The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has launched a landmark initiative: the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program. Investing $700 million, this farmer-first approach shifts focus from isolated practices to holistic, whole-farm regenerative agriculture plans that prioritize soil health and nutrient density.
New NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program Launches with $700 Million Investment
December 2025
In December 2025, NRCS launched the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program, a farmer-first, outcomes-based approach to conservation designed to return the agency to its core mission – helping people help the land. This pilot program addresses whole-farm resource concerns through support for voluntary regenerative agriculture conservation plans.
NRCS is investing $700 million to specifically support regenerative agriculture:
- $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
It also puts American farmers first as a part of the solution to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) by supporting access to American-grown whole foods, critical to addressing the chronic disease crisis nationwide.
Key Benefits
- For Producers: Bundled practices in a single application, outcome tracking credited back to the farmer, and site-specific solutions driven by producer objectives.
- For Consumers: Improved access to healthy, American-grown whole foods by engaging the supply chain to reward farmers for soil stewardship.
Program Requirements
To participate, producers must:
- Work with NRCS staff or partners to conduct a whole-farm assessment.
- Use at least one primary regenerative management practice (e.g., Cover Crop, No-Till, Nutrient Management, Grazing Management).
- Agree to perform soil health testing in the first and last year of the contract to measure outcomes.
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