,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #chbj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #aj1 #bjbf,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,agriculture to establish and maintain a training program for ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies1 science1 and practices of soil health management systems on agricultural land1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,soil ,conservation ,and ,regeneration ,education ,act of #bjbf or the ,soil ,,care ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,training for soil health in ,,nrcs programs for agricultural producers ,section #abdb of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d71 by inserting of ,agriculture after ,department2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7j7 ,training for soil health management 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,service ,the term ,service means the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service4 7,b7 ,soil biology ,the term soil biology includes the collective biomass and activities of soil-dwelling organisms from an array of trophic levels4 7,c7 ,soil health management ,the term soil health management means land management methods that are employed to increase and balance soil health1 such as microbial biomass and macrofauna1 for the purpose of improving biological functions1 including forming and stabilizing soil structure1 cycling nutrients1 controlling pests and disease1 and degrading or detoxifying contaminants4 7,d7 ,training program ,the term training program means the training program established under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,establishment of training program ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall establish a training program-- 7,a7 to provide education1 resources1 and technical support to ,service personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies1 science1 and practices for improving soil health2 and 7,b7 to assist ,service personnel and third-party providers in supporting agricultural producers in understanding and implementing soil health management systems that regenerate farmland4 7#c7 ,program development and delivery 7,a7 ,in general ,the training program shall-- 7i7 be made available in each ,service region twice every #b years2 and 7ii7 include-- 7,i7 a nationally available online curriculum on soil health management systems that is-- 7aa7 developed through cooperative agreements with entities described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7bb7 delivered by the ,service2 and 7,,ii7 in-person training workshops on soil health management systems that regenerate farmland1 that-- 7aa7 include coverage across regions and geography types2 7bb7 are developed through cooperative agreements with entities described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7cc7 are delivered by the ,service4 7,b7 ,cooperative agreements 7i7 ,in general ,the training program shall be developed and delivered through cooperative agreements with entities with soil health management systems expertise and experience working with and training producers1 including-- 7,i7 farming consultants1 including producers and producer cooperatives2 7,,ii7 nonprofit organizations serving organic1 agroecological1 and other regenerative producers2 7,,iii7 conservation districts2 7,,iv7 land-grant colleges and universities 7as defined in section #adjd of the ,national ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,teaching ,policy ,act of #aigg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cajc772 7,v7 ,long-,term ,agroecosystem ,research sites2 and 7,,vi7 other entities with adequate expertise in soil health management systems1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7ii7 ,initial agreements ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements under clause 7i7 for the initial development and delivery of the training program4 7,c7 ,participation 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall encourage relevant ,service personnel and third-party providers-- 7,i7 to complete the online curriculum described in subparagraph 7,a77ii77,i72 and 7,,ii7 to the extent practicable1 to attend at least #a in-person training workshop described in subparagraph 7,a77ii77,,ii74 7ii7 ,relevant ,service personnel ,for purposes of clause 7i71 relevant ,service personnel shall include1 at a minimum1 ,service personnel involved in conservation planning activities with1 and the delivery of technical assistance to1 producers1 including field office staff of the ,service4 7iii7 ,completion schedules for third-party providers 7,i7 ,establishment of schedules ,the ,secretary shall establish-- 7aa7 a schedule for the completion by third-party providers of the online curriculum described in subparagraph 7,a77ii77,i72 and 7bb7 a schedule of in-person training workshops that will be provided in accordance with subparagraph 7,a77ii77,,ii74 7,,ii7 ,use of schedules ,the ,secretary shall encourage each third-party provider-- 7aa7 to complete the online curriculum in accordance with the schedule established under subclause 7,i77aa72 and 7bb7 to the extent practicable1 to attend at least #a training workshop identified on the schedule established under subclause 7,i77bb74 7,d7 ,continuing education ,the ,secretary shall provide continuing education for relevant ,service personnel and third-party providers1 with a focus on the use of new conservation practice standards related to soil health4 7,e7 ,materials for producers ,the ,secretary shall require relevant ,service personnel and third-party providers to provide soil health education materials to producers through the programs and conservation activities of the ,service1 including materials relating to the topics covered by the curriculum described in paragraph 7#d74 7#d7 ,curriculum 7,a7 ,in general ,the training program shall include the following minimum curriculum components3 7i7 ,a unit on the principles of soil health published by the ,service1 with a focus on biological function and regional context4 7ii7 ,a unit on-- 7,i7 the transition to agriculture management systems that build soil health1 including operations1 infrastructure1 regulations1 finance1 and marketing needs2 and 7,,ii7 associated risks and opportunities1 including reducing input costs by building on-farm and ranch fertility4 7iii7 ,a unit on organic production and soil health management4 7iv7 ,a unit on diversified production systems1 including-- 7,i7 perennial cropping systems2 7,,ii7 agroforestry or silvopasture systems2 7,,iii7 livestock integration into cropping systems2 and 7,,iv7 prescribed grazing4 7v7 ,a unit on the body of research on soil biology and agriculture that regenerates farmland1 including potential impacts on soil health1 water quality and security1 biodiversity1 ecosystem function1 resilience to extreme weather1 carbon sequestration1 and agricultural profitability4 7vi7 ,a unit on key conservation practices that maximize soil health and mitigate climate impacts by implementing soil health principles4 7vii7 ,a unit on-- 7,i7 issues specific to ,indian ,tribes2 and 7,,ii7 traditional ecological knowledge4 7viii7 ,a unit on-- 7,i7 the special needs of new1 small scale1 and underserved producers2 and 7,,ii7 how best to meet those needs4 7ix7 ,a unit on approaches1 tools1 and skills to support farmers in performing soil health tests4 7x7 ,a unit on all conservation programs available to producers that improve soil health1 reduce production inputs1 and regenerate soil1 farmland1 and nearby ecosystems4 7,b7 ,updates ,the ,secretary shall review and update the curriculum and all materials of the training program every #b years based on the latest-- 7i7 soil health management innovations2 and 7ii7 scientific and technological advancements4 7#e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this subsection #aj1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjcb4 4