The Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture, led by Virginia Tech, will continue its work through September 2027 after receiving a one-year extension from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to an April 23 announcement.
The program aims to help farmers adopt conservation practices that improve soil health and water retention while reducing environmental impacts. The extension allows more producers to participate and gives the alliance additional time for outcome measurement across its multi-state network.
Since it began in 2023, the alliance has enrolled over 1,800 farms covering approximately 475,000 acres in four states. In April 2025, it was among about ten percent of projects nationwide allowed by the USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers initiative to continue after a federal funding pause. A further one-year no-cost extension was granted in November 2025.
For participating farmers like Shannon Ellis of Virginia, the support is timely. “It is a challenging time in the agricultural economy, and the alliance has been a game changer,” Ellis said. “Many farmers want to implement these practices but lack financial support to do so. Because of the alliance, I was able to complete a nutrient management plan and invest in fertilizer for my hay and pastureland much sooner than would have been possible. It’s helped us protect our land and strengthen our operation.” Tom Thompson, associate dean at Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and principal investigator for the alliance said: “The extension gives us the opportunity to build on the strong foundation producers and partners have established… It ensures we can fully evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of conservation practices.”
A major development this year was launching a livestock subpilot aimed at helping livestock producers in Virginia and Minnesota adopt high-impact conservation methods such as Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. Robin White from Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences leads this effort: “The alliance is one of the more exciting opportunities to obtain funding to support the risks associated with adopting new types of management… It is a compelling opportunity to take a lot of what we do at the university and translate that into practice on the farm.” Forty-four livestock operations are already enrolled under this subpilot.
Enrollment will expand again in April next year with new opportunities for Arkansas counties as well as expanded options for Virginia producers including payments per acre depending on chosen practices.
Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences supports community development by fostering leadership through innovations in agriculture, food, health care solutions globally according to its official website. The college operates facilities such as research centers across regions including Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research Center according to its official website, serves as Virginia Tech’s land-grant college according to its official website, employs over 350 scientists with extensive outreach via local offices according to its official website, works toward practical applications addressing agriculture challenges aligned with its mission according to its official website, and extends initiatives internationally according to its official website.
