The Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications for its Conservation Innovation Grant Classic Program
Donor Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/27/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The CIG program stimulates the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems)to agricultural producers through the development of technical manuals, guides, and for practical instruction for the private sector.
The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production in the United States. CIG projects presentinnovations that are expected to resultin the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and inventive approaches to agricultural producers (such as market-based systems) to be used in the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands.
Priorities
All projects submitted should have potential to impact agricultural working lands. The following administrative focus areas will be prioritized under each priority area listed below:
- Projects that involve Community Colleges, Junior Colleges and State Technical Schools.
- Projects that integrate precision agriculture.
- Projects that address a holistic approach to farm solutions.
- Projects that integrate elements of agricultural conservation workforce development into their objectives, methods, or technology transfer activities.
Funding Information
The agency expects the amount of each award to range from a minimum of $250,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000.
Grant Period
1 and 3 years
Eligibility Criteria
- This opportunity is open to all non-Foreign applicants, except US Federal Government Entities.
- The following applicants are considered ineligible:
- Foreign organizations and foreign public entities, and
- Partnerships” or other similar groupings (i.e., application must be submitted by a single entity; a partner may serve as a subrecipient).
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
