Land Core Newsletter - July 2026

Dear friends & colleagues,

It's been a busy month at Land Core and in the agriculture policy world. We submitted comments to BLM on their proposed grazing rule changes, and while we support certain elements, including increased flexibility for producers, we also advocate that any rule changes be tied to an outcomes-based, regenerative management framework. We also published our analysis of the Senate Farm Bill and its potential impact on soil health, and sent our qua rterly Bill Tracker Alert, which breaks down newly introduced and reintroduced bills, movement on tracked legislation, and other highlights from this quarter, that could affect soil health.

NewslettersLand Core StaffJuly 22, 20262026

Senate Farm Bill Overview: Key Areas of Interest

On June 23, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released a discussion draft* of the Agriculture Act of 2026, following the passage of the House farm bill (the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026) in April. Chairman Boozman has said a markup of the bill will occur before the Senate breaks for its August recess, but it has yet to be scheduled in the midst of the ongoing budget debate and the continued absence of Senator Mitch McConnell, a key vote on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Policy MemosLand Core StaffJuly 21, 20262026

Land Core’s New 1-Pager - “The Economic Value of Soil Health: Less Risk, More Resilience”

American agriculture is under real financial strain. Farm bankruptcies are up 46% since 2024. The country lost 15,000 farms in 2025. And average annual crop insurance indemnities more than doubled between 2015 and 2024, climbing from $6.7 billion to $14 billion.

These numbers point to an agricultural system under growing pressure, one where producers are absorbing more risk each year, and taxpayers are picking up more of the tab through federal crop insurance

However, a growing body of research indicates that soil health practices, such as cover cropping, diversified crop rotations, reduced tillage, and rotational grazing, measurably reduce risk. Land Core's new fact sheet, “The Economic Value of Soil Health: Less Risk, More Resilience," distills the evidence into a single 1-page resource for policymakers, producers, financial stakeholders, soil health advocates, and partners nationwide.

Risk and Resilience, EducationLand Core StaffJuly 16, 20262026

Land Core Submits Comments to BLM on Revision of Regulations for Grazing Administration

Land Core is supportive of well-managed grazing on public lands as complementary to, rather than opposed to, maintaining healthy grassland landscapes. Across the West and the nation, leading ranchers are using regenerative grazing of livestock as a way to increase the profitability of their operations and provide quality livelihoods, as well as to heal degraded soil, restore wildlife habitat, and replenish dried-up rivers. Regenerative grazing and soil health practices can help foster healthy, resilient landscapes and economic prosperity for the communities that depend on our public lands. These land management practices also support BLM’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, and are consistent with BLM’s multiple-use mandate.

Policy Memos, Risk and ResilienceLand Core StaffJuly 13, 20262026

Soil Health Federal Bill Tracker Alert - July 2026

Dear friends and colleagues,

This quarter brought major movement on federal farm legislation with direct implications for soil health.

As most of you know, on April 30, the House passed its version of the 2026 Farm Bill, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567). The Senate followed on June 23 with the release of a discussion draft of its Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026, ahead of an expected committee markup later this month. The Senate draft includes several provisions of note for soil health. Most notably in the Conservation Title, it reauthorizes the Conservation Reserve Program through 2031 with a higher acreage cap and increased payment limitation, raises Agricultural Conservation Easement Program cost-share rates, and establishes a new State Conservation Assistance Program, alongside updates to EQIP and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Education, Bill Tracker Updates, Policy MemosLand Core StaffJuly 8, 20262026

Land Core Newsletter - June 2026

Dear friends & colleagues,

Summer is here, and so is a packed policy calendar. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) has signaled that Farm Bill markup is expected between July 13 and August 7, meaning the next few weeks are critical for shaping what ends up in the bill. We're keeping a close eye on soil health provisions and working to ensure the momentum from the House side carries through. We're also continuing to push for inclusion of report language mirroring the SOIL HEALTH Practices Act in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill, following its recent and exciting inclusion in the House Ag-Approps Committee Report for FY27.

NewslettersLand Core StaffJune 18, 20262026

Land Core Newsletter - May 2026

Dear friends & colleagues,

This month brought a significant milestone for soil health and our top policy priority, and we're excited to share it with you!

Report language was included in the committee report (see pg. 55) accompanying the House Appropriations Committee's FY2027 Agriculture-FDA spending bill. It directs RMA to study the risk-reducing benefits of soil health practices, propose policy changes that acknowledge any risk reduction and develop appropriate incentives across commodity crop insurance policies. This language substantively mirrors the objectives of the SOIL HEALTH Practices Act (our farm bill priority), and its inclusion is a meaningful step toward federal recognition of what farmers implementing these practices already know: healthy soils reduce risk. Land Core is now actively working to get this language included in the Senate's version of the Appropriations language.

NewslettersLand Core StaffMay 28, 20262026

Land Core Newsletter - April 2026

Dear friends & colleagues,

Spring is a season of urgency, both on farms and in Washington. As soil temperatures climb and farmers finalize planting decisions, the pace of federal agriculture policy is quickening alongside them.

The Farm Bill does appear to be inching forward. House Republicans are preparing for a floor vote the week of April 27, and Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman signaled this week that Senate markup is now a matter of "weeks rather than months" away. While the road ahead is far from certain, the window for long-awaited updates to farm and soil health policy may finally be opening.

NewslettersLand Core StaffApril 17, 20262026

House Farm Bill Marker Bills

The House Farm Bill, called The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, included 65 marker bills that Land Core tracked across its twelve titles. Titles II (Conservation) and VII (Research) had the largest share, with 18 marker bills each. In Title II, all but one marker bill had bipartisan support. Of the marker bills in Title II that Land Core tracks, 10 were core bills and 8 were secondary. Title VII had a broader mix of sponsorship, with 13 of 18 bipartisan marker bills. Of the bills in Title VII, 12 marker bills were core for soil health, while 6 were secondary. To see the full list of Land Core-tracked marker bills in the House Farm Bill, please see here.

Announcements, Policy MemosLand Core StaffApril 3, 20262026

Soil Health Federal Bill Tracker Alert - April 2026

Dear friends and colleagues,

Congress continued to introduce soil health-related legislation through the first quarter of the year, while also advancing several existing bills through committee and floor action. Notably, the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill legislative text, released on February 13, included 65 bills that Land Core tracked as marker bills across the bill’s twelve titles. Bipartisan support for soil health legislation remains consistent, with conservation and research continuing to attract significant legislative activity.

Education, Bill Tracker Updates, Policy MemosLand Core StaffApril 3, 20262026

Land Core Newsletter - March 2026

Dear friends & colleagues,

Spring has a way of reminding us what's at stake and what's possible. As soil temperatures rise and planting decisions are made across millions of acres, we’re continuing our work to advance federal soil health policy and support farmers nationwide.

It’s been a busy month for agriculture policy. The House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the Farm Bill out of committee in early March with notable bipartisan support. In addition, agriculture appropriations requests are already being submitted for FY27.

NewslettersLand Core StaffMarch 26, 20262026

Risk Mitigation Benefits of Soil Health Practices: Recent Revenue Risk Findings from the Heart of the Corn Belt

In agriculture, financial survival depends not simply on harvest size, but on revenue: what a field produces, multiplied by what the market will actually pay for it. These two forces do not move independently, and in most Midwest counties, when local harvests are poor and supply tightens, prices tend to rise, offering farmers a partial natural cushion. Even so, commodity price swings contribute roughly three to four times more uncertainty to farm revenue than yield variability does, meaning that market risk, not weather, is the dominant threat to a farm's bottom line.

Announcements, Risk and ResilienceLand Core StaffMarch 26, 20262026

Update on the SOIL HEALTH Practices Act

Thank you to everyone who signed on to the Letter of Support for the SOIL HEALTH Practices Act. We are grateful for the incredible response across the food and agriculture community. Signatories ranged from farmers and ranchers to food companies, insurance, finance, and ag-tech leaders, conservation groups, and farmer coalitions, representing the broad, cross-sector alliance that believes soil health policy is a cornerstone of a resilient agricultural future.

Announcements, Policy MemosLand Core StaffMarch 25, 20262026

Land Core's FY27 Agricultural Appropriations Priorities

Last week, Land Core submitted our official funding requests to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture for FY27.

Across all of our work, we view soil health as a foundational component of agricultural productivity, resilience, and long-term profitability. Our appropriations priorities focus on select USDA agencies and programs that directly support the work farmers and ranchers do on their land, and which we believe are important targets for sustained investment.

Announcements, Policy MemosLand Core StaffMarch 18, 20262026

Upcoming Speaking and Events

Connect with us at one of these upcoming events!

EventsLand Core StaffMarch 13, 20262025, 2026

Land Core featured on "Flipping the Table"

Earlier in February, Land Core Co-Founders Aria and Harley joined Michael Dimock on Roots of Change’s “Flipping the Table” podcast to discuss how their business backgrounds shape Land Core’s approach to federal soil health policy. The episode digs into how market-based tools and incentives can drive resilient land management and why soil health resonates with bipartisan stakeholders.

Announcements, EducationLand Core StaffFebruary 26, 20262026

House Farm Bill Overview: Key Areas of Interest

On Friday, February 13, 2026, House Agriculture Committee Republicans released the text of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a draft of the long-overdue farm bill that has the potential to significantly shape US agriculture, conservation, funding, and research policy for the next five years. What follows is a brief summary, organized by Farm Bill Title, of key sections impacting soil health and resilient agriculture systems.

Policy MemosLand Core StaffFebruary 17, 20262026

Sign the Letter of Support for the SOIL HEALTH Practices Act

Complete this Google Form to sign on to the Letter of Support for the SOIL HEALTH Practices Act.

The letter advocates for USDA to oversee research on the risk reduction associated with cover cropping, reduced tillage, diversified rotations, managed grazing, and other soil health practices over a 3-5 year timeline. If the research indicates reduced risk, USDA would be required to recommend appropriate discounts or incentives for producers.

Risk and Resilience, Announcements, Policy MemosLand Core StaffFebruary 4, 20262026

Land Core Submits Comments to USDA and FCIC on Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Rule

We commend FCIC for expanding eligibility through the EARP Rule and encourage continued efforts to make crop insurance resources accessible to all producers. We appreciate the opportunity to provide these recommendations and stand ready to support FCIC in strengthening risk management tools that serve farmers nationwide. Land Core believes that federal crop insurance is a cornerstone of a modern agricultural economy and the farm safety net. By shifting incentive structures, farmers can build resilience, taxpayer costs can be reduced, and we can realign financial incentives with land management practices that protect both farm profitability and our nation's food and national security.

Policy Memos, Risk and ResilienceLand Core StaffJanuary 27, 20262026

Soil Health Federal Bill Tracker Alert Archive

Explore the archive of our bill tracker alerts, which provide regular updates on soil health legislation in Congress.

Policy Memos, EducationLand Core StaffApril 24, 20252023, 2024, 2025, 2022, 2021, 2026