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USDA announces $700M regenerative agriculture pilot program

The $700 million pilot will fund regenerative farming through existing USDA conservation programs to improve soil health and reduce chemical use, supporting voluntary whole-farm practices.

  • On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the $700 million Farmers First Regenerative Agriculture Pilot in Washington, funded through existing USDA programs to support soil health and nutritious food.
  • The Make America Healthy Again Commission report prompted the pilot, including more than 120 initiatives and promising farmers an off-ramp from chemical fertilizers toward soil health.
  • USDA will accept a streamlined single application through EQIP or CSP emphasizing whole‑farm planning, with outcomes measured and credited, while Aubrey Bettencourt said local NRCS offices provide technical assistance.
  • Nearly 2,400 NRCS staff were cut this year, creating capacity concerns as USDA proposed FY2026 cuts including 1,200 positions; appropriators rejected some cuts amid record Farm to School Program applications.
  • Partners pointed to the SUSTAINS Act to bring private dollars into the pilot, while Stephanie Feldstein warned the program lacks clear standards and urged measurable agrochemical‑reduction incentives with conservation compliance and subsidies.
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Alabama Cooperative Extension System broke the news in on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
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