Okla. Stat. tit. 27A, § 27A-3-7-104: Composition of program – Administration of program

A. The healthy soil program shall be composed of:

1. A healthy soil assessment and education program;

2. A healthy soil grant program; and

3. Other programs established by the Oklahoma Conservation

Commission to accomplish the purposes of the Healthy Soil Program

Act.

B. In administering the healthy soil assessment and education

program, the Commission shall:

1. Work through technical assistance providers or eligible

entities to:

a. encourage farmers, ranchers, and land managers to

undertake voluntary soil health measurements,

b. raise awareness about desirable soil health

characteristics,

c. facilitate on-site, producer-led workshops and

training sessions to promote and engender soil health

stewardship, and

d. complete a baseline soil health assessment by testing

the organic matter, water infiltration rate,

microbiology, and aggregate stability of soils, in

addition to analyzing phospholipids and monitoring

soil cover;

2. Establish a statewide network of champions to promote soil

health stewardship, offer guidance to producers and land managers,

and encourage teamwork;

3. Create a program to provide ongoing training in soil health

stewardship and workshop facilitation for champions and eligible

entities;

4. In collaboration with technical assistance providers,

sponsor soil health workshops and training sessions through

conservation districts on farms throughout the state; and

5. Educate students and the general public about the importance

of soil health stewardship.

C. In administering the healthy soil grant program, the

Commission shall:

1. Award grants to eligible entities to provide technical

assistance to producers and land managers in advancing soil health

principles and implementing supported methods;

2. Develop a user-friendly grant program application and

application and reporting processes;

3. Develop criteria for the award of grants; provided that

grants shall be awarded equitably and priority may be given to

eligible entities serving young producers, veterans, small farms or

ranches or for projects that benefit economically or socially

disadvantaged communities; and

4. Ensure that grant funds are only used to advance soil health

and soil health stewardship.

D. The Commission shall encourage producer, land manager,

landowner, and interagency collaboration in the management of

healthy soils and shall:

1. Work with technical assistance providers to advance soil

health stewardship across private, state, federal, and tribal land

jurisdictions by fostering collaboration among producers, land

managers, and landowners; and

2. Conduct outreach to producers and land managers to promote

the program and other federal, state, or local grant opportunities

that support and promote healthy soils.

E. In administering the program, the Commission shall support

local economic growth in Oklahoma and shall:

1. Identify ways to increase the generation and use of compost

to build healthy soils;

2. To the extent permitted by statute, prioritize in-state

sourcing of the resources needed for the program, including testing

resources, compost, seeds, fencing supplies, and equipment; and

3. Support the emerging market for food grown in Oklahoma under

management for healthy soils.

F. The Commission may adopt rules to carry out the provisions

of the Heathy Soil Program Act.