The April 15 tax filing deadline can be painful, but New Mexico offers a feel good way to give back. Whether it's $5 or $500, New Mexico allows folks filing their income tax returns to donate a portion of their refund to support the Healthy Soil Program.

It's an initiative meant to improve the state's soil and ultimately the food it produces. Program co-founder and co-director Robb Hirsch said state lawmakers voted unanimously in 2021 to add the check-off donation option.

"It goes to grants for New Mexico ranchers and farmers who want to engage in soil health principles on their working lands," said Hirsch. "And it doesn't have to be all or nothing – it doesn't have to be 100% of their refund."

The Healthy Soil Program is administered by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. In the past, Hirsch said more than 600 New Mexico tax filers have made a contribution each year.

Tax filing day this year is Wednesday, April 15.

Experts say less than 8% of the Earth's surface provides the fertile topsoil necessary for agriculture, which produces 95% of our food. And it's disappearing ten times faster than it's being replenished, with roughly 90% of topsoil potentially at risk by 2050.

Hirsch said donating to New Mexico's soil improvement program with tax refund dollars is an easy way to support a healthier planet at the grassroots level.

"It's a good way to support something that is worthwhile," said Hirsch, "because soil health supports our human health, because there's greater nutrient density in the foods that are grown with soil health principles."

New Mexico is among 11 states that have passed legislation and incentive programs to improve soil health. Hirsch said interest in soil health practices is growing in the Southwest, but adoption could improve.

To that end, he said he believes the more folks learn that soil stewardship also safeguards the water supply, the more they'll want to apply soil principles on arid and semi-arid lands.

Source: Public News Service