Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026
NRCS offers up to $50M for 3–5 year On-Farm Trials in 2026 to support innovative conservation projects addressing irrigation, grazing, nutrient management, or soil health; apply by July 27, 2026.
Funder: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Due Dates: July 27, 2026: Full application submission deadline (submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time)
Funding Amounts: $250,000–$5,000,000 per award; up to $50 million total; project duration 3–5 years
Summary: Supports on-farm trials to test and evaluate innovative conservation practices through technical assistance and incentive payments to agricultural producers.
Description
This program funds On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials to accelerate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches on private agricultural lands. Projects must address at least one of the following 2026 priorities: irrigation management technologies, innovative grazing land management, nutrient management, or soil health demonstration trials (SHD). Awardees are responsible for recruiting producers, providing technical assistance, and distributing incentive payments directly to participating producers. All projects must include a robust evaluation component to assess environmental, economic, and conservation outcomes, with results intended to inform future NRCS programs and best practices.
