Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026
- Posted
- May 26, 2026
- Closed
- July 27, 2026
- Award ceiling
- $5,000,000
- Award floor
- $250,000
- Program funding
- $50,000,000
- Expected awards
- 30
- Cost sharing
- No
- Instrument
- Grant
- Assistance listing
- 10.941
- Category
- Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources
- Archives
- August 26, 2026
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:
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.
Who can apply
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- City or township governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
- County governments
- Special district governments
For-profit entities are eligible for On-Farm Trials if their primary business is related to agriculture. Nonprofit entities are eligible for On-Farm Trials if they have experience working with agricultural producers. On-Farm Trials is authorized under 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8 and is authorized as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The following applicants are considered ineligible: • Foreign organizations and foreign public entities • “Partnerships” or other similar groupings (i.e., application must be submitted by a single entity; a partner may serve as a subrecipient). • Individuals Eligible entities must have access to a network of producers that they can recruit as participants to facilitate implementing On-Farm Trials of conservation practices and systems on private lands and meet the participation goals outlined in the proposal. NRCS will not assist with producer recruitment for On-Farm Trials projects.
The official record
Grants.gov published the official terms and dates of this opportunity; this page keeps them as they were listed.
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