What the House Farm Bill Means for Conservation and Soil Health
The House Agriculture Committee recently advanced new farm bill legislation following markup, passing the bill by a 34–17 vote.
While the Senate has not yet released its own version, the House bill offers an early look at how Congress may shape federal conservation policy for the next several years.
For organizations working in sustainable agriculture and soil health, several provisions stand out.
Changes to EQIP Funding
One of the most closely watched changes involves the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Under the House proposal, EQIP would lose $1.013 billion in budget authority between FY27 and FY30.
According to the Congressional Budget Office estimate:
$325 million reduction in FY27
$495 million reduction in FY28
$118 million reduction in FY29
$75 million reduction in FY30
Even with these reductions, EQIP funding would still gradually increase over time—but at a slower pace than previously authorized.
During markup, Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) introduced an amendment to restore more than $1 billion in EQIP funding, but the amendment was not adopted.
New Opportunities for Soil Health
Despite the funding adjustments, the bill also introduces several new provisions relevant to soil health initiatives.
Notably:
New soil health grants within the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to support state and Tribal programs
Expanded recognition of practices that increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Higher cost-share rates (up to 90%) for practices considered high priority at the state level.
These provisions could create new opportunities for soil health programs to integrate with federal conservation funding.
Research and Innovation
The legislation also includes a directive for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to study winter wheat used as a harvested cover crop, reflecting growing interest in dual-purpose cropping systems.
In addition, the bill encourages more frequent updates to conservation practice standards and streamlines the approval process for Technical Service Providers.
What Happens Next
While the House bill provides a roadmap, the legislative process is far from complete.
The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to release its own version of the farm bill later this year, and the final legislation will likely require significant negotiation.
For organizations working in soil health and conservation, the coming months will be important as Congress continues shaping the programs that support farmers implementing conservation practices.