The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday unveiled a $700 million pilot program to help farmers adopt regenerative agriculture practices aimed at improving soil health, water quality and long-term farm productivity while strengthening the nation’s food supply.
The initiative, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, offers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model that allows producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application according to a news release. It is part of USDA’s broader Make America Healthy Again agenda and reflects the department’s stated commitment to “putting farmers first.”
“This is another initiative driven by President Trump’s mission to Make America Healthy Again. Alongside Secretary 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,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins in the release.
Rollins announced the program alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz who highlighted the initiative’s connection to public health. HHS is also investing in research on links between regenerative agriculture and health outcomes and developing public messaging on those connections.
“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,” Rollins said.
The pilot is designed to reduce barriers to conservation programs, addressing long-standing complaints that USDA programs are too complex for many farmers. USDA data indicate that 25% of U.S. farmland has water-driven erosion concerns and 16% has wind-driven erosion concerns despite decades of soil conservation efforts.
The program’s first year, FY2026, will focus on whole-farm planning under a single framework to address soil, water and natural resource vitality. USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program to fund the initiative. Farmers can now bundle multiple regenerative practices into a single application making it easier for both beginning and experienced producers to participate.
To guide the program, NRCS is establishing the Chief’s Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council which will meet quarterly to review progress, advise on data and reporting and shape future conservation strategies.
The program also encourages public-private partnerships. Private companies can help fund conservation practices, stretching taxpayer dollars and expanding opportunities for farmers.
Producers interested in participating can apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates. Applications for both EQIP and CSP are now accepted through the new single regenerative application process.
The Regenerative Pilot Program builds on a century of U.S. soil conservation efforts, beginning with the NRCS’s creation during the Dust Bowl. Between 1948 and 2021, total farm production increased 190% while farm inputs such as land, labor and water fell 2%, underscoring the role of improved soil management in boosting productivity.
“With today’s announcement, we directly advance priorities outlined in the MAHA Strategy Report, restoring soil health and promoting land stewardship,” Kennedy said.
Oz added, “Access to wholesome, nutritious and affordable foods is a key tenet of the Make America Healthy Again agenda. We cannot truly be a wealthy nation if we are not also a healthy nation.”
Source - https://gulfcoastmedia.com
