An Act To Improve Soil Quality and Profits for Maine Farms
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1028
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: SAVIELLO, CARSON, DAVIS, DILL, WHITTEMORE, BLACK, HARVELL

Legislative Document
No. 1028
S.P. 335
In Senate, March 14, 2017
An Act To Improve Soil Quality and Profits for Maine Farms
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin.
Cosponsored by Senators: CARSON of Cumberland, DAVIS of Piscataquis, DILL of 
Penobscot, WHITTEMORE of Somerset, Representatives: BLACK of Wilton, HARVELL of 
Farmington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA c. 4-A is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 4-A 
MAINE REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM 
§111.  Maine Regenerative Agriculture Certification Program 
1.  Establishment of program.  The department shall establish the Maine 
Regenerative Agriculture Certification Program within the department to certify 
agricultural land in the State as regenerative.  The department shall create a seal 
indicating that agricultural land is certified under the Maine Regenerative Agriculture 
Certification Program or that a farm containing agricultural land certified under this 
section is certified. 
2.  Standards of certification.  The department shall certify agricultural land as 
regenerative if an applicant for certification demonstrates one of the following criteria: 
A.  Topsoil on the applicant's agricultural land has increased in volume in 3 
successive years; 
B.  The applicant's farming methods have sequestered carbon in the soil in 3 
successive years; or 
C.  Soil on the applicant's agricultural land has contained an increasing percentage of 
organic material in 3 successive years. 
3.  Standard testing.  The department shall determine if an applicant meets the 
certification requirements of subsection 2 in accordance with this subsection.  The 
department shall conduct over a 3-year period the following tests on the agricultural land 
of an applicant for certification under this section: 
A.  Total soil carbon test; 
B.  Nitrogen tests at 3 soil levels from an amalgamation of 8 sample points within a 
specified plot of land; 
C.  A test for the presence or absence of inorganic carbon; 
D.  A test of soil for water infiltration times; 
E.  A test for bulk soil density; 
F.  A test for percentage of bare ground cover within a specified plot of land; and 
G.  A test for diversity of ground cover within a specified plot of land. 
4.  Certification; marketing.  Upon determination by the department that an 
applicant demonstrated compliance with one or more of the criteria of subsection 2, the 
commissioner shall certify the applicant's agricultural land as regenerative.  The 
commissioner may issue the certification to a farm that contains agricultural land certified 
under this section.  Upon certification, the applicant may use the Maine Regenerative 
Agriculture Certification Program seal in the marketing and sale of agricultural products 
produced on the agricultural land certified as regenerative. 
5.  Testing fees.  An applicant for certification under this section shall pay to the 
department a fee of $500 for each year that the department conducts the standard testing 
required under subsection 3 and subsequent annual testing to retain certification. 
6.  Noncompliance.  Agricultural land certified under this section remains certified 
until: 
A.  The agricultural land no longer meets at least one of the criteria of subsection 2 
twice in any 3-year period; or 
B.  The program participant chooses to withdraw from the program. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to 
establish a program to certify agricultural land and farms containing certified agricultural 
land as regenerative.  The bill establishes standards for certification and testing by the 
department.  After certification, a program seal issued by the department may be used to 
market and sell agricultural products produced on the certified land.