N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 151-m: Soil health initiative

§ 151-m. Soil health initiative. 1. The department, in cooperation

with the state soil and water conservation committee, and other partners

working on soil health shall encourage agricultural producers in urban,

suburban and rural communities to improve and maintain the health of

farm soils by: managing and optimizing soil health to mitigate and adapt

to climate change, and improve water quality while improving long term

soil productivity, efficiency, resiliency and profitability of farming;

ensuring 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 addressing such environmental

impacts from farm operations, including, but not limited to absorbing

and holding rainwater for use during dry periods, filtering and

buffering potential pollutants from leaving fields, improving climate

resiliency, and providing habitat for beneficial soil microbes to

flourish and diversify. Such improvement and maintenance shall account

for the differences in soils in different regions of the state. The

department shall coordinate the soil health initiative with the

agricultural environmental management program established in article

eleven-A of this chapter and section eleven of the soil and water

conservation districts law.

2. The department shall encourage soil health practices that include,

but shall not be limited to:

(a) improving, enhancing, or otherwise maximizing soil health and

quality, and minimizing soil erosion and sedimentation;

(b) improving, enhancing, or otherwise maximizing water infiltration

rates and water holding capacities of soils for improved storm water

management and flood control, drought resilience, and groundwater

supply; and

(c) managing and enhancing the healthy cycling of nutrients within

fields, to minimize nutrient runoff and reduce downstream nutrient

loading, improve watershed health and reliable water availability,

restore and enhance wildlife habitat, and manage water runoff and

drainage water for improved local and downstream water quality.

3. The department, in the development of efforts to promote and

encourage soil health, shall conduct public virtually accessible

stakeholder meetings and provide opportunity for written public comment

and consult with stakeholders, as appropriate, including, but not

limited to: the state soil and water conservation committee, the

department of environmental conservation, agricultural producers

including historically marginalized producers, not-for-profit

conservation organizations, environmental protection organizations

including environmental justice, the United States Department of

Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Services, the New York

state college of agriculture and life sciences established in section

fifty-seven hundred twelve of the education law including Cornell

Cooperative Extension, other institutions of higher education in New

York state working on soil health, and any other organization designated

by the commissioner.

4. The department, in cooperation with the state soil and water

conservation committee, the New York state college of agriculture and

life sciences established in section fifty-seven hundred twelve of the

education law, and with input from other organizations with expertise in

soil health and regional stakeholders, shall establish appropriate

voluntary standards and objectives for soil health and quality,

reflective of the different geographic regions, soil types, and farming

operations. Such standards should include soil quality indicators for

biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil and reflect the

latest scientific advancements.