THE FOLLOWING IS A USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE RELEASE
Program Delivery and Accountability Will Be Strengthened
(Washington, D.C., October 6, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced increased financial assistance for the Regenerative Pilot Program from $700 million to $1 billion in fiscal year 2027, providing more producers with the opportunity to adopt conservation systems that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience. Producers can now apply for assistance with regenerative practices.
Additionally, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making improvements to the program, including using NRCS’s locally led conservation model to allow State Technical Advisory Committees to add conservation practices that reflect local resource concerns, production systems, and producer needs.
“The American farmers have spoken and we at USDA are responding! Our Regenerative Pilot Program has seen such tremendous enthusiasm that we are now expanding the financial assistance offered to farmers by $1 billion dollars,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, “American farmers are the frontlines of our fight to make America healthy again and we will work with them to achieve this goal.”
“Farmers are on the front line of our effort to Make America Healthy Again,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Under Secretary Rollins’ leadership, USDA is increasing funding for this program to $1 billion to help farmers build soil health, reduce dependence on costly chemical inputs, and adopt regenerative practices.”
“Last fiscal year, NRCS obligated more than 5,100 contracts for more than $851 million to implement whole-farm conservation practices for regenerative agriculture. Through this program, farmers and ranchers continue to make improvements to soil health, water management and natural vitality, and provide consumers with American-grown whole foods,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “We are building on this success by improving flexibility without sacrificing outcomes and strengthening delivery and accountability.”
Also, for fiscal year 2027, the program maintains whole-farm planning while reducing the barrier to entry by lowering the resource concern threshold from 100% to 75% for the Conservation Stewardship Program. This improves flexibility without sacrificing outcomes. The program preserves the core conservation goals and outcome-based approach of the fiscal 2026 pilot while giving producers and staff greater flexibility in how outcomes are measured and achieved. The program also provides multiple monitoring and evaluation options tailored to cropland, grazing lands, and forestry operations.
Other enhancements for fiscal year 2027 include dedicated funding set-asides, improved tracking mechanisms, expanded technical support networks, and enhanced communications that will make the program easier to administer, easier to access, and more transparent for producers and taxpayers alike.
About the Regenerative Pilot Program
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. The initiative highlights USDA’s commitment to putting Farmers First and advancing the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda by building a healthier, more resilient food system.
In fiscal year 2027, the Regenerative Pilot Program will continue to focus on whole-farm planning that addresses every major resource concern—soil, water, and natural vitality—under a single conservation framework. USDA is dedicating $650 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $350 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this second year of regenerative agriculture projects.
Producers can bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, streamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations. The program is designed for both beginning and advanced producers, ensuring availability for all farmers ready to take the next step in regenerative agriculture.
How to Apply
Farmers and ranchers interested in regenerative agriculture are encouraged to apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates for fiscal year 2027 funding consideration. Applications for both EQIP and CSP can be submitted under the single regenerative application process.
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, technical advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.
