The USDA Is Investing $700M in Regenerative Agriculture, CIBO Helps Farmers & Companies Access It

The USDA has committed $700 million to support regenerative agriculture in the U.S. Starting in FY2026, the USDA will launch its new Regenerative Pilot Program to help American farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality, and boost long-term productivity. These funds will funnel through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). 

At CIBO, we already offer proven solutions to help more farmers access EQIP funding. We’re also enabling companies to leverage public + private incentives to better reward farmers transitioning to regenerative agriculture.

CIBO enables companies and non-profits to bring more funding to farmers, delivering on USDA’s push for public + private partnerships

The USDA has committed to strengthening public + private partnerships in NRCS programs—allowing private sustainability dollars to stretch federal funding further and bring more capacity to producers ready to adopt regenerative practices.

The existing incentive landscape, however, is deeply fragmented. No single program covers the full cost of adoption, and the sequencing of incentives varies dramatically by practice and location, making it easy for farmers to inadvertently miss or disqualify for critical funding. This fractured system places an undue financial burden on producers and stifles widespread adoption.

CIBO offers the industry’s only combined solution for public + private stacking. Using CIBO’s single streamlined workflow, farmers can apply for EQIP and qualify for private programs. They have a higher chance of winning an EQIP contract and getting funded at a higher level.

CIBO removes the barriers that keep farmers from applying through our technology-driven, advisor-supported approach

The USDA’s new pilot program echoes concerns about farmer access to conservation funds and is committed to streamlining a burdensome application process and increasing flexibility for both beginning and advanced producers.

Historically, EQIP has been challenging for producers to access, with only ~30% of total applicants being awarded contracts. Between burdensome administrative systems, an elusive ranking system, and a lack of awareness, many farmers aren’t able to leverage this resource.

To address this, CIBO has digitized and simplified the entire process with automated eligibility checks and seamless NRCS integration. We also use FOIA data and NRCS insights to surface the highest-ranking practices for each region, increasing farmer odds of receiving funding. Moreover, through our vast Trusted Advisor Network, CIBO gives farmers the confidence they need to navigate federal programs and the support they need, from application to practice implementation to reimbursement. 

Our technology is also being leveraged by NRCS-aligned conservation initiatives, including: 

• The Sand County Foundation, advancing conservation adoption across working farms
• The Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture, led by Virginia Tech, where CIBO provides data, modeling, and program infrastructure

Scaling access and increasing impact with stacked incentives

CIBO’s platform and partnerships are expanding access to EQIP while reducing the administrative burden for farmers, NRCS, non-profits and commercial partners. In FY2025, CIBO submitted ~$400 million in EQIP applications in FY2025 and became the single largest private contributor to EQIP submissions nationwide. 

With this $700M commitment from the USDA and focus on public + private partnerships, companies now have an opportunity to deliver truly meaningful incentives to farmers. With CIBO’s incentive stacking solution, companies can effectively achieve two to three times the impact of their sponsor dollars and reduce the overall cost per tonne of CO₂e reduced in their supply chain. For the farmer, this means additional revenue streams. For the companies investing in these programs, it means higher farmer engagement and, ultimately, greater achieved impact.

Reach out to learn how CIBO’s tech-enabled solution to simplify EQIP applications and incentive stacking solution can help your company leverage the USDA’s new pilot program.

Reach out to learn more. 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION