When we published The U.S. Farm Bill: A New Chapter for Regenerative Agriculture, we hoped it would help seed conversations around pushing for a farm bill that empowers regenerative producers. And because of it, we’ve been supporting the League of Women Voters in the north/northwest suburbs of Chicago to mobilize action in support of regenerative agriculture.
Now, the legislative process has advanced, and the stakes have only grown clearer. Here is an updated look at where things stand, what’s at risk, and how regenerative and working-land farmers can press for vitally needed support.
The 2025 Farm Bill process is revealing both opportunities and red flags, and it’s time for regenerative producers to speak up clearly about the difference.
Where We Are Now: H.R. 8467 and the Conservation Fight
The House Agriculture Committee’s bill—H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024—lays out the House’s version of the next Farm Bill. It’s a massive piece of legislation that would reauthorize and fund agricultural programs through 2029, covering everything from crop insurance and nutrition to research, trade, and conservation.
On the conservation side, there’s good news for producers who care about soil and water health. The bill would continue major programs like EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program), ACEP (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program), and RCPP (Regional Conservation Partnership Program). It would also fold remaining Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation funds into the baseline budget—essentially making conservation spending more permanent, not temporary.
That’s an important win. It means long-term support for soil and water conservation is less dependent on short-term political cycles.
However, the draft also steers some of that funding toward new priorities that raise concern within the regenerative community. Much of the conservation language highlights “precision agriculture,” “climate-smart technology,” and “data-driven innovation.” These terms may sound harmless, but they often translate to programs that reward capital investment—new equipment, software platforms, and tech-based monitoring systems—rather than the low-input, biology-centered practices that build true resilience.
So while the bill keeps EQIP and CSP alive and funded, it also risks shifting the definition of “conservation” toward digital control instead of ecological function.
In short: the new Farm Bill draft includes several positive steps toward funding conservation at scale, but it reflects two competing visions of agriculture—one that sees the future in machines, and another that sees it in soil biology. Regenerative producers will need to speak up to make sure the latter isn’t drowned out by the former.
The Funding Tightrope: IRA, Baselines, and Tradeoffs
At the moment, EQIP and CSP are still active because of two factors:
- The 2018 Farm Bill, which Congress extended through the 2025 crop year, and
- The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provided a major temporary boost in conservation funding through 2031.
That IRA funding has powered much of the current conservation work—helping farmers install fencing, build water systems for rotational grazing, seed cover crops, and adopt other regenerative practices. But that funding stream isn’t permanent. When the current extension expires at the end of fiscal year 2025, the next Farm Bill will determine whether those practices remain a national priority or get diluted into tech-oriented incentives.
In effect: We are in a transition moment. The “extra” piles of funding from the IRA are being folded into longer-term ceilings, and how that is handled determines whether regenerative practices stay prioritized or get sidelined.
Did Regenerative / Working-Lands Farmers Get Help in 2025?
Yes — though with caveats.
The regenerative community does have tangible wins this year. NRCS has announced continued conservation funding, and many producers are successfully enrolling in EQIP and CSP contracts. Applications for composting, perennial plantings, silvopasture, and water infrastructure are being accepted across most states.
But there’s still a major backlog. In many areas, far more farmers apply for conservation funding than there are dollars or staff to support them. And while the Farm Bill draft promises higher “baseline” conservation funding, it also reshuffles priorities in a way that could leave smaller, diversified farms behind if resources tilt toward technology investments rather than hands-on land stewardship.
So while the regenerative community has had access to conservation support in 2025, the gains are fragile and heavily dependent on how Congress treats baseline funding, technical assistance, and continuity beyond FY2025.
What’s At Risk if the Farm Bill or Reauthorization Fails
If Congress does not pass a new or extended farm bill (or fails to solidify baseline funding for conservation), possible negative outcomes include:
- Programs like EQIP, CSP, CRP may revert to “permanent law” levels or be constrained by older statutes.
- As the 2025 extension lapsed (September 30, 2025), some program authorities may expire or revert, unless continued through short-term extensions.
- Without stable baseline funding, conservation programs would be more vulnerable to yearly budget cuts or political fluctuations.
- Technical assistance budgets (NRCS staffing, local field offices) could suffer further cuts — undermining the ability of farmers to utilize conservation funds. (Already, in some states, field staff reductions are being raised in Congressional hearings.)
- The shift from IRA-eligible practices to a broader baseline could reorient which practices receive priority funding — possibly reducing support for newer or more climate-focused practices unless specifically protected.
What Regenerative Advocates Should Do Moving Forward
- Stay engaged, hold Congressional offices accountable
Now is not the time to sit back and hope the right thing happens. Every farmer, rancher, and consumer who believes in soil-based solutions needs to be part of this conversation. Contact your Representatives and Senators. Let them know you support a Farm Bill that strengthens conservation for working lands—not one that replaces ecological wisdom with digital management. - Emphasize the urgency
Current extensions expire in 2025. Without reauthorization, key programs could lapse, leaving regenerative producers without the consistency needed to plan rotational grazing, cover crops, or long-term soil recovery. Remind lawmakers that uncertainty at the policy level creates instability in the food system. - Demand protections for regenerative, climate-smart practices
Ask Congress to keep the focus on real, proven soil-building methods: cover crops, perennial polycultures, holistic grazing, composting, on-farm fertility, and water retention systems. As Inflation Reduction Act funds are folded into the new baseline, insist that these practices remain eligible and prioritized—rather than funneled into tech-heavy “precision ag” programs that benefit machinery over microbiology. - Defend true regenerative practices—not just “climate-smart” branding
Ask Congress to keep the focus on real, proven soil-building methods: cover crops, perennial polycultures, holistic grazing, composting, on-farm fertility, and water retention systems. As Inflation Reduction Act funds are folded into the new baseline, insist that these practices remain eligible and prioritized—rather than funneled into tech-heavy “precision ag” programs that benefit machinery over microbiology. - Push for strong technical assistance funding
A budget line means nothing without people who can guide implementation. Support for NRCS field staff, soil technicians, and farmer-to-farmer mentorship should be protected and expanded. Real conservation happens through relationships, not remote data reports. - Share results that money can’t measure
When you talk to legislators, share the evidence that can’t be captured in spreadsheets: soil that holds water after a storm, birds returning to pastures, healthier livestock, lower input costs, and resilient family farms. These are the real outcomes of regeneration—and they carry more weight than any graph of “emissions saved.” - Watch the Senate version & the conference process
The House bill is only half the picture. The Senate’s version could either strengthen or water down conservation priorities. Stay informed, submit comments, and challenge any attempt to tie conservation funding to corporate technology mandates. The final Farm Bill will be negotiated behind closed doors, and public voices matter most when the details are being written. - Keep the message simple and strong
We don’t need more precision agriculture—we need precision observation. We don’t need more climate slogans—we need living soil. The Farm Bill should serve the people who feed this country by working with nature, not by trying to outsmart it.
