Federal Conservation Funding

USDA Invests up to $310 Million in Partnership Projects to Boost Farm Operations and Conserve Natural Resources

NRCS Streamlines RCPP Framework to Deliver 75% of Capital Directly into On-Field Practices and Precision Tech

In a major federal expansion of on-farm ecological infrastructure, the USDA Invests up to $310 Million in Partnership Projects to Boost Farm Operations and Conserve Natural Resources. Announced on June 23, 2026, by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), this funding window opens under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), with project proposals accepted through August 24, 2026. Backed by the long-term allocations of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the program has been structurally modified to bypass bureaucratic delays, directing 75% of total capital directly to producers or practice implementation costs. RCPP targets dual co-investment pathways—RCPP Classic and Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA)—prioritizing precision agriculture deployments, soil health systems with minimum tillage, and tribal-led conservation efforts.

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WASHINGTON, June 23, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is putting Farmers First by investing up to $310 million to expand producer conservation activities across the nation through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting RCPP project proposals now through August 24, 2026, to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners boost their operations and conserve natural resources.

“This significant investment through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program will further enable us to leverage our partnerships as force multipliers in supporting America’s farmers,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “We’re looking forward to seeing the results on the ground while we also work to keep working lands in working hands.”

The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is delivering the largest long-term investment in NRCS conservation programs in decades, including support for RCPP. It will deliver $425 million in fiscal year 2026 and an increase to $450 million from fiscal year 2027 through fiscal year 2031.

RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. In the past year, NRCS has improved RCPP by streamlining partnership agreement processes and increasing flexibilities to ensure the program works more effectively for conservation partners and America’s farmers and ranchers. Now, 75% of the funding goes directly to the American farmer or is used to cover the cost of conservation practice implementation.

About the Program

There are two separate funding opportunities available under this announcement:

• RCPP Classic: Projects are implemented using standard NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners, and communities in close collaboration with designated project partners.
• RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA): The lead partner works directly with agricultural producers to support the development of innovative conservation approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic, speeding up local execution.

NRCS Core Ranking Priorities

NRCS will rank incoming partner proposals competitively based on how effectively they address the following structured agency priorities:

• Resource Protection: Addressing soil health, water quality, or wildlife habitat with an aim to improve land health, enhance resource management, and promote sustainable agriculture and long-term protection of agricultural, grassland, and forestland viability.
• Soil Health Practices: Deploying practices that focus specifically on minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing soil cover, increasing natural biological vitality, and maintaining living roots throughout the entire year.
• Precision Agriculture: Leveraging precision agriculture technologies to target conservation efforts based on specific field conditions, potentially reducing input costs and improving resource efficiency.
• Farmers First: Focusing on projects that provide direct technical and financial assistance via value-added contributions for planning and practice designs to support producer contracts.
• Tribal Inclusion: Supporting conservation projects led by Indian Tribes, backed by a dedicated $30 million set-aside from the total available funds.

More Information

Project proposals for RCPP are being accepted through August 24, 2026, on the official RCPP portal. This $310 million investment builds on other recent NRCS investments to engage partners to extend the reach of conservation, including plans announced in late May to allocate $65 million through Conservation Innovation Grants.

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 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 by working with producers through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Washington, DC | RCPP Strategic Funding Opportunity Briefing | June 2026 | nrcs.usda.gov