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By Brooke L. Rollins and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of Health and Human Services
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Strengthening America’s economy, securing the nation’s food supply and prioritizing the health of every American have been defining pillars of President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Last week, the Trump administration took more bold action to deliver on that promise and give farmers the freedom and tools they have been asking for. USDA’s new Farmer First Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program aims to restore soil health, improve water quality and unleash long-term productivity.
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Farmers intrinsically know that working in harmony with the natural abundance of the earth promotes nutrient-dense soil, which makes our food healthier and our land more productive.
The idea that soil health correlates to a good harvest and to wholesome nutrient-dense foods isn’t new—it has been continually reinforced by a wealth of experience and scientific evidence.
On the farm, this theory becomes practice through regenerative agriculture, a conservation management approach that emphasizes stewardship of the land to achieve abundance. For instance, farmers who use cover crops, such as legumes or grasses, often benefit from a more stable soil composition, water retention and staving off unnecessary erosion. And when organic matter is incorporated, the soil tends to retain moisture and nutrients, enriching its microbiome.
For nearly a century, farmers throughout the heartland have practiced regenerative agriculture with the help of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
However, in recent decades, its conservation programs have drifted from USDA’s core mission. Like so much in government, they have become entangled in political agendas and layers of bureaucracy that hinder access to critical resources, leaving well-meaning producers in the lurch.
Unlike previous administrations, President Trump listens to farmers and gives them what they need to thrive.
That’s why last week we announced the Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program, which will invest $700 million to specifically support regenerative agriculture.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, we will deliver this support through existing programs our farmers already know and already trust. What makes this program unique is its integration of hitherto-fragmented conservation programs into one unified process that evaluates everything on the farm at once.
Instead of requiring farmers to submit separate applications to address each specific resource concern—such as soil, water and natural vitality—we are streamlining aid in a single application, reducing red tape and ensuring all concerns are addressed together.
When farmers respectfully cultivate the land, they should be met with encouragement rather than arbitrary obstacles.
This is where the SUSTAINS Act comes in, which we will use to bring corporate, label and supply-chain partners directly into partnership with NRCS. This will allow private industry to match the federal government’s investment in our farmers, who Thomas Jefferson called “the most valuable citizens.”
Producers at every stage—from beginners just starting with cover crops, to advanced operations with years of conservation experience—will find a pathway through this pilot. Each farmer’s results will be measured and credited back to them through an outcomes report, which recognizes and rewards improvements they achieve on their land.
To keep the program grounded in practical, producer-led solutions, NRCS is establishing the Chief’s Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council. The council will meet quarterly to advise the chief of NRCS, review implementation progress and help guide data and reporting improvements.
This is whole-farm conservation the way it was meant to be: simple, flexible, voluntary and accountable.
And because success depends on strong partnerships, we will also expand work with technical service providers and local organizations to meet demand. In addition, the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production will extend regenerative priorities into cities and urban communities across the country through programs like community gardens, nutrition education and innovative production systems.
By centering on science-backed practices and measurable outcomes, the Trump administration is building a system that recognizes stewardship, supports productivity and restores the dignity and autonomy of America’s landowners.
This program—designed by farmers, for farmers—marks a decisive departure from the era of inefficiency and a return to putting farmers first.
It also marks a return to the original purpose of conservation: helping people help the land by prioritizing results that last.
Brooke L. Rollins is U.S. secretary of Agriculture.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services.
The views expressed in this article are the writers’ own.
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