Section 151-M - Soil health initiative1. 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.N.Y. Agric. and Mkts. Law § 151-M
Amended by New York Laws 2022 , ch. 102, Sec. 2, eff. 2/24/2022.Added by New York Laws 2021 , ch. 735, Sec. 2, eff. 7/1/2021.