grant program; department; duties; rulemaking.

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A. The program shall be composed of:

(1)     a healthy soil assessment and education program; (2)     a healthy soil grants program; and

(3)     other programs established by the department to accomplish the purposes of the Healthy Soil Act.

B. In administering the healthy soil assessment and education program, the department shall:

(1)     work through technical assistance providers or eligible entities to: (a) encourage farmers and 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 at research centers and learning sites 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 department 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 department 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 department shall support local economic growth in New Mexico and shall:

(1)     identify ways to increase the generation and use of compost to build healthy soils;

(2)     to the extent permitted by the Procurement Code N.M. Stat. Ann. § 13-1-98 to 13-1-199, 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 New Mexico under management for healthy soils.

F. The department may adopt rules to carry out the Heathy Soil Act.