Dear Supporters, Partners, and Friends
In times of uncertainty, it’s important to acknowledge challenges that can leave us unsure of our next steps—especially when they touch the foundations of our communities and the work we do. While we can’t control the shifting landscape, we can take stock of what’s happening, understand its impact, and recommit to the shared values and work that continue to move us forward.
Last month, we learned that after a review process, the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities grant program will no longer exist in the way we were relying on for the next four years. As a subawardee of this program, this news requires us to pivot and adapt. Still, the work we advanced under the Climate-Smart Commodities grant remains deeply meaningful, and this change does not erase the progress we made—both on the land and through the relationships we built with small grain producers and partner organizations we’re proud to continue working with, regardless of the grant’s future.
What did this Grant Program
Make Possible?
“Martin and Rudy Larsen inspecting oats about four weeks before harvest. Martin was an enrolled producer, and Rudy was voted ‘most likely to raise oats’ by his high school classmates.”
In its first year, the Climate-Smart Commodities grant supported farmers in planting small grains and adopting conservation practices for regenerative systems. Through the project, we enrolled 29 farmers, over 2,500 acres of small grain production and distributed $175,780.50 in incentive payments to small grain producers in the Midwest, helping offset the upfront costs of transitioning into regenerative systems with conservation practices.
“Emerging Farmer Jarred Ellis, enrolled producer, captured this photo of his conservation crop rotation (oats), with his wife and daughter inspecting the crop a few days before harvest.”
The grant also secured five years of support for the process of measurement, monitoring, research, and verification (MMRV) on these farms—gathering baseline data to better understand the impacts to report on the climate benefits of the the Poultry-Centered Regenerative Agroforestry. This isn’t just theoretical work; it is about laying the infrastructure for real change—change that is bringing backed by the data, shared across regions, and used to influence both market and policy development.
Nationwide, the Climate-Smart Commodities initiative was about reshaping the farming landscape with practical resources and collaborative tools to build economic resilience into the systems farmers rely on and grow the markets for climate-smart products. It included 135 projects spanning 102 commodity crops and nearly 200 unique practices, reaching almost every state and territory in the country.
Our part in this project was made possible through the leadership of Regeneration International and a wide network of sub-awardees including Tree-Range Farms, Freshwater Society, and new partnerships with organizations like A Greener World, The Nature Conservancy, Savanna Institute, Other Half Processing, and Marbleseed—just to name a few.
We’re honored to have been part of this initiative. The work we accomplished through this grant wasn’t a one-time effort—it’s foundational to the long-term vision for transforming food systems. Our partnerships from this project still remain and they’re central to continue moving forward in this work.
What Does This Mean for Our Farming Ecosystem?
The work for this project didn’t emerge in response to the Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity. It is foundational groundwork in our mission and so we’re already in the process of evaluating how we will continue integrating small grains into the business development of the PCRA ecosystem.
We’ve secured some bridge funding to carry a portion of this work forward, but there is still a significant gap—and we know this setback affects more than just our programming. It sends ripple effects to the partners and farmers engaged in this movement. If you’re able, please consider making a donation directly to the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance to help us continue this critical work.
We are continuing to work alongside the NRCS to deepen our support for silvopasture systems and provide accessible entry points for farmers to adopt regenerative approaches that work for their land, their animals, and their communities.
Where Do We Go from Here?
First and foremost, we recognize the leaders, organizers, and farmers across the country who are showing up, standing in solidarity, and staying committed in the face of instability. This is not the time to pull back—it’s the time to lean into integrity, collaboration, and vision.
Here’s what you can do today:
- Call your congressional representatives. Let them know how decisions like this impact you and the people you care about. Your voice matters.
- Make a contribution to the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance. Your support helps us bridge the funding gap and keep delivering technical assistance and leadership to farmers across the ecosystem.
- Share this blog, share our work, and let others know why it matters—your network may also include someone ready to support.
Stay Connected
In the face of political shifts and institutional roadblocks, we hold tightly to our values, our practices, and our people. Resilience is rooted in community—and these are the moments when lasting change becomes not just possible, but necessary.
Even when larger systems feel out of reach, our everyday choices still hold immense power. Support the farmers you want to see funded. Buy from producers like Tree-Range® Farms. Choose businesses that prioritize fairness and ethics. Get to know your neighbors and invest in the nonprofits and products you believe in.
Join our community. The future of food continues to grow—right here.
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