§ 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.