Launch Catch-Up — Funding Announced October 26, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced more than $325 million for 42 conservation projects October 26 through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the funding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The program pairs federal resources with partner contributions to address natural-resource problems on agricultural land.
USDA highlighted an Iowa project combining cover crops, forage plantings and livestock infrastructure. Its stated goals include more than 300,000 acres of cover crops and reduced nutrient runoff and soil loss. Those are projected outcomes, not completed measurements.
Other selected efforts include protecting working longleaf-pine forests in southwest Georgia, conserving Texas coastal prairie through voluntary easements and restoring salmon habitat in Washington’s Nooksack watershed with tribal partners.
The department said 75% of this year’s program funding will go directly to farmers or toward implementing conservation practices. Selection of projects establishes planned support; the announcement does not show that every project has been completed or every dollar disbursed.
Sources USDA — October 26 funding announcement: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/10/26/usda-invests-over-325-million-42-projects-boost-farm-operations-and-conserve-natural-resources