Three Federal Agencies Commit $1B+ to Farm Modernization and Food Safety
March 1, 2026 · 2 min read
Arthur Griffin
The Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a joint commitment of over $1 billion to accelerate farm modernization and long-term food supply security on February 27.
The package channels the bulk of its funding through two USDA conservation programs that farmers and ranchers can apply to directly.
$700M in Conservation Dollars Hit the Field
USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund regenerative agriculture projects in fiscal year 2026. Both programs are administered through local NRCS offices, and new sign-up windows typically open in the spring.
A separate $140 million tranche funds the Strengthening Agricultural Systems Program, which targets large-scale projects addressing three priorities: new uses and markets for U.S. agricultural products, innovative pest and disease solutions, and strategies to combat diet-related chronic diseases.
Cross-Agency Research on Food Contaminants
The announcement also creates a joint EPA-USDA-NIH research framework for cumulative chemical exposure in the food supply. The agencies will develop New Approach Methodologies to assess health and environmental risks from contaminants across chemical classes — a first-of-its-kind interagency effort that could reshape how food safety research is funded in coming cycles.
Public-private partnerships within NRCS conservation programs will allow USDA to match private funding, expanding capacity for producers interested in adopting regenerative practices.
What Grant Seekers Should Do Now
The conservation programs are open to individual farmers, ranchers, and agricultural operations. EQIP and CSP applications go through local NRCS service centers, with ranking periods varying by state. The Strengthening Agricultural Systems Program targets research institutions and large-scale agricultural partnerships — applicants should monitor NIFA's funding page for the solicitation.
USDA's updated research priorities for 2026 — signed by Secretary Rollins on December 30 — emphasize soil health, water efficiency, market expansion, precision nutrition, and invasive species protection. Competitive grants across all USDA agencies will align with these five pillars, making them essential reading for anyone preparing spring proposals.
For deeper analysis of how these programs fit into the broader federal agricultural funding landscape, visit the Granted blog for ongoing coverage.