USDA Raises Regenerative Pilot Funding to $1 Billion

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is increasing funding for its Regenerative Pilot Program from $700 million to $1 billion for fiscal year 2027. The program provides financial assistance to producers adopting conservation systems focused on soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is also changing how the program is administered, including giving State Technical Advisory Committees the ability to add conservation practices based on local resource concerns, production systems, and producer needs.

More Funding, Lower Entry Threshold

The fiscal 2027 program will maintain whole-farm planning while lowering the resource concern threshold for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) from 100% to 75%.

USDA said the change is intended to provide more flexibility while maintaining the program’s conservation goals and outcome-based approach. The program will also offer multiple monitoring and evaluation options for cropland, grazing lands, and forestry operations.

For fiscal 2027, USDA is allocating $650 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $350 million through CSP for regenerative agriculture projects.

Producers can combine multiple regenerative practices in a single application. The program is available to both beginning and advanced producers.

Program Administration Changes

Other fiscal 2027 changes include dedicated funding set-asides, improved tracking mechanisms, expanded technical support networks, and enhanced communications.

NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley said the agency obligated more than 5,100 contracts totaling more than $851 million during the previous fiscal year to implement whole-farm conservation practices through the regenerative agriculture program.

“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.”

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., also addressed the increased funding in statements included in USDA’s announcement.

“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.”

How Farmers Can Apply

Farmers and ranchers interested in the Regenerative Pilot Program can apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates for fiscal year 2027 funding consideration.

Applications for EQIP and CSP can be submitted through the single regenerative application process. The program allows producers to develop whole-farm plans addressing soil, water, and natural vitality under one conservation framework.