USDA Launches Regenerative Pilot Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program designed to help American farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality and boost long-term productivity, with the goal of strengthening America’s food and fiber supply.

Building off the Make Our Children Healthy Again strategy released in September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is investing in research on the connection between regenerative agriculture and public health and developing public health messaging explaining this connection.

Protecting Soil, Reducing Production Costs

In response to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, Congress created the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help people help the land and improve conservation of the nation’s soil and water resources.

This action led to improved soil health and natural resources management which, in turn, has led to increased productivity, said USDA. Between 1948 and 2021, total U.S. farm production increased 190% while total farm inputs — such as land, labor and water — decreased 2% in the same period, according to the agency.

However, USDA described current conservation programs as “overly burdensome.”

“Farmers are bogged down with red tape whenever they try to adopt soil health and regenerative agriculture practices,” the agency said in a Dec. 10 statement.

Despite improved soil health since the creation of NRCS, USDA data shows that farmers recently reported that 25% of acres had water-driven erosion concerns and 16% of acres had wind-driven erosion concerns, said the agency.

The Regenerative Pilot Program aims to address these challenges by cutting what the agency described as “administrative burdens” for producers, expanding access to new and beginning farmers and boosting yields and long-term soil resilience across operations.

About the Regenerative Pilot Program

Administered by NRCS, the Regenerative Pilot Program delivers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model, empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application, said USDA.

In 2026, the Regenerative Pilot Program will focus on whole-farm planning that addresses every major resource concern — soil, water and natural vitality — under a single conservation framework, said the agency. USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund the first year of regenerative agriculture projects.

Producers can bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, streamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations, said USDA. The program is designed for both beginning and advanced producers.

Chief’s Advisory Council

To keep the Regenerative Pilot Program grounded in practical, producer-led solutions, NRCS is establishing the Chief’s Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council, said USDA. The council will meet quarterly, with rotating participants, to advise the Chief of NRCS, review implementation progress and help guide data and reporting improvements. Its recommendations will shape future USDA conservation delivery and strengthen coordination between the public and private sectors.

Public and Private Partnerships

There is a growing desire among private companies to fund conservation practices that improve natural resources management, said USDA. The agency will leverage existing authorities to create public-private partnerships within NRCS conservation programs. These partnerships will allow USDA to match private funding.

Companies interested in partnering with USDA NRCS in the Regenerative Pilot Program can email regenerative@usda.gov for more information.

How to Apply

Farmers and ranchers interested in regenerative agriculture can apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates for consideration in FY2026 funding. Applications for both EQIP and CSP can be submitted under the new single regenerative application process.

Comments from Agency Leaders

“Protecting and improving the health of our soil is critical not only for the future viability of farmland, but to the future success of American farmers,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “In order to continue to be the most productive and efficient growers in the world, we must protect our topsoil from unnecessary erosion and improve soil health and land stewardship. Today’s announcement encourages these priorities while supporting farmers who choose to transition to regenerative agriculture. The Regenerative Pilot Program also puts farmers first and reduces barriers to entry for conservation programs. This is another initiative driven by President Trump’s mission to make America healthy again. Alongside Secretary [Robert F.] Kennedy, we have made great strides to ensure the safe, nutritious and affordable food our great farmers produce make it to dinner tables across this great country.”

“In September, under President Trump’s leadership, we released the MAHA Strategy Report, which includes a full section on soil health and land stewardship,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Today’s regenerative farming announcement directly advances that deliverable. If we intend to make America healthy again, we must begin by restoring the health of our soil.”

“We cannot truly be a wealthy nation if we are not also a healthy nation. Access to wholesome, nutritious and affordable foods is a key tenet of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, which President Trump has directed this administration to execute across all government agencies,” said Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz.