H.R. 4865: Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025

Introduced Aug 1, 20254 cosponsors

Sponsor

Eric Sorensen

Democrat · IL-17

Bill Progress

IntroducedAug 1

Committee

Pass House

Pass Senate

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Aug 1, 2025

1/3

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

USDA gets deadlines on soil carbon

Why it matters

This bill pushes the Agriculture Department to quickly create national standards and data tools for soil carbon at a time when farmers, researchers, and climate programs are all asking for more credible measurements.

Finally, the bill tells USDA to build and maintain a predictive model for how land management affects atmospheric carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, and soil carbon sequestration. That tool must be anchored in direct measurements, include variables like soil type, land use, crop, and weather, and be user-friendly and multi-lingual. USDA must review it every year, make updates within 1 year after deciding an update is needed, and send annual reports to Congress starting 2 years after enactment. The bill authorizes $2,000,000 per fiscal year for the measurement methodology, $17,500,000 per fiscal year for the inventory network, and $500,000 per fiscal year for predictive models.

What does H.R. 4865 do?

USDA must set a standard in 270 days

The Secretary of Agriculture must develop a standardized soil carbon measurement methodology not later than 270 days after enactment. It must work at any location, use a standard soil depth, measure soil organic carbon and other soil health variables, account for calibration differences and measurement uncertainty, and support voluntary reporting.

Guidance for farmers in multiple languages

USDA, through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, must provide technical assistance and guidance to eligible producers, including recipients of conservation innovation grants under 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8, the sustainable agriculture research and education program, the organic agriculture research and extension initiative, and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. That guidance must be available in multiple languages and in both digital and analog formats.

On-farm trials extended from 3 to 5 years

The bill changes the duration of on-farm conservation innovation trials from 3 years to 5 years. It also expands the meaning of 'soil health management systems' in 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c) to include systems that maintain or increase soil carbon and cost-effective tools to measure, monitor, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration.

National soil carbon inventory every 5 years

The new Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network would inventory, monitor, and analyze soil carbon changes on 'eligible land,' defined as public and private cropland, rangeland, pastureland, and wetlands in the United States. The inventory must occur every 5 years, and the Secretary must publish statistical or aggregated data, methodology, and analysis after each inventory, plus a report every 5 years on trends, management practices, weather variability, atmospheric gas impacts, and a baseline benchmark.

Strategic plan due within 1 year

For the inventory network, the Secretary must submit a strategic plan not later than 1 year after enactment. The plan must lay out implementation procedures and the 5-year measurement schedule, with the Secretary acting jointly through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service.

Predictive model reviewed every year

The Secretary must develop and maintain a modeling tool that predicts how land management affects atmospheric carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, and soil carbon sequestration. The tool must be anchored in direct measurements, account for variables such as soil type, land use, crop, and weather, be user-friendly and multi-lingual, be reviewed annually, and be updated within 1 year after USDA determines an update is necessary; annual reports to Congress begin 2 years after enactment.

Who benefits from H.R. 4865?

Farmers and ranchers who want credible carbon data

They would get a national measurement methodology within 270 days after enactment and technical assistance from USDA for voluntary reporting. The bill also requires guidance in multiple languages and both digital and analog formats, which can make the system easier to use across different farm sizes and locations.

Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

The bill specifically requires consultation with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers when USDA develops both the standardized methodology and the predictive modeling tool. That gives these producers a direct role in shaping tools that may affect access to conservation and research opportunities.

Land-grant universities and research institutions

1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, other higher education institutions with relevant expertise, and Federal research centers could partner in the Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network. The bill also expands AFRI authority to fund research on measuring, monitoring, reporting, and verifying soil carbon sequestration and emissions.

Public agencies and policymakers

They would gain a recurring national evidence base through an inventory every 5 years and annual congressional reporting on the predictive model starting 2 years after enactment. Published aggregated data, methodology, and analysis could help agencies compare management practices, weather impacts, and atmospheric gas effects over time.

Who is affected by H.R. 4865?

USDA leadership and research agencies

The Secretary of Agriculture, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service would take on new deadlines and reporting duties, including the 270-day methodology deadline, the 1-year strategic plan deadline, 5-year inventory cycles, and annual model reviews.

Private landowners and producers on sampled land

Their land could be considered for soil carbon measurement on cropland, rangeland, pastureland, or wetlands, but only with owner authorization. Participation must remain voluntary and cannot be made a condition for receiving other federal benefits.

Federal partner agencies

The bill requires consultation with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Forest Service, Chief Data Officer, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Energy, along with other appropriate agencies. That means more formal coordination on data standards, modeling, and inventory design.

