Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026
🏛 Natural Resources Conservation Service
Can you apply?
This grant is for eligible entities that want to run on-farm conservation innovation trials with agricultural producers. For-profit agricultural businesses and nonprofits with agricultural producer experience can apply. Eligible entities must recruit a network of producers and implement trials on private lands.
Foreign organizations, partnerships, and individuals are ineligible. Single entities only; partners must be subrecipients. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to recruit and retain producers for 3–5 year projects.
Projects address irrigation management, grazing land management, nutrient management, or soil health. NRCS will not help with producer recruitment.
This grant is for eligible entities that want to run on-farm conservation innovation trials with agricultural producers. For-profit agricultural businesses and nonprofits with agricultural producer experience can apply. Eligible entities must recruit a network of producers and implement trials on private lands.
Foreign organizations, partnerships, and individuals are ineligible. Single entities only; partners must be subrecipients. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to recruit and retain producers for 3–5 year projects.
Projects address irrigation management, grazing land management, nutrient management, or soil health. NRCS will not help with producer recruitment.
Program description
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
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for eligible entities that want to run on-farm conservation innovation trials with agricultural producers. For-profit agricultural businesses and nonprofits with agricultural producer experience can apply. Eligible entities must recruit a network of producers and implement trials on private lands.
Foreign organizations, partnerships, and individuals are ineligible. Single entities only; partners must be subrecipients. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to recruit and retain producers for 3–5 year projects.
Projects address irrigation management, grazing land management, nutrient management, or soil health. NRCS will not help with producer recruitment.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project narrative describing conservation practices and trial design
- Budget and budget narrative
- Producer recruitment plan and letters of commitment
- Organizational capacity documentation (staff resumes, past project examples)
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Jeffrey Jacobs Grants Management Specialist
- 📧 jeffrey.jacobs@usda.gov
- 📞 2027201222
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 10.941 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.941). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $58,424,103 | |
| 2025 | $251,123 | |
| 2026 est. | $50,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for On-Farm Trials funding?
For-profit entities in agriculture and nonprofits with agricultural producer experience are eligible. Partnerships and individuals cannot apply directly.
What if my organization cannot recruit producers on its own?
You must have an existing network of producers you can recruit. NRCS will not assist with producer recruitment.
How long can a funded project last?
Projects typically run 3–5 years. Funding may support multi-year activities.
What topics are eligible for On-Farm Trials?
Priority areas include irrigation management, grazing land management, nutrient management, and soil health demonstration trials.
What is the typical award range?
Awards typically range from $250,000 to $5,000,000. Competitiveness depends on project scope, producer engagement, and conservation outcomes.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build a strong producer network before applying. Show letters of commitment or MOUs from producers who will participate in your trials.
- Focus your project on one of the four priority areas: irrigation, grazing management, nutrients, or soil health. Clear focus improves competitiveness.
- Detail your technical assistance plan. Explain how you'll support producers throughout the trial period and ensure quality data collection.
- Demonstrate organizational capacity. Include staff resumes, past project experience, and producer testimonials showing you can manage multi-year awards.
- Attend the June 17, 2026 webinar. NRCS will clarify expectations and answer common questions before the July 27 deadline.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying as a partnership or grouping without designating a single lead entity. Not demonstrating existing producer relationships or recruitment capacity before submission. Proposing vague conservation approaches instead of specific, measurable innovation trials.
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