By Kitty Gifford
In February 2021, State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-Saugerties), State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), and co-sponsor Assemblywoman Didi Barrett (D-Hudson) introduced the Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act.
The new legislation S4722/A5386 would establish in law the legislature’s support for State policy and programs to help achieve the important soil health goals outlined in the New York Soil Health Roadmap. Both the state senate and assembly versions of the proposed bill are currently in committee.
Summary of the Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Act:
Establishes the soil health and climate resiliency act; establishes the soil health program to assist farmers in improving the health of their soil and the soil health fund; establishes the climate resilient farming program to provide matching grants to fund projects which reduce methane emissions, implement water management systems on farmland and encourage soil health and resiliency.
The text of the bill can be found here.