The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Kentucky has announced additional eligible practices for farmers participating in the Regenerative Pilot Program in fiscal year 2027, providing local agricultural producers with more opportunities to adopt conservation systems that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience. Producers can now apply for assistance with regenerative practices.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is improving the program, by using NRCS’s locally led conservation model to allow State Technical Advisory Committees to recommend additional conservation practices that reflect local resource concerns, production systems, and producer needs.
In Kentucky, the following practices have been added to complement the program’s core practices available nationwide: Riparian Forest Buffer (391), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390) and Filter Strip (393).
“The Regenerative Pilot Program delivers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model—empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application,” said Eric Allness, NRCS State Conservationist in Kentucky. “The initiative highlights USDA’s commitment to putting Farmers First and advancing the Make America Healthy Again agenda by building a healthier, more resilient food system.”
In fiscal year 2027, USDA increased financial assistance for the Regenerative Pilot Program from $700 million to $1 billion and will continue to focus on whole-farm planning to maximize the ecological potential of working lands — through restoring and enhancing soil health and water management —under a single conservation framework. USDA is dedicating $650 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $350 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this second year of regenerative agriculture projects.
Producers can bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, streamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations. The program is designed for both beginning and advanced producers, ensuring availability for all farmers ready to take the next step in regenerative agriculture.
Source : usda.gov