Conservation and research grant recipients

Producers receiving support through conservation innovation grants, the sustainable agriculture research and education program, the organic agriculture research and extension initiative, and AFRI would be among the eligible producers who can use USDA's voluntary reporting guidance. They may also see longer demonstration timelines because on-farm trials would run 5 years instead of 3.

H.R. 4865 Common Questions

How much funding does the soil carbon bill provide each year?

HR4865 authorizes $2,000,000 per year for the measurement methodology, $17,500,000 per year for the inventory network, and $500,000 per year for predictive models, according to Sections 2, 5, and 6.

How soon would USDA have to create a standard soil carbon measurement method?

Under the Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025, USDA must develop a standardized soil carbon measurement methodology within 270 days of enactment (Section 2).

How often would USDA have to measure and publish a national soil carbon inventory?

According to HR4865 Section 5, USDA must conduct the Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network inventory every 5 years and publish aggregated data, methodology, analysis, and a trends report after each inventory.

Can USDA collect soil carbon data from private land without the owner's permission?

No. Under HR4865 Section 5, site selection and measurement require owner authorization, and participation is strictly voluntary.

Does the bill protect farmers' identifiable or proprietary soil data?

Yes. Under the Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025 (Section 5), public data must exclude identifiable and proprietary information and comply with federal privacy laws.

Can joining the USDA soil carbon inventory affect eligibility for other USDA benefits?

No. According to HR4865 Section 5, participation in the soil carbon inventory is voluntary and cannot be required as a condition for receiving other USDA benefits.

What types of land are covered by the USDA soil carbon inventory in HR4865?

Under HR4865 Section 5, eligible land includes public and private cropland, rangeland, pastureland, and wetlands in the United States.

Does the bill extend USDA on-farm conservation innovation trials from 3 years to 5 years?

Yes. Under the Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025 (Section 4), on-farm conservation innovation trials are extended from 3 years to 5 years.

Which USDA grant programs would get soil carbon guidance in multiple languages?

HR4865 Section 2 covers Conservation Innovation Grants, SARE, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, AFRI, and other programs the Secretary designates, with guidance in multiple languages and digital and analog formats.

Does the bill require USDA to update its soil carbon predictive model every year?

Not automatically. Under HR4865 Section 6, USDA must review the model annually and make updates within 1 year after deciding an update is necessary.

Based on H.R. 4865 bill text

Cost & Funding

Authorization: $20,000,000 authorized per fiscal year total

—$2,000,000 authorized for each fiscal year for the standardized soil carbon measurement methodology and related guidance.
—$17,500,000 authorized for each fiscal year for the Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network.
—$500,000 authorized for each fiscal year for predictive models.
—The fact sheet does not specify a separate authorization amount for the AFRI research authority expansion or for the demonstration trial changes.

HR4865 Legislative Journey

1 actions

House: Committee Action

Aug 1, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

About the Sponsor

Eric Sorensen

Democrat, Illinois's 17th congressional district · 3 years in Congress

Committees: Agriculture, Armed Services

View full profile →

Cosponsors (4)

No new cosponsors in 65 days — momentum stalled

This bill has 4 cosponsors: 2 Democrats, 2 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 4 states: New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and 1 more.

2Democrats2Republicans·4 statesBipartisan

Michael Lawler

Republican · NY

Jennifer McClellan

Democrat · VA

Brian Fitzpatrick

Republican · PA

Kim Schrier

Democrat · WA

Committee Sponsors

Agriculture Committee

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H.R. 4865 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

Committee: Agriculture
Chamber: House
Policy: Agriculture and Food
Introduced: Aug 1, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Aug 1, 2025

Constituent Resources

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Official Sources

H.R. 4865 on Congress.gov

Official bill page with text, actions, sponsors, and status for the Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025.

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants

The bill specifically references Conservation Innovation Grants under 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8 for producers eligible to receive USDA soil carbon guidance.

NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

Section 3 expands AFRI research authority to include measuring, monitoring, reporting, and verifying soil carbon sequestration and emissions.

NRCS Soil Health

NRCS is central to the bill's technical assistance and guidance duties, and this official USDA soil health page is directly relevant to the bill's soil carbon measurement framework.

USDA Agricultural Research Service

The Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service would jointly help carry out the Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network under the bill.

USDA Climate Hubs

The bill requires predictive tools and practical guidance for producers on land management and carbon outcomes, which aligns with USDA's official climate and agricultural decision-support resources.

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H.R. 4865 Bill Text

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“To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research relating to measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of soil carbon sequestration, and for other purposes.”

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office