Round 3 of the Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund Launches: Meeting the Moment With Flexible, Upfront Capital
Across the Midwest, uncertainty has defined 2025. Federal reimbursement delays, grant freezes, and now a government shutdown have put real financial strain on organic and regenerative farmers who rely on public programs to implement conservation practices, manage risk, and keep rural economies moving. When the system slows down, farmers are left holding the burden.
That’s why Healing Soils Foundation (HSF) is launching Round 3 of the Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund (RFAF)—our flexible, rapid-response capital solution designed to bridge delays in public reimbursements and help farmers keep critical projects on track.
Expanding the Scope to Meet Real-World Needs
In earlier rounds, RFAF focused narrowly on delayed USDA reimbursements. As the challenges facing farmers have evolved, so are we.
Round 3 now supports:
Cash flowing reimbursement based funding (e.g. EQIP, CSP, REAP, CRP, FLSP)
Signed market and buyer contracts requiring upfront investment
Emerging market opportunities tied to regenerative practice adoption
Time-sensitive on-farm infrastructure with a clear line of sight to reimbursement
This fund continues to prioritize organic and regenerative farmers across the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Farmers will be asked to provide evidence of:
Executed contracts
Public grant documentation
Market development opportunities
On farm conservation practice adoption
Our commitment remains the same: supporting farmers who are doing the hard work of rebuilding soil health and revitalizing local food systems.
A Real-Time Example: Bridging Frozen CRP Payments
Just weeks ago, several Midwest producers found themselves suddenly without expected Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments due to federal processing freezes. These annual payments are foundational to planning, cash flow, and conservation practice continuity.
RFAF moved swiftly.
We issued a recoupable emergency grant so our farmers could:
Make debt payments
Keep conservation plans intact
Avoid predatory short-term lending
When CRP payments eventually release, farmers will repay the grant, and those dollars will be redeployed to another producer. If reimbursements don’t come, the funds convert to non-recoupable aid.
This is what regenerative philanthropy looks like in action.
Why Recoupable Grants?
Farmers often know the money is coming — they just can’t access it when they need it. Recoupable grants:
Reduce unnecessary debt
Prevent project delays
Keep regenerative adoption moving forward
Stretch every philanthropic dollar
It’s a structure built for both resilience and circulation.
Why This Matters
When farmers are forced to pause:
Soil degradation accelerates
Cover crop timelines are missed
Rural markets weaken
Conservation loses momentum
But when farmers keep moving, even through uncertainty, everyone benefits:
Cleaner water
Healthier soils
More nutrient-dense food
Stronger rural economies
Climate resilience
A Drop in the Bucket — And a Signal of What’s Possible
In just the first two rounds, RFAF bridged delays for farmers managing thousands of acres across the Midwest. But the demand is growing. We need philanthropic dollars to continue meeting these needs quickly, equitably, and strategically.
Round 3 is our next step in building a more resilient agricultural safety net — one that rewards farmers who are making choices that benefit all of us.
We’re Ready. And We’re Just Getting Started.
The farmers we serve keep planting, adapting, and problem-solving — no matter the obstacles. RFAF allows us to match that resilience with the financial support required to keep regenerative progress moving forward.
Applications for Round 3 are now open.
If you are a Midwest regenerative or organic farmer facing delayed reimbursements, advancing a market contract, or investing in practice-based infrastructure that requires upfront capital:
Learn more and apply here.
If you’re a funder, partner, or community member who believes in this work: Donate to support RFAF and help keep farmers farming. Because no farmer doing the right thing should be forced to shoulder the cost of a broken system alone.