Victorville, CA | holly.shiralipour@usda.gov

Holly J Shiralipour considers herself a conservationist, educator, and change agent that thrives in helping people to see land as a community that we belong to. Since 2009, she has delivered USDA NRCS conservation technical and financial assistance for agricultural producers in San Bernardino County, CA. She also spent 11 years as a Cooperative Extension Statewide Specialist in composting for the University of Wisconsin and in Florida Friendly Landscaping for the University of Florida. While at the University of Wisconsin, Holly attended her first Composting Council conference in 1991. She was involved in a national train-the-trainer Backyard Composting project with Rodale and the Composting Council. Holly was a co-founder of the Midwest Composting School in 1995 with participating universities from WI, MN, and IA. She did Ph.D. studies at the University of Florida, has an MLA degree from Utah State University and a BS in Agriculture from UW-River Falls.

Session Code: B3

Track: Policy

Session Name: Compost in Agriculture: Addressing Climate Change, Carbon Cycling, and So Much More

Session Time: Wednesday, Jan 25, 4:15 to 5:45 PM

Presentation Title: The New NRCS Soil Carbon Standard–What Does It Mean?

Presentation Description: The purpose of the NRCS Soil Carbon Amendment Practice Standard (336 and 808) is to use amendments derived from plant or animal residues to Improve or maintain soil organic matter, sequester carbon and enhance soil carbon (C) stocks, improve soil aggregate stability, and Improve habitat for soil organisms. The practice can be applied to Crop, Pasture, Range, Forest, Associated Agriculture Lands, Developed Land, and Farmsteads where organic carbon amendment applications will improve soil conditions. The practice standard was first published on an interim basis as Code 808 in April 2020. After more than two years of field implementation and considerable public comment in June 2022, the practice was finalized in November 2022 as Code 336. There are more than 20 payment scenarios that allow agricultural producers to receive financial assistance for implementing the practice. The scenarios and payment rates vary by state. Since it is a new practice standard, the payment scenarios are being evaluated and modified on a yearly basis, The payment scenarios include compost produced on-site or transported from off-site facilities. A detailed Soil Carbon Amendment Plan must be prepared and implemented before producers can receive a financial assistance payment from NRCS. The Plan needs to contain soil health resource concerns, soil health tests, maps, photos, a soil survey, plant information, a soil amendment analysis, application details and a monitoring plan. Also included in the presentation will be an overview of how the Soil Carbon Amendment practice standard has been planned and used in California since it was first instituted.