House Farm Bill Proposal Omits Biochar Research Bill

The House Agriculture Committee is developing its version of the Farm Bill, including provisions on biochar. The working Farm Bill draft prepared by Committee Chair Glen “GT” Thompson includes some positive biochar provisions but also has a critical omission.

The draft bill does not include the bipartisan Biochar Research Network Act, which authorizes the USDA Agricultural Research Service to establish a large multi-site research project to close critical knowledge gaps on agricultural use of biochar. Research results on biochar have been promising, demonstrating that biochar can improve soil health, increase soil water holding capacity, enhance fertility, reduce soil acidity and improve yields. But research results have been inconsistent because diverse types of biochar have been tested in varying soils and conditions.

The Act would establish a multi-site national research project to test a common set of biochar types with standardized characteristics across multiple locations with varying conditions. The research would help sort out which biochar types have promise for varying cropping systems, soil types and climates. The research would measure effects on soil health, fertility, biological activity, organic matter and water holding capacity, as well as plant growth and crop yields.

Findings of the research would be used to inform farmers on which biochar types can be helpful in their soils and cropping systems.

We are working to ensure the Act is included in the Senate version of the Farm Bill when that is taken up, and the final Farm Bill produced by a conference committee of House and Senate committee members.

The Forestry Title of the House Bill does have some positive provisions on biochar. It would support development and commercialization of biochar by establishing demonstration and research projects in each region of the US Forest Service and US Bureau of land Management.  The projects would be targeted to forested areas with elevated risk of wildfire and get at least half of the biochar feedstock from forest thinning and management.

It is uncertain whether a Farm Bill will be completed in this Congress. Legislation often stalls in election years. If the Farm Bill stalls, the new Congress will need to start anew in 2027 after the election.

We’ll keep you informed.