From Fields to Markets
Advancing how farmers get paid for regenerative work
(An excerpt from ‘The Dirt”: SCI’s Monthly Farmer Newsletter)
In farm country, the wheels are rolling. Every few minutes there's a tractor, truck, or sprayer heading down the road. A few of us in the deep South have started planting, and the rest of us are getting close!
SCI was at Natural Products Expo West a few weeks ago – which is a huge gathering of food companies and brands along with organizations like us trying to make inroads in the food system. We were there to make the case that farmers deserve and must get paid more than commodity prices. And that we need more food companies to step up.
Good news is there’s growing awareness around "Regenerative Agriculture". Small to medium companies like Seven Sundays and Pacha are walking the walk. And it appears the path forward with larger companies might not be through contract premiums, but instead through paying for the gains farmers make on the biodiversity, water quality, pollinators, and chemical reduction front.
SCI understands that figuring out how to get farmers paid more is the most important work to be doing. We’ll keep pushing on the market side while you keep doing what matters most, farming and growing food.
🌾 Taylor Herren, SCI Farm Program Director
P.S. Our next Office Hour is March 26 at 4pm ET. We will be talking about accessing NRCS funds this year through the Regen Pilot Program and getting support with technical implementation. You don’t want to miss this one! Please reach out to us to receive the meeting link.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
⚠️ Farm Planning Information
If you haven't already, please schedule a time with Brian to record your 2025 information and make sure your fields, sampling, and everything else is up to date.
✅ Farm Planning for 2026
If you'd like to talk about your farm plan for this year, schedule a call with Soil Regen or a regional farmer educator. They can answer your questions and help you think through your approach for 2026.
Reach out to Taylor and she will help you schedule with the right person.
EVENTS
SCA Spring Mini-Meeting
Advancing Regenerative Market Growth
April 22, 12-3pm ET | Virtual
What do today’s markets actually mean for farmers on the ground? As more farms consider regenerative transition, one question continues to come up: will the market support it?
Join the conversation on how consumer demand, brand priorities, and sustainability signals are shaping real opportunities (and constraints) for farmers. Featuring insights from Sherry Frey of NielsenIQ, we’ll explore:
What today’s consumers are actually willing to pay for
How brands are thinking about regenerative sourcing
Where certifications and claims are gaining traction (and where they’re not)
We’ll also share real-world insights from across our network -- highlighting what’s working, where challenges remain, and what it takes to build viable pathways forward.
If you’re navigating transition, market access, or long-term farm viability, this session is designed with you in mind.
👉 Farmers get free registration! Use code: FARMER26
Regenerative Revival: A Soil-to-Soul Celebration of Food, Movement, Music, and Community
May 2 | Salado, TX
Join Soil Regen at Barrow Brewing Company for a celebration of farmers, food, and family.
Regenerative Revival is expanding this year with a clear theme: Soil to Soul, recognizing that healing and regeneration happen at many levels. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, healthy food, healthy people, and ultimately healthier communities. The event brings together multiple pathways of regeneration, including food, movement, music, land stewardship, and shared experience.
Held alongside the Salado Farmers Market, the day begins at 9:00 AM with grounding yoga, led by Caroline of Proud Heart Yoga, setting the tone for a day focused on restoration, balance, and presence.
Attendees are encouraged to come and go, explore the farmers market, enjoy the brewery grounds, and engage in meaningful conversations around food, soil, and regeneration.
Soil & Climate Alliance Network Meeting
June 16-18 | Allentown, PA (Includes a visit to Rodale Institute!)
We’re thrilled to share that our Soil & Climate Alliance (SCA) will be hosting their annual in-person, on-farm Network Meeting at Rodale Institute this June!
Over three days, we’ll dive into the science and practice of regenerative farming, with hands-on learning and behind-the-scenes access to Rodale’s pioneering research. Expect exceptional farm tours, deep dives into soil health and nutrient-density outcomes, and rich conversations with practitioners, scientists, and supply-chain partners who are shaping the future of the field.
As always, our gathering will offer abundant opportunities for connection, collaboration, and systems-level problem-solving across the entire SCA network. We can’t wait to bring this community together on ground that has inspired decades of agricultural innovation.
⭐ Farmers receive 100% discount on registration with promo code: FARMERS
⭐ SCI Brand Partners receive 50% discount on registration. Please reach out for the promo code.
INDUSTRY NEWS
USDA Expanding Bridge Payment Program
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is opening the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, providing $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.
The FBA enrollment period closes April 17, 2026.
New NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program
In December 2025, USDA NRCS launched the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program, a farmer first, outcomes-based approach to conservation designed to return the agency to its core mission, helping people help the land. NRCS is investing $700 million to specifically support regenerative agriculture, including:
$400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
$300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
SCI is monitoring announcements and will update you as we learn more about details and deadlines. We're committed to supporting all of our farmers to understand and access these funds and other NRCS programs.
We are covering how to access these funds during our next Office Hour. Please come with any questions.