Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Donor Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/10/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
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 and its territories. 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, into government technical manuals and guides, or to 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.
Example project types utilizing IRA funds could include:
- Integrating a conservation strategy to reduce tile-drainage nitrate-nitrogen losses from cropping systems and evaluating the agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits compared to traditional management practices. Remote sensing, in-season, site-specific precision nitrogen management technology will be utilized to optimize crop nitrogen management. Cover crops will be used to take up residual nitrogen in the soil after harvest.
- A systems approach to input use efficiency crop management will be demonstrated from on-farm row crop production areas. Smart Nitrogen (N) management practices demonstrated include fertigation, use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers, tools for prediction of in-season N rate, as well as variable rate N, water and seed. Demonstrations of irrigation scheduling tools and best herbicide management will be included. Social and economic studies of barriers to adoption of the practices demonstrated will be included.
- Apply compost and incorporate the results into a decision support tool and create best management practice guides. Assess environmental, economic, and social benefits to compost application across a variety of soil types, compost types/rates, and production systems. Measure the agronomic, social, and environmental impacts of compost on soil carbon, water holding capacity, and overall soil health.
CIG Priorities
- Urban Agriculture, Organic, and Climate Resilience
- Urban Agriculture
- Organic
- Climate Resilience
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $500,000
- Award Floor: $10,000
Project Period
Projects may be between one and three years in duration.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Eligible applicant type is determined by the implementing program statute. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
