WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program aimed at helping farmers adopt practices intended to improve soil health, strengthen water quality, and support long-term farm productivity. The program was announced Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.

According to USDA, the initiative is intended to streamline conservation processes and reduce administrative barriers for producers seeking to transition to regenerative agriculture. The effort is also linked to broader federal strategies focused on soil health, public health research, and national food supply resilience.

Officials said the program will use an outcome-based conservation model through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Farmers will be able to apply once to bundle multiple regenerative practices, rather than navigating separate applications for individual conservation programs. The pilot’s first year includes $400 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program.

The announcement highlights longstanding concerns about soil erosion and the challenges some producers face in accessing conservation resources. USDA data referenced in the release notes that farmers recently reported erosion concerns on portions of U.S. cropland, despite decades of federal conservation efforts.

The agency will also establish a Chief’s Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council to provide guidance on implementation and data collection. Private companies may participate through new public-private partnership opportunities designed to expand funding capacity for regenerative practices.

Farmers and ranchers interested in the program can apply through their local NRCS Service Center ahead of their state ranking deadlines for FY2026 consideration.