The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is expanding soil health testing in 2026 through CEMA 216, a financial assistance mechanism tied to the $700M Regenerative Pilot Program. Farmers can receive federal support for qualified soil testing, which measures biological, chemical, and physical soil characteristics beyond standard nutrient tests. The program requires baseline and follow-up testing over contract periods, helping producers track changes from practices like cover crops, no-till, and nutrient management. The funding splits $400M through EQIP and $300M through CSP, and participants must work with a Qualified Individual or Technical Service Provider to ensure consistent sampling. This shift from practice-based payments to outcome measurement could provide valuable data on how regenerative methods perform across different soils and production systems. For farmers, the economic angle is key: soil health data can be compared with yields, input costs, and water management to see if conservation investments pay off.
