Land Core Newsletter - June 2025
Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash
Dear friends and colleagues,
June is upon us, and with it, the height of the growing season. It’s also the season of the garden, a time when those of us not working the land professionally may still find our hands in the soil, coaxing seedlings to life, navigating the quiet persistence of weeds, and confronting inevitable pests. In these small acts, we encounter, however briefly, a glimpse of the daily complexities farmers manage on a vastly different scale.
While a home garden may offer personal fulfillment or a few nourishing meals, it is important to remember that our farmers face the challenges you might have at home (along with so many others)… and across thousands of acres, with far higher stakes. They feed our communities, anchor rural economies, and steward the vast landscapes on which we all depend. That’s why Land Core remains steadfast in advancing soil health policy creating durable value not only for farmers, but for businesses, communities, and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Last month, on May 16, a dramatic reminder of this interdependence arrived in the form of a sweeping, multi-state dust storm—driven by strong winds over freshly tilled, dry farmland. Though brief, the event evoked the Dust Bowl era in both scale and intensity, underscoring the sobering consequences of land mismanagement converging with increasingly volatile weather.
Photo credit by The National Weather Service, May 16, 2025
Land Core exists to work on preventing events like this, offering tools, policy frameworks, and vision to build soil health resilience in the face of both chronic and emerging threats.
Looking ahead, June promises to be an active month. We’ll be returning to Washington, D.C. to deepen our engagement with legislators and other key allies shaping the future of soil health. Much of our work, as always, happens quietly and persistently behind the scenes. But our door is always open… and we do hope you’ll connect with us.
Warmly,
The Land Core Team
Ag Policy Updates
With lots of dense and fast-moving policy and political news, we know it can be a little dizzying to keep up. To help, we’ve provided some updates on key policy levers in D.C. impacting ag and soil health policy. Grab a coffee (or something stronger) and let’s dive in:
Reconciliation Recap:
Last month, House Republicans passed the “Big Beautiful Bill”, with praise from top Republicans.
After much debate, as legislators spar over different parts of the bill, leadership still thinks the Senate can still finish their work by the July 4th break. However, several contentious items need to be resolved, between House & Senate priorities, and within the wider Republican party, making the pathway to becoming law far from certain.
Impact on Farm Bill: While the reconciliation package would address some farm concerns, many more remain; commentators, including former Secretaries of Ag for President Clinton & George H.W. Bush, note the seeming break up of the historic farm bill coalition.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins praised the reconciliation bill as reflecting President Trump's vision even as she acknowledged the unpredictability of the legislative process. Rollins affirmed that the White House is committed to delivering a full five-year Farm Bill if the piecemeal approach doesn't pan out.
Meanwhile, industry groups like the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) also took to the hill to advocate for the need for a farm bill.
Annual Appropriations (FY26):
In positive news related to House Ag-Appropriations, the bill’s companion “report language” currently includes some Land Core (and partners) priorities, including recognizing the “promise” of cover crops to “potentially reducing indemnities for crop insurance”. The Committee encourages USDA to conduct a study regarding crop insurance premium benefits for cover crops using available cover crop data including from RMA and FSA.
Additionally, conservation groups have expressed concern about the 9% cut to conservation technical assistance.
Note, the Ag-Appropriations sub-committee has delayed a vote on the bill until the week of June 23rd. There’s still time to make calls in favor of strong support for soil health & farmer TA.
President’s Budget:
The White House released a detailed request for agriculture and USDA in FY26. The request includes $23 billion for USDA for fiscal 2026, a cut of nearly $7 billion from the current year.
PoliticoPro reports cuts to “nearly all of the department’s major initiatives”, from the Risk Management Agency (overseeing federal crop insurance), reducing the Natural Resources Conservation Service from $916 million to $112 million, and the Farm Service Agency, which supports farm loans, conservation and disaster assistance (lowered by $372 million).
As a reminder, the Presidential budget expresses the Administration’s priorities, but the actual budget is set by Congress.
USDA News:
Secretary Rollins announced “Farmers First”, a set of policy proposals focused on small family farms
On Wednesday, USDA cancelled grants funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (for climate-smart and other conservation-related practices). The direct grants were from the NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program that were for farmers, ranchers, and landowners.
Rooted In Health:
The anticipated MAHA Report, focused on causes of childhood disease, came out last month with mixed reactions
In case you missed it, see our policy memo, Rooted In Health, written in advance of the report
Aside from the criticism of AI generated content and citation problems, stakeholder groups working on soil health policy highlight a noticeable lack of the critical connection between soil health and human health in the report
During a meeting with Secretary Kennedy and Senate Ag Committee members, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) said soil health might be a way that agriculture and MAHA can work together.
Updated US Dietary Guidelines are expected as soon as this month, a few months ahead of schedule. We’ll be watching for inclusions of soil health and related agriculture production
Bill Tracker Updates
We’re hard at work updating our Federal Soil Health Bill Tracker with new bills. We’ll be publishing our quarterly Bill Tracker Alert on June 24th with an in depth look at legislation introduced from April through June 15th. If you want to receive those alerts, be sure to sign up here.
Also, if you are working on a bill that is being introduced that you want to make sure we are aware of, send us a note here.
Catch Us In Person
On-Farm Summer Network Meeting
Land Core’s co-founders will be joining the Soil & Climate Alliance for their annual, in-person, summer meet up, including an exclusive field day at the famed White Oak Pastures, followed by a two-day network meeting in Atlanta. While invite only, interested parties should reach out to Jessica Hulse Dillon, the network’s Senior Director, for more info.
June 17-19, 2025 | Atlanta, GA & White Oak Pastures
Washington, D.C. Trip | June 23-27, 2025
Aria will be in Washington, D.C., for network and coalition meetings, and to meet with policy makers.
80th SWCS International Annual Conference | August 3-5, 2025
Hosted by the Soil & Water Conservation Society, Land Core co-founder Aria McLauchlan will present “Key Takeaways from a Soil Health Risk Model for Policymakers, Lenders, and Insurers” on Tuesday, August 3rd. Orange County/Costa Mesa, California
Readers! Drop Us A Line
We’re curious what you might be reading (or listening to) that has important implications for soil health and the broader regenerative farming movement. If you think there’s a resource out there that will help guide our work, please let us know here.
Thank you in advance - we’re definitely better together!
Upcoming Events
The 3rd annual regenerative music festival, Old Salt Festival is a food & music celebration of Montana land stewardship. Bringing together wood-fired cooking, Americana musicians, Montana ranchers, and Western makers to celebrate in high Montana style on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana
June 20-22, 2025 | Helmville, Montana
Join Acres USA in Gaston Indiana for their inaugural Farm Weird Field day event. “An inspiring and unconventional celebration of innovative farming”, hosted by Jason Mauck. The event will feature a lineup of speakers including regenerative agriculture expert John Kempf, and soil health advocate Gary Zimmer. Experience hands-on learning as you explore a variety of venues showcasing cutting-edge techniques.
June 21, 2025 | Acres USA Gaston, Indiana
SWCS International Annual Conference - Conservation Coast to Coast 2025
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is bringing the 2025 event to the West Coast The theme keeps conservation priorities at the forefront, spanning regions and perspectives from coast to coast. The event will gather a diverse, multigenerational community of researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, farmers, and students from around the world to Costa Mesa, in Southern California . On Tuesday, August 3rd, Land Core co-founder, Aria McLauchlan, will present “Key Takeaways from a Soil Health Risk Model for Policymakers, Lenders, and Insurers”.
August 3-6, 2025 | Costa Mesa, California
This annual event is designed for readers and supporters of High Plains Journal offering educational workshops, a trade show component, and networking opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and agriculture professionals. Focus is mostly on crops and topics highlighted by the Journal; alfalfa, wheat, sorghum, corn, soybeans, cattle management, soil health, or agricultural sustainability.
August 6-8, 2025 | Wichita, Kansas
Become A Soil Health Champion
Photo by Getty images for Unsplash +
Communicating With Legislators Email Course
This FREE course is designed to help farmers, researchers, and advocates understand the legislative process and communicate a compelling narrative to support policy to shape a resilient food system. Hosted by Organic Farming Research Foundation, this asynchronous learning format is delivered in four 20-30 minute lessons especially suited for busy professionals.
For more information, sign up here.
Funding Opportunities
Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover (CLC)
In partnership with the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering grants to provide new revenue streams for producers and emerging businesses and organizations in rural Minnesota and improve soil health and water quality by funding early-state commercial development of continuous living crops. The minimum award is $10,000 and the maximum award is $100,000. For the purposes of this proposal, "continuous-living cover crops and cropping systems" refers to agroforestry, perennial biomass, perennial forage, perennial grains, and winter-annual cereal grains and oilseeds that have market value as harvested or grazed commodities.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Deadline to apply July 9th, 2025
What We're Reading
Soil health specialists sound the alarm on continuing soil erosion
Farmers in North Dakota are sounding the alarm about ‘suspended soil’, soil particles that are suspended in water or wind in an erosion event, as evidence that erosion is worsening in those areas of the country. “Our soils are much like the human body. We can’t afford to lose blood, just as we can’t afford to lose soil health. Both are vital to sustaining life, and without them, everything else starts to suffer. Stop the soil bleed!” Pires and Goettl wrote.
By Ann Bailey, AgWeek | June 9, 2025
The Farmers harmed by the Trump Administration
Farmers across Kansas, and the nation, discuss the impact of cuts to critical USDA-supported research and aid programs that have long strengthened American agriculture. These programs have helped develop weather-resilient crops, combated pests, and opened international markets, offering farmers vital tools to adapt and thrive. Researchers at Kansas State University emphasize that cutting these efforts threatens not just scientific progress, but the economic foundation of rural communities.
By Peter Slevin, New Yorker | June 9, 2025
Unexpected impact from Illinois dust strom hits corn, soybeans
States including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas have all experienced soil erosion events this year causing widespread damage to farms. Comparing the experience to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, Illinois farmers triggered widespread crop insurance claims to damaged crops of corn and soybeans.
By Rhonda Brooks, AgWeb | May 28, 2025
What Is Regenerative Agriculture?
An interview with Joe Newland, president of the Kansas Farm Bureau discusses the merits of regenerative farming and how he and his wife Dana implement regenerative practices on their 4,000 acre farm. “Everything starts with farmers and ranchers, and healthy meals start with healthy farms”.
By Cindy Shearing, American Farm Bureau Federation | May 15, 2025
Soil health is more important than ever
An interview with Gabe Brown, one of the ‘godfathers’ of the soil health movement offers his advice on building long-term profitability and soil restoration. Brown is a regular contributor to Soil Health U events and his consulting firm, Understanding Ag, offers soil health academies across the country.
By David Murray, High Plains Journal | May 9, 2025
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