WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 10, 2026 – In a new letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Soil & Climate Alliance’s Regen Policy Initiative offered recommendations to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on how to allocate the $700 million in funding for its Regenerative Pilot Program, which launched in December 2025.
The letter outlines a series of targeted recommendations that would help the program more effectively improve soil health. These recommendations address core aspects of the program–planning, outcomes and testing, practices, and education:
- 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
Jessica Hulse Dillon, Senior Director of Soil & Climate Alliance, said: “It’s critical for the USDA to consider valuable input from key stakeholders with industry-leading experience and insight. 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 organizations and farmers signed on to the 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, Naturepedic Organic Mattresses, and more.
Ayesha Ali, Co-Founder and Partner at InCommon, said: “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, said: “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”
The full letter can be found here: https://www.soilclimatealliance.org/regen-policy-initiative
The Soil & Climate Alliance is a Green America initiative focused on advancing regenerative agriculture and soil health solutions.
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Soil & Climate Alliance is a collaborative hub driving innovation in agriculture to create a resilient, equitable, and inclusive food system. We focus on regenerating soil health, sequestering carbon, and revitalizing rural economies — while improving water quality, biodiversity, food security, and nutrition. For more information, go to https://www.soilclimatealliance.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin at (703) 276-3255, mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.
