EPA Gulf of America Division Announces Grants to Advance Innovative, Farmer-Led Conservation on Working Lands

EPA Gulf of America Division Announces Grants to Advance Innovative, Farmer-Led Conservation on Working Lands

GULFPORT, Mississippi (May 5, 2026) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Gulf of America Division announced up to $50 million in new grant funding to improve water quality, habitat, resilience, and environmental education by demonstrating innovative practices on America's working lands. The Farmer-to-Farmer grant program provides targeted support to farmer-led and farm-focused organizations operating within the Gulf of America watershed, encompassing EPA Regions 3 through 8. The agency expects to make 20 to 30 awards, totaling $1.5 million to $2.5 million, each with a five-year project period.

Farmers are often the first line of defense in reducing nutrient nonpoint source pollution across working lands. Farmers have pioneered innovative practices and leadership models and can share what works with their peers. By funding new techniques and emphasizing data collection and farmer engagement, the Farmer-to-Farmer grant program helps producers test, validate, and scale regenerative practices.

Regenerative agriculture can play a pivotal role in improving water quality and habitat. As defined in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regenerative Pilot Program, conservation management strengthens natural resources through improved soil health, water management and ecological vitality to support the productivity and prosperity of American agriculture and communities.

"Farmers are among our nation's most effective stewards of the land and conservators of our natural resources," said EPA Region 4 Administrator Kevin McOmber. "Farmer-to-Farmer project grants allow recipients to incorporate best practices and techniques that provide meaningful assistance in protecting the Gulf of America watershed."

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now posted on www.grants.govExit EPA's website and https://www.epa.gov/gulfofamerica. Applications are due on June 19.

Eligibility

• Applicants may include nonprofits, conservation districts, tribes, state/local governments, and universities.

• For-profit farms/businesses are usually not eligible as primary applicants but may participate as paid partners or sub-recipients.

• Individual farmers may participate by partnering with an eligible entity such as a conservation district, nonprofit or cooperative.

Innovative management of working lands through regenerative agriculture offers a powerful opportunity to restore land health, improve long-term productivity and ensure American-grown production for the future.

About the Gulf of America Division

The Gulf of America Division is a nonregulatory program of EPA established to facilitate collaborative actions that protect, maintain and restore the Gulf of America's health and productivity in ways consistent with the region's economic wellbeing. The division maintains and expands partnerships with state and federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, local governments and authorities, academia, regional businesses and industry, agricultural and environmental organizations, and individual citizens and communities.

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofamerica