Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026

The summary for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026 grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026: 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.

Federal Grant Title:	Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2026
Federal Agency Name:	Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)
Grant Categories:	Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources
Type of Opportunity:	Discretionary
Funding Opportunity Number:	USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447
Type of Funding:	Grant
CFDA Numbers:	10.941
CFDA Descriptions:	Information not provided
Current Application Deadline:	July 27th, 2026
Original Application Deadline:	July 27th, 2026
Posted Date:	May 26th, 2026
Creation Date:	May 26th, 2026
Archive Date:	August 26th, 2026
Total Program Funding:	$50,000,000
Maximum Federal Grant Award:	$5,000,000
Minimum Federal Grant Award:	$250,000
Expected Number of Awards:	30
Cost Sharing or Matching:	No
Last Updated:	May 22nd, 2026

Applicants Eligible for this Grant: State governments - County governments - City or township governments - Special district governments - Public and State controlled institutions of higher education - Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) - Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) - Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education - Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education - Private institutions of higher education - For-profit organizations other than small businesses - Small businesses
Additional Information on Eligibility: For-profit entities are eligible for On-Farm Trials if their primary business is related to agriculture. Nonprofit entities are eligible for On-Farm Trials if they have experience working with agricultural producers. On-Farm Trials is authorized under 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8 and is authorized as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The following applicants are considered ineligible: • Foreign organizations and foreign public entities • “