Soil Health Task Force.

SB 574 creates the North Carolina Healthy Soils Task Force within the Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide soil health initiative. The task force, composed of 11 voting members including agricultural leaders, university representatives, and farmers (with specific acreage representation), will create an action plan to improve soil health through voluntary partnerships. Key duties include identifying financial incentives for farmers, promoting compost use, coordinating with federal programs like the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, and setting measurable goals for soil health. This bill directly affects North Carolina farmers and agricultural communities by establishing a formal process to enhance soil productivity, water quality, and environmental resilience.