Washington, D.C.—The Soil & Climate Alliance Regen Policy Initiative has issued its official notice to the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the resource distribution of its Regenerative Pilot Program budget. Launched in December 2025, the program symbolizes the importance of regenerative agriculture practices and soil health to U.S. agriculture. Under the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) the project has been allocated $700 million in financing: $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Recommendations on the management of said budget have been made through a letter that outlines a series of targeted recommendations and key aspects of the program-planning, outcomes and testing, practices, and education, including:
- NRCS staffing capacity and skills to undertake whole farm planning
- Analyzing outcomes and testing, including consistent methodologies and data sharing
- Identifying impactful practices, including additions to the approved list
- Improved education and TA, including an internal train-the-trainer program and peer education
“It’s critical for the USDA to consider valuable input from key stakeholders with industry-leading experience and insight," said Jessica Hulse Dillon, Senior Director of Soil & Climate Alliance. "We are grateful that its leadership recognizes the importance of regenerative agriculture practices and soil health to U.S. agriculture, and we look forward to helping to create real change for our food systems.”
35 organization and farms have signed the recommendation letter including: Applegate, Seven Sundays, MegaFood, EarthJustice, Green America, Nutrient Density Initiative, InCommon Group, Land Core, American Sustainable Business Network, Carbon180, Farmer’s Footprint, The Non-GMO Project, Regenerative Agriculture Coalition, Latino Farmers & Ranchers International, TIFS (Transformational Investing in Food Systems), US Composting Council, GC Revolve LLC, CA Association of Compost Producers, and Naturepedic Organic Mattresses. Ayesha Ali, Co-Founder and Partner at InCommon, discussed the significance of active collaboration between government officials and the constituents affected by the policies and programs they set forth, “Farmers and consumers across the country have been asking for real support from the USDA to help producers transition to regenerative agriculture; we are pleased to see USDA and NRCS leadership respond with a program that has the potential to provide that. Now, addressing NRCS capacity and creating broadly available educational opportunities about soil health practices will be instrumental to ensuring measurable, long-term success for the program.”
Adam Chappell of Chappell Brothers Farm expressed optimism for the program's future and its impact on the industry, "This funding could be an important first step for many farmers, towards a better way of practicing agriculture and away from a system that is no longer serving us as producers, or the consumers. If adopted, these recommendations would mean farmers could access transformative support, allowing them to create real and positive change for our farmers, our food, and our communities”
A full version of the letter can be read here.
