The University of Idaho’s largest grant in its history has been reinstated after a yearlong pause. The USDA notified U of I’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in April that work may resume on the five-year, $59 million Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership (IAMP) program.
The grant, originally approved in 2024 through USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, was terminated in April 2025 when the agency applied new criteria requiring a greater emphasis on market access and raising the minimum percentage of funding awarded directly to farmers from 50% to 65%.
Program leaders revised and resubmitted the application, though a federal government shutdown further delayed the reinstatement process.
The program incentivizes regenerative farming practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, prescribed grazing, and reduced use of synthetic fertilizers.
The revised program designates $3.5 million for direct payments of up to $7,500 per year per participating producer.
Program leaders plan to reengage with the original pool of growers before potentially opening applications for new acres, with the goal of getting producers under contract in 2026.
Partners in the program include The Nature Conservancy, Desert Mountain Grass-Fed Beef, and the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) and Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) tribes.
More information is available at iamp.uidaho.edu.