Policy Updates: USDA rolls out $700M push to scale regenerative agriculture

USDA rolls out $700M push to scale regenerative agriculture (Agri-Pulse): The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a $700 million pilot program aimed at helping farmers adopt regenerative agriculture techniques, with the possibility of additional support from corporate partners. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins explained that the funds will be distributed through familiar programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, but with a streamlined application process that allows producers to apply for multiple practices at once. The initiative is designed to encourage holistic “whole-farm” conservation planning rather than isolated, piecemeal efforts.

Officials say the new effort shares similarities with a previous climate-focused USDA program that paired government dollars with private matching funds to support conservation work, though that program was later rebranded. USDA leadership emphasized that regenerative agriculture broadly focuses on improving soil health, water management, and overall farm resource stewardship, even though there is no single, agreed-upon definition of the term. Secretary Rollins also noted that the SUSTAINS Act will help bring supply chain partners into the effort to support adoption, farmer recognition, and consumer education, but she did not specify whether any corporate contributions have been secured yet.