Establishes a Columbia/Dutchess carbon farming pilot project to study the carbon sequestration potential of a range of farming practices in Columbia and Dutchess counties, including, but not limited to, those practices already promoted by the state; and provides for the repeal of such program upon expiration thereof.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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11111
IN ASSEMBLY
June 5, 2018
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Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Barrett) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to authorize the state soil and water conservation committee to
establish a Columbia/Dutchess carbon farming pilot project to study
the carbon sequestration potential of a range of farming practices in
Columbia and Dutchess counties; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The state soil and water conservation committee, in consul-
2 tation with the department of environmental conservation and the depart-
3 ment of agriculture and markets, shall establish a Columbia/Dutchess
4 carbon farming pilot project to study the carbon sequestration potential
5 of a range of farming practices. The goal of such project shall be to
6 develop best practices recommendations to maximize the carbon sequestra-
7 tion of farming activities. The project shall, at a minimum, include any
8 soil health practices already promoted by the state, as well as those
9 determined by the soil and water conservation districts, the department
10 of environmental conservation, and the department of agriculture and
11 markets to be practicable and easily replicated.
12 § 2. The carbon farming pilot project established pursuant to section
13 one of this act shall be jointly administered by the soil and water
14 conservation districts in both Columbia and Dutchess counties and shall
15 be limited to five farms jointly selected pursuant to an open applica-
16 tion process. Farms applying to participate in such pilot project must
17 be engaged in the operation of a commercial farm or orchard. At least
18 one participating farm shall utilize the practice of spreading of
19 composted manure followed by planting of cover crops over the composted
20 manure.
21 § 3. The soil and water conservation districts of Columbia and Dutch-
22 ess counties shall conduct baseline soil testing for carbon content at
23 the beginning of the carbon farming pilot project and shall further
24 conduct soil testing for carbon content and water holding capacity at
25 intervals of six months for the duration of such pilot project. Farm
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16061-02-8
A. 11111 2
1 costs eligible for reimbursement shall, at a minimum, include composted
2 manure and cover crop seed. Best efforts shall be made to purchase
3 composted manure from a single vendor or source for the duration of such
4 pilot project.
5 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
6 deemed repealed two years after such effective date.
