Recorded Webinar: Tracking the Trends for USDA Conservation Funding

Public conservation funds are flowing. 

That was the takeaway from CIBO’s recent webinar featuring Adam Tarr, Agriculture, Food & Sustainability Policy Strategist and Principal at Invariant. 

As Adam shared, “Contrary to what some feared, the general attitude in D.C. around conservation and regenerative agriculture is quite positive. It feels heavily supported and may be one of the more bipartisan issues going on right now. I think there's very real interest in incentivizing regenerative agriculture and conservation projects and seeing more of this work go forward.”

Despite concerns that conservation provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) would be rescinded, the new administration has signaled ongoing support for farmers and the recognition that conservation practices address agriculture’s productivity and profitability challenges. 

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) reinvested much of the funding related to conservation. In total, OBBB has committed $33.4B to conservation funding (via the Commodity Credit Corporation). And while OBBB rescinds unobligated IRA climate funds, it extends USDA conservation programs through FY2031–-creating long-term funding for these programs, albeit with a notable shift away from “climate-smart” to “Farmer First” criteria. (The USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative (formerly Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities) requires at least 65% of federal funding to go directly to producers.) 

In addition to talking about the current policy landscape, Adam provided insights specific to key USDA conservation programs, notably Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). For example, the RCPP stands out as a primary mechanism for nonprofits and third-party organizations to collaborate directly with USDA. Expected funding rounds later this year will require strategic, well-developed proposals that clearly demonstrate environmental and economic value.

As both Adam and Susan highlighted, there's a surprisingly consistent approach to conservation funding despite the political uncertainties. Major corporations like McDonald's, ADM, and Pepsi are investing in regenerative agriculture, suggesting broader market interest beyond political cycles. To ensure access to public conservation funding, organizations will need to present concrete, implementable strategies that balance environmental benefits with agricultural productivity.

While enthusiasm should be tempered, the funding and policy signals indicate a continued commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Organizations that can navigate this complex landscape with strategic, evidence-based approaches will be best positioned to drive meaningful change.

Watch the Webinar

Meet the Panelists

Adam Tarr is a Principal at Invariant, a government relations firm, where he counsels businesses and organizations on the development and implementation of major legislative and regulatory agriculture and climate policies such as the Farm Bill and conservation incentives. He brings hands-on federal experience, having served as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He helped craft the Climate Smart Ag provisions of the Build Back Better legislation and directed oversight of the USDA implementation of the Farm Bill conservation title. He also worked at USDA during the Obama Administration, and handled agriculture, environment, energy, and appropriations issues for Sen. Bob Casey and former Sen. Arlen Specter. 

Susan Hunt Stevens is a Strategic Advisor to CIBO Technologies and an award-winning 3X founder in climate-tech and sustainability. A recognized expert in behavior-change design, she has also held senior digital roles at New York Times Digital and Boston.com