New Opportunities for Pork Producers: Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant

New Opportunities for Pork Producers: Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant

On this page:

• Producer Incentives for Sustainable Practices
• NEW: Pork Cares Farm Impact Report
• Why It Matters

The Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant is a conservation program funded by USDA's Advancing Markets for Producers program and administered by the National Pork Board. It helps producers implement eligible sustainability practices through financial incentives and technical support. Producers can receive funding for approved conservation practices while measuring and documenting their environmental progress through the Pork Cares Farm Impact Report. Together, these resources help producers improve the sustainability, efficiency, and long-term resilience of their operations.

What's New?

The USDA has approved an amendment to the Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant, expanding the National Pork Board's ability to help pork producers implement conservation practices that improve environmental outcomes while strengthening long-term farm profitability.

Producer Incentives for Sustainable Practices

Expanded Eligibility

Before this approval from the USDA, the Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant was only available in 12 participating states. Now, the amended grant expands eligibility to all contiguous states with a participating state pork association.

• States included: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY.)

The amendment also increases financial assistance for several conservation practices.

Unchanged Incentives:

• LED lighting: 80% cost reimbursement
• Livestock Integration: 60% cost reimbursement
• Tillage (early adopters): $10/acre
• Heat Maps: Up to $15,000

NEW: Pork Cares Farm Impact Report

The Pork Cares Farm Impact Report is a confidential, personalized sustainability assessment that helps producers understand and improve the environmental and economic performance of their operation. The report compiles farm-specific data into an easy-to-understand overview, helping producers identify strengths, benchmark performance, and uncover opportunities for continuous improvement.

What Producers Receive:

• $500 annual incentive for completing a Pork Cares Farm Impact Report
• A confidential sustainability assessment tailored to their operation
• Benchmarking against state and national averages
• Insights on carbon emissions, soil health, manure and water management, energy use and community engagement
• Practical recommendations to improve efficiency, profitability and long-term resilience
• A credible report that can be shared with lenders, packers, customers and other business partners to demonstrate sustainability progress

Why It Matters

The Pork Cares Farm Impact Report is more than a reporting tool; it helps producers make informed management decisions while documenting measurable sustainability outcomes. By highlighting existing conservation practices and identifying opportunities for future improvements, the report supports continuous improvement and helps producers tell their sustainability story with confidence.

The Bottom Line

Through the Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant, pork producers have access to practical tools and financial support that make conservation practices more attainable and measurable. By investing in on-farm sustainability, producers can improve operational efficiency, strengthen their businesses and contribute to a more sustainable future for the U.S. pork industry.

Learn more: Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant