Washington Roundup – December 2025
By: Lowell Randel
USDA & HHS Announce New Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program
On December 10th, the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services jointly announced a $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program to help American farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality, and boost long-term productivity, while strengthening America’s food and fiber supply. Administered by NRCS, The new Regenerative Pilot Program will be administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and is intended to deliver a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model—empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application. According to USDA, the initiative highlights the department’s commitment to build a healthier, more resilient food system.
In FY2026, the Regenerative Pilot Program will focus on whole-farm planning that addresses every major resource concern—soil, water, and natural vitality—under a single conservation framework. USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this first year of regenerative agriculture projects. Under the new model, producers can bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, streamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations. The program is intended for use by both beginning and advanced producers.
Farmers and ranchers interested in regenerative agriculture are encouraged to apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates for consideration in FY2026 funding. Applications for both EQIP and CSP can now be submitted under the new single regenerative application process.
Release of New Dietary Guidelines Delayed Until 2026
Department of Health and Human Services officials stated in early December that the release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans would be delayed until early 2026. Secretary Kennedy had previously communicated his intention to complete the new guidelines before the end of 2025. However, the extended government shutdown slowed progress in finalizing the guidelines. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated every five years. Based on comments from Secretary Kennedy regarding full-fat dairy, red meat and saturated fats, it is expected that the 2026 version will include recommendations more favorable for consumption of animal-based products than previous versions.
In a related development, Congress completed passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act on December 15th. The legislation now heads to the White House for the president’s signature. Trump has indicated his support for the bill which permits schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. The milk that is offered may be organic or conventional. Previous legislation had restricted school milk offerings to a maximum of 1% fat.
USDA Nominee for Under Secretary for Food Safety in Nominations Package Moving Through Senate
Trump’s nominee for Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Mindy Brashears, is included in a package of 97 nominees that is currently being considered by the Senate. The package of nominations cleared a procedural hurdle on December 11th by a vote of 52-47. Final passage of the package is expected during the week of December 15th. Brashears also held the Under Secretary for Food Safety position during the first Trump administration. She currently serves as Director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University.
NIFA Changes Terminology in Funding Announcements
On December 12th, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced that it is updating the name of the competitive funding announcement document from Request for Applications (RFA) to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). NIFA stated that change is intended to better align with Federal standards and help clarify the purpose of the documents. The new terminology also aligns with NIFA’s Grants Modernization Initiative and grants system transition to eRA. NIFA stressed that only the name of the document is changing. The application process, eligibility requirements, deadlines and review procedures remain the same.
