Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you work with farmers to test and scale conservation technologies, NRCS will fund your on-farm trials with $250k–$5M to prove impact over 3–5 years.
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What this is
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is distributing up to $50 million for Conservation Innovation Grants focused on on-farm trials of innovative conservation technologies and practices. Eligible applicants must recruit agricultural producers and deliver technical support plus incentive payments to drive adoption of conservation solutions in four priority areas: irrigation management technologies, grazing land management, nutrient management, and soil health demonstration. Projects run 3–5 years and award amounts range from $250,000 to $5,000,000, with applications due July 27, 2026.
Who can apply
Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit companies, state/county/city governments, tribal governments, and both public and private higher education institutions are eligible. Solo individuals and researchers are not eligible; your organization must have the capacity to recruit producers and deliver technical assistance at scale.
Eligible applicant types
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- State governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- County governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- City or township governments
Full description — from the agency
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.
Topics: conservation innovation grants · on-farm trials · agricultural technology · irrigation management · soil health · grazing management · nutrient management · NRCS funding
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.