Understanding the USDA’s Farmer First Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program

Regenerative agriculture continues to be part of ongoing conversations across agriculture, policy, and conservation. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of the Farmer First Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program, reflecting continued interest in exploring how regenerative agriculture may be defined, measured, and supported.

ForGround by Bayer shares updates like this to help keep growers and partners informed about broader developments in regenerative agriculture and carbon-related programs.

What Is the Farmer First Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program?
The USDA’s Farmer First Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program is intended to explore regenerative agriculture approaches that emphasize farmer participation and practical implementation. As with many pilot programs, details may evolve as USDA gathers input and evaluates different frameworks.

The program does not establish a single definition of regenerative agriculture, nor does it prescribe a uniform set of practices. Instead, it reflects ongoing efforts to understand how regenerative concepts may apply across different operations, regions, and cropping systems.

What This Pilot Is—and Isn’t
The Farmer First pilot is an exploratory initiative intended to gather input and evaluate concepts. It is not a regulatory program, does not create new participation requirements, and does not establish eligibility criteria for existing public or private programs.

Why USDA Uses Pilot Programs
Pilot programs are commonly used by USDA to explore emerging concepts, test approaches at a small scale, and gather feedback from producers and stakeholders before considering broader application. Findings from pilots may inform future discussions but do not necessarily result in permanent programs or policies.

Industry Perspective: How Regenerative Agriculture Is Being Discussed
These perspectives are informed by Bayer’s regenerative agriculture positioning materials and broader industry conversations and are shared here for general informational context only. They do not reflect USDA guidance, requirements, or program criteria.

• Industry Perspective #1: Outcome-Oriented, Not One-Size-Fits-All
  Industry discussions often describe regenerative agriculture as an outcome-oriented concept, rather than a fixed checklist of required practices.
  

  This perspective emphasizes:
  • Flexibility in how practices are implemented
  • Recognition that soil, climate, and cropping systems vary by operation
  • An interest in understanding changes over time rather than applying rigid thresholds
  

  This framing is frequently referenced in conversations related to pilot programs and policy exploration.

• Industry Perspective #2: Practical and Transparent Measurement
  Measurement is a recurring topic in regenerative agriculture discussions.
  

  Industry materials often reference discussions around:
  • Using metrics grounded in established science
  • Selecting approaches that align with available resources
  • Clearly communicating how data is collected and interpreted
  

  Pilot programs are one-way stakeholders explore how different measurement approaches might function in real-world conditions, recognizing that methodologies may continue to evolve.

• Industry Perspective #3: The Role of Innovation and On-Farm Tools
  Industry conversations around regenerative agriculture frequently reference modern agricultural tools—such as digital platforms and precision technologies—as part of broader system discussions.
  

  These tools are often discussed in the context of:
  • Supporting record keeping and documentation
  • Informing management decisions
  • Supporting participation-related activities in various programs
  

  How and whether these tools are used depends on individual programs and producer choice.

How This Relates to ForGround by Bayer
USDA pilot programs like Farmer First contribute to a broader industry dialogue and do not influence or determine the structure of private programs.

ForGround by Bayer is designed to help growers stay informed about evolving conversations, programs, and resources related to regenerative agriculture and carbon programs. In addition to sharing updates on policy and industry developments, ForGround provides access to information about programs such as the Bayer Carbon Program.

As guidance and pilot outcomes develop, ForGround will continue to share relevant updates and educational materials.

Staying Informed as Regenerative Agriculture Evolves
Regenerative agriculture remains an evolving space shaped by research, pilot programs, and stakeholder input. USDA initiatives such as the Farmer First pilot are part of a broader effort to explore how regenerative concepts may be approached across diverse operations.

Additional resources and updates are available at BayerForGround.com/resources.