land use practices that increase soil health” – stalled in committee
A5919/S4270 [LS/LS] Establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a “carbon farming” land management strategy; directs DEC to develop regulations related to certifying the amount of carbon sequestered or emissions reduced; mentions soil health – stalled in committee
A7264/S6955 [LS/LS] Provides that certain purchase contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental sustainability, racial equity, valued workforce, animal welfare, and nutrition; includes “preference shall be given to producers that adopt practices that contribute to improved soil health and increased carbon sequestration and storage, and that achieve net short-term and long-term greenhouse gas benefits” – delivered to governor 12/12/2024, vetoed 12/21/2024
A8804/S8304 [LS/LS] Makes appropriations for the support of government – Capital Projects Budget; includes “up to $500,000 for the Cornell Soil Health Program for research and education to improve soil resiliency to climate variations and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by carbon sequestration”,etc. – passed 4/19/2024, signed and enacted 5/1/2024
K974 [LS] Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 19, 2024, as Agriculture Day in the State of New York; includes “WHEREAS, Farmers can be important stewards of our natural resources, ensuring clean water, healthy soils and increased use of renewable energy with sound, sustainable agricultural practices” – adopted 3/19/2024
K2131 [LS] Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 5-11, 2024, as Compost Awareness Week in the State of New York; includes “WHEREAS, Soil plays an important role in our environment; healthy soil is at the heart of planetary, agricultural and human health” – adopted 5/8/2024
S5788 [LS] Establishes a Green New Deal for New York task force; requires such task force to develop a detailed statewide, industrial, economic mobilization plan for the transition of the New York economy to become greenhouse gas emissions neutral by 2030 and to significantly draw down greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality; includes “working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in New York state to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible, including: (A) by supporting family farming; (B) by investing in sustainable farming and land use practices that increase soil health…” – in committee at adjournment

Updates in 2023:

A4911/S7081 [LS/LS] Establishes an agrivoltaics research program to develop innovative science-based solutions to facilitate the co-location of crops and photovoltaics while promoting the biodiversity of endemic flora and fauna; includes “research that facilitates productive agrivoltaics across several different varieties of crops including research that enables understanding of agrivoltaics effects on soil health, soil carbon sequestration, erosion, water management, and specialty crop canopy management for enhanced climate resiliency” – signed by Governor 12/8/2023
K421 [LS] Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 7-13, 2023, as Compost Awareness Week in the State of New York; includes:
“WHEREAS, This year’s theme, “For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!” was selected to highlight the overall regenerative agriculture movement and how compost and organics recycling fit into that process; and
WHEREAS, Soil plays an important role in our environment; healthy soil is at the heart of planetary, agricultural and human health;…”
– adopted 5/9/2023

Updates in 2022:

A2042/S4707 [LS/LS] Establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a “carbon farming” land management strategy; directs DEC to develop regulations related to certifying the amount of carbon sequestered or emissions reduced; Carbon Farming bill – Senate version stalled in House committee
A6566 [LS] Enacts the clean air and clean water environmental bond act of 2021 (Part A); implements the clean air and clean water environmental bond act of 2021 (Part B); includes “purchase of equipment for measuring and monitoring soil health and soil conditions”, and “costs associated with projects that reduce agricultural nutrient runoff and promote soil health…” – this bill stalled in committee, but language became part of the Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (law here), approved by voters on 11/8/2022
A7824/S1559 [LS/LS] Establishes a Green New Deal for New York task force; requires such task force to develop a detailed statewide, industrial, economic mobilization plan for the transition of the New York economy to become greenhouse gas emissions neutral by 2030 and to significantly draw down greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality; includes soil health – stalled in committee
A8580/S7534 [LS/LS] Provides that certain purchase contracts can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, valued agricultural workforce, animal welfare, nutrition, and racial equity; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards toinclude local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, valued agricultural workforce, animal welfare, nutrition, and racial equity. “preference shall be given to producers that adopt practices that contribute to improved soil health and increased carbon sequestration and storage, and that achieve net short-term and long-term greenhouse gas benefits” – stalled in committee
A8766/S7775 [LS/LS] Directs the commissioner of agriculture and markets in conjunction with the state soil and water conservation committee to promulgate rules and regulations to further the climate resilient farming initiative; Chapter amendment to 2021 A05386 soil health and climate resiliency act – signed into law 2/24/2022

Updates in 2021:

A5386/S4722 [LS/LS] Establishes the soil health and climate resiliency act; establishes the soil health program to assist farmers in improving the health of their soil; establishes the climate resilient farming initiative to promote and encourage farmers to reduce the effects of farming on climate change and to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change by improving and maintaining water management systems and soil health and resiliency – passed 6/6/2021 and signed by Governor Hochul on 12/22/2021

Pre-2021

A2718/S4875 [LS/LS] (2020) Establishes a tax credit for farmers who maximize carbon sequestration potential through a “carbon farming” land management strategy; directs DEC to develop regulations related to certifying the amount of carbon sequestered or emissions reduced; provides tax exemption for carbon farming, with exemption based upon the economic value of carbon sequestered – in committee at adjournment

Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act

Legislative Information

Date:

02/16/2021 Introduced
05/25/2021 Passed Assembly unanimously
06/08/2021 Passed Senate

Legislation:

A05386/S4722

Sponsors:

Assemblywoman Donna A Lupardo
With co-sponsors Barrett, Kelles, Gallagher, Thiele, Otis, Gottfried, Simon, Sillitti, Glick, Lavine, Angelino, Davila, Zinerman, Jackson, Rosenthal L, Perry, Santabarbara, Buttenschon, Fahy, Griffin, Colton, Blankenbush, Norris

Agencies Involved:

Rule Making Processes:

The department is directed to solicit stakeholder input that includes the state Soil and Water Conservation Committee and USDA/NRCS as well as scientists and agricultural producers including historically marginalized producers, in order to develop voluntary standards and objectives for the program.

Program Summary

Description:

The Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act establishes the voluntary Soil Health Initiative to encourage producers in urban, suburban and rural areas in improving the health of their soil.

It also establishes the Climate Resilient Farming Initiative in order to make available practical information and soil health research and encourage farmers to reduce the effects of farming on climate change. Addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation, the initiative strives to improve and maintain water management systems as well as soil health and farm resilience.

Soil Health Definitions:

Soil health is defined as “soils that have the continuing capacity to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.”

The act also lists the benefits of soil health to include: “supporting the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel; facilitating infiltration, storage and filtration of water and protecting water quality; enhanced nutrient-holding capacity and nutrient cycling; providing habitat for diverse soil organisms; enhanced resilience to drought, extreme precipitation events, temperature extremes, pests, diseases and other stresses; breaking down harmful chemicals; reducing agricultural impacts on, and mitigating the impact on agriculture of, global climate change; and sequestering carbon and net long-term greenhouse gas benefits.”

Stated Goals:

The Healthy Soil Initiative aims to

improve “long term soil productivity, efficiency, resiliency and profitability of farming”
ensure that “soil is conserved as a living ecosystem managed to provide nutrients for the growth of agricultural plants and animals and a healthy, affordable food supply”
and address agriculture’s impacts on climate change.

Project Requirements:

TBD: the act states that “standards should include soil quality indicators for biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil and reflect the latest scientific advancements.”

Tools & Guidance:

N/A

Funding Sources

Founding Source/s:

The act does not specify any funding.

Funding Type/s:

None specified.

Practices Eligible for Funding:

Eligible for funding are “agricultural and land management practices that improve the function of soils through actions that follow the principles of: minimizing soil disturbance from soil preparation; maximizing soil vegetation cover; maximizing the diversity of beneficial soil organisms; maximizing presence of living roots; and integrating animals into land management.”

Specifically listed are:

conservation tillage or no-till
cover-cropping
precision nitrogen and phosphorous application
planned rotational grazing
Integrated crop-livestock systems
Agroforestry
perennial crops
integrated pest management
nutrient best management practices.

Lessons Learned

N/A

The Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program

Legislative Information

Date:

Passed October 9th, 2015. Part of Governor Cuomo’s 2015 Opportunity Agenda (no number)

Legislation:

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2015 Opportunity Agenda

Sponsors:

New York Governor

Agencies Involved:

Administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Rule Making Processes:

The process occurs within the NY Agricultural Environmental Management framework (coordinated by Soil and Water Conservation Committee). County Soil and Water Conservation Districts apply for the competitive grants on behalf of farmers.

Program Summary

Description:

Governor Cuomo launched the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program as part of his membership commitment to the United States Climate Alliance. It became the first statewide program that combines water and soil management approaches to create holistic on-farm climate adaptation development.

Through the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program, County Soil and Water Conservation Districts apply for the competitive grants on behalf of farmers. Projects can focus on reducing carbon footprints, saving energy, improving soil health, increasing irrigation capacity and emphasizing water management to mitigate the effects of drought, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding, on crops and livestock. The program is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and funded through the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.

Soil Health Definitions:

N/A

Stated Goals:

To reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change (mitigation) and to increase the resiliency of New York State farms in the face of a changing climate (adaptation).

Program Required Measurements:

Unknown

Tools & Guidance:

Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Framework

Grant Program Request for Proposals (Round 6)

NRCS Practice Systems, by Climate Change Impact

COMET-Farm Tool

COMET Planner

Cornell University’s Climate Smart Farming Decision Tools

Funding Sources

Founding Source/s:

2015-2016 New York State Environmental Protection Fund

Funding Type/s:

Grant program

Practices Eligible for Funding:

Applications must involve implementing practices supporting one of the following:

Agricultural waste storage cover and flare systems
- Waste Storage and Transfer System
- Manure and Agricultural Waste Treatment System
- Nutrient Management System – Cultural
Water management
- Riparian Buffer System
- Stream Corridor and Shoreline Management System
- Erosion Control System – Structural
- Irrigation Water Management System
- Access Control System
- Prescribed Rotational Grazing System
Systems that enhance soil health
- Soil Conservation System – Cultural (Note: cover crop practices will be awarded on a per acre basis
- for a three year term)
- Erosion Control System – Structural
- Prescribed Rotational Grazing System
- Riparian Buffer System

Lessons Learned

How it got through: Governor Cuomo became a member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, and statewide action followed his membership to ensure he included agricultural sectors in his climate planning. American Farmland Trust led the effort to write a statewide joint statement between main agricultural interest groups, which can be found in the letter above published by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA- NY), sent to send directly to Governor Cuomo. Strong support from the governor led to consistency in grant program funding from 2015-present.

Positive Attribute: The grant program, as an agricultural resilience State plan, takes a whole-ecosystem management approach: the program addresses the connection between rainwater retention, drought, and soil health, rather than approaching these two interconnected issues separately.

General lessons for grant programs:

Don’t hold grant applications during the growing season because farmers won’t have time to apply.

Small farms are often more economically efficient per acre in terms of environmental services and simultaneously often have a more difficult time acquiring upfront capital or labor for implementation

NOT PASSED: The Carbon Farming Act

Legislative Information

Date:

First introduced as Assembly Bill A3281 in 2017-2018 legislative session.

Reintroduced as Assembly Bill A 02718 in the 2018-2019 legislative session

Legislation:

Assembly Bill A 02718

Sponsors:

Multi-Sponsored by:

Agencies Involved:

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York Department of Agriculture

Rule Making Processes:

To be determined

Program Summary

Description:

The Bill would create a carbon farming pilot program to incentivize farmers to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere and sequester it in the soil by adopting different soil management practices. The Bill would create a Carbon Farming Tax Credit and the program would be created and overseen by The New York Department of Agriculture.

Soil Health Definitions:

N/A

Stated Goals:

To encourage farmers to further sequester and mitigate carbon by promoting soil and vegetation management strategies

To increase agricultural yields soil health, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Program Required Measurements:

To be determined

Tools & Guidance:

COMET-Farm Tool

COMET Planner

Funding Sources

Founding Source/s:

To be determined

Funding Type/s:

Tax credit

Practices Eligible for Funding:

To be determined

Lessons Learned

N/A

State Contacts & Resources

Agencies Involved

Assembly Committee: Agriculture Committee

State Universities & Researchers

Cornell University, New York Soil Health

Cornell University; Cornell Cooperative Extension: Land-grant university

Cornell Institute for Climate-Smart Solutions. David Wolfe, a professor of plant and soil ecology at Cornell, is supporting Assemblywoman Barrett in her development of the Act. Wolfe is a co-author of the New York Soil Health Roadmap, which lays out the benefits of soil management practices, but also why they haven’t been more widely adopted at this point. (Land-grant university)

Agricultural Organizations & Technical Assistance

USDA/NRCS

USDA-Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE)

NRCS New York

New York Soil and Water Conservation Committee contacts

County Soil & Water Conservation District contacts

New York Farm Bureau

NRCS Practice Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Carbon Sequestration

New York Soil and Water Conservation Committee

Education & Advocacy Groups

A broad coalition of environmental and agricultural organizations, including Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY (NOFA-NY) and American Farmland Trust, supported the legislation.

American Farmland Trust