NRCS Pilot Program: Regenerative Forestland Soil Health
By USDA NRCS
TL;DR: Forestland owners can tap into a USDA pilot program that funds regenerative practices to boost water retention and ecosystem resilience.
- USDA offers funding for forest regenerative agriculture.
- Practices improve soil health, water retention.
- Brush management reduces water loss.
- Prescribed burning enhances soil structure.
- Pest management protects soil microbiology.
- Funding covers 75% of costs.
- Measure success with soil moisture probes.
- Increased infiltration, biodiversity, carbon sequestration.
Why it matters: This program offers a unique opportunity for forestland managers to access financial and technical support for implementing regenerative practices. These practices are crucial for building climate resilience by enhancing water cycles, improving biodiversity, and sequestering carbon in forest ecosystems.
Do this next: Contact your local NRCS field office to inquire about the FY2026 funding application for EQIP contracts.
Recommended for: Forestland owners and managers interested in integrating regenerative agricultural practices to improve water retention and overall ecosystem health.
This official USDA NRCS fact sheet details a multi-year regenerative agriculture pilot program specifically targeting forestland management to enhance water retention and overall system resilience through targeted soil health practices. Key conservation practices highlighted include Brush Management (Code 314), which involves selective removal of brush to improve water infiltration and reduce evapotranspiration losses; Prescribed Burning (Code 338), a controlled fire application that clears understory vegetation, promotes nutrient cycling, and enhances soil structure for better moisture holding capacity; and Pest Management (Code 595), integrating biological and cultural controls to minimize chemical inputs that could degrade soil microbiology essential for water retention. The program emphasizes regenerative transitions on forestlands by building soil organic matter, which acts as a natural sponge increasing water-holding capacity by up to 20 times its weight, thereby reducing runoff and erosion during heavy rains while providing drought resilience. Practitioners receive detailed FY2026 funding application guidance, including eligibility criteria for EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) contracts, cost-share rates averaging 75% coverage, and performance metrics such as improved hydrologic function measured via soil moisture probes and infiltration tests. Implementation steps involve site assessments using NRCS tools like Web Soil Survey, development of conservation practice plans with technical assistance from local field offices, and monitoring protocols to quantify water savings—targeting at least 10-15% reduction in irrigation needs post-implementation. Case examples from pilot sites demonstrate outcomes like 25% increase in soil infiltration rates after combined practices, supporting biodiversity via native understory regeneration and carbon sequestration estimates of 1-2 tons per acre annually. The fact sheet provides templates for payment schedules, maintenance requirements over 5-10 year contracts, and success stories from early adopters showing enhanced streamflow stability and groundwater recharge, making it a practical blueprint for forest landowners transitioning to regenerative systems amid climate variability.