NRCS rolled out something new that’s worth paying attention to if you’re thinking long-term about your land, soil, and business.
In December 2025, NRCS launched the Regenerative Pilot Program, a new approach to conservation funding that’s meant to work with how farms actually operate, not against it. Instead of pushing farmers into one-off practices or confusing funding buckets, this pilot focuses on whole-farm planning and outcomes.
Here’s what that really means for producers.
What Is the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program?
The Regenerative Pilot Program is built into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), but it works a little differently than the traditional versions of those programs.
Rather than applying for individual practices one at a time, farmers can apply using a single regenerative application that looks at the entire operation. The goal is to address soil health, water management, and overall land vitality together, instead of piecing things together year by year.
NRCS is investing $700 million into this pilot:
- $400 million through EQIP
- $300 million through CSP
This funding is specifically set aside to support regenerative management across different types of farms and production systems.
How This Pilot Is Different From Past Programs
For a long time, conservation funding has been very practice-focused. You apply for a fence here, a cover crop there, and hope it all lines up.
This pilot shifts the focus to:
- Whole-farm conservation planning
- Bundling multiple regenerative practices into one plan
- Measuring outcomes
- Letting producer goals guide the process
If you’ve ever felt like conservation programs didn’t quite match how your farm works, this pilot is trying to fix that.
What Practices Are Included?
NRCS created a list of primary regenerative management practices that qualify under the pilot. These include commonly used practices like:
- Cover crops
- Conservation crop rotations
- Prescribed grazing
- Nutrient and pest management
- Reduced tillage or no-till
- Irrigation and drainage water management
The key thing to know is that you don’t have to be doing everything already. Farmers at any stage, from just getting started to highly advanced operations, can participate.
Soil Health Testing Is Part of the Program
Participants agree to complete soil health testing at least twice during the contract period, once at the beginning and once near the end. This helps establish a baseline and measure progress over time.
Financial assistance is available for soil testing, whether you’ve tested before or not. The idea is to make changes visible and measurable, not just theoretical.
Who Is This Program For?
The Regenerative Pilot Program is made to work for:
- Farmers already using conservation practices who want to go further
- Operations that want a clearer, more connected conservation plan
- Producers who want conservation funding to support real business decisions
NRCS has been clear that producers at every stage should be able to find a pathway through this program. It’s not just for large farms or early adopters.
How and When to Apply
Applications for EQIP and CSP are still accepted on a continuous basis, but the first national batching deadline for this funding cycle is January 15, 2026.
That means applications submitted by that date will be considered together for the first round of funding. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to work with NRCS or a technical service provider to build a strong application.
You’ll apply through your local office; you can find your local office on the NRCS site. If you’re having trouble getting the help you need from your local office, you can also try your state office!
Where Good Agriculture Fits In
We help farmers sort through that by:
- Matching them to programs that fit their goals
- Sending weekly funding email alerts so deadlines don’t get missed
- Helping farmers understand how conservation fits into the bigger picture of their business
Want to find Grants and other funding opportunities for your farm? Take our funding matching survey 
GoodagricultureFunding Eligibility Survey – Good Agriculture
