Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447
- Agency
-
National Resources Conservation Service
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $250,000 to $5,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Categories
-
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Natural Resources
- Eligible applicants
-
- County Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- For Profit Organizations
- State Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- City/Township Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Special District Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Small Businesses
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Resources Conservation Service is soliciting applications for Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials addressing irrigation management technologies, nutrient management, grazing lands management, or soil health demonstration trials, with applications due July 27, 2026. Up to $50 million in federal funding will support between 20 and 30 awards ranging from $250,000 to $5,000,000 per project; no cost share is required and no indirect costs are permitted.
Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations with agriculture-related primary business, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations not federally recognized, small businesses, county governments, city and township governments, special district governments, and state governments—provided they have experience working with agricultural producers and access to a producer network for recruitment. Foreign organizations, partnerships, and individuals are ineligible.
Projects must run 3 to 5 years with an estimated start date of September 2026. All projects must include incentive payments (with mandatory cash component) disbursed directly to participating producers, technical assistance activities, and rigorous evaluation assessing environmental and economic outcomes. Participating producers must meet Environmental Quality Incentives Program eligibility requirements, comply with adjusted gross income limitations not exceeding $900,000, and maintain highly erodible land and wetland conservation compliance.
Technical peer review panels will evaluate proposals on a 100-point scale: project purpose and innovation (30 points), project management (25 points), evaluation approach (20 points), and project outcomes (25 points). Applications must include an 18-page maximum project narrative, budget documentation, and required federal forms submitted through Grants.gov. Award selections are anticipated by the fourth quarter of 2026, with execution expected in the same period. A webinar for applicants is scheduled for June 17, 2026 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
Synopsis
NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials). Through On Farm Trials projects, awardees recruit producers and provide them with technical assistance and incentive payments to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches. For 2026, applications will be accepted from eligible entities for projects addressing at least one of the following priorities: irrigation management technologies, new and innovative grazing land management solutions, nutrient management, and soil health demonstration trial (SHD). Up to $50 million is available for On-Farm Trials in 2026. On-Farm Trials projects may be between 3 and 5 years in duration.
Application deadline: Submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 27, 2026.
A webinar for On-Farm Trials applicants is scheduled for June 17, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. Information on how to participate in the Microsoft Teams webinar can be obtained through the following link:
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/d5892e45-05fb-40de-999b-a431e3871963@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697
The agency anticipates making selections by 4th quarter of calendar year 2026 and expects to execute awards by 4th quarter of calendar year 2026. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.
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