NRCS North Dakota encourages producers to explore Regenerative Pilot Program

BISMARCK, N.D. - NRCS conservation officials are encouraging producers to take a closer look at USDA's Regenerative Pilot Program (RPP), a whole-farm conservation initiative designed to improve soil health, water management and long-term agricultural vitality.

Piloted in FY 2026, the program integrated soil health testing with multiple conservation practices into a producer-driven planning effort. Building on that success, NRCS North Dakota plans to expand regenerative opportunities in FY 2027 and encourages producers to begin working with their local NRCS offices ahead of the upcoming batching period.

NRCS leaders say the pilot may be unfamiliar to many producers but could offer significant benefits for operations across the state.

"This program is built around the idea that producers know their land best, and our job is to help them bring all the pieces together," said NRCS North Dakota Assistant State Conservationist for Programs Jarvis Keney. "Instead of tackling soil, water and productivity concerns one practice at a time, the Regenerative Pilot Program looks at the entire operation and supports a plan that works as a whole system."

The program bundles practices such as cover crops, crop rotation, grazing management, nutrient management and reduced-till systems into a single regenerative application. Producers work with an NRCS conservation planner to complete a whole-farm assessment, implement at least one primary regenerative practice and conduct soil health testing in the first and final year of the contract.

"Producers have been asking for a more streamlined way to access conservation support, and this pilot delivers that," said NRCS North Dakota State Conservationist Dan Hovland. "It's simpler on the front end and more meaningful on the back end because outcomes are measured and credited directly to the farmer."

A tool producers may not know about

NRCS officials say the regenerative approach may help address persistent challenges in North Dakota, including salinity, declining soil function and water-related resource concerns.

"We don't always know what tools producers are aware of, and this is one we want to make sure doesn't fly under the radar," said NRCS North Dakota State Resource Conservationist Richard Webb. "The regenerative approach aligns well with the issues we see on the ground, especially where soil health and salinity intersect."

Producers can contact their local NRCS service center to learn more about regenerative planning opportunities and upcoming FY 2027 enrollment periods.

Q&A: Understanding the Regenerative Pilot Program

What is the Regenerative Pilot Program? A USDA initiative supporting whole-farm regenerative agriculture systems. It bundles multiple conservation practices into a single application and emphasizes soil health, water management and long-term productivity.

"This is a whole-farm approach, not a piecemeal one," Keney said.

Who is eligible? Any farmer or rancher interested in regenerative agriculture can apply through their local NRCS service center. EQIP and CSP applications can be submitted under the single regenerative application process.

What does participation require? Producers collaborate with an NRCS conservation planner, partner or Technical Service Provider to complete a whole-farm assessment, implement at least one primary regenerative practice and conduct soil health testing in the first and final year of the contract.

"Field staff play the central role in providing consistent guidance and technical expertise to help producers build strong regenerative agriculture conservation plans," Webb said.

What practices are included? Primary practices include cover crops, crop rotation, grazing management, nutrient management, irrigation water management, reduced-till systems, strip cropping and others.

How does this benefit producers? The program simplifies access to conservation support, provides site-specific planning and credits measurable outcomes back to the farmer.

"It's designed to meet producers where they are-whether they're just starting with cover crops or already running advanced regenerative systems," Hovland said. "The program brings NRCS back to its core mission-helping people help the land-through whole-farm, outcomes-based conservation planning."

Who can producers contact for help? Producers can contact their local USDA service center or visit nrcs.usda.gov to learn more about the Regenerative Pilot Program and find their nearest office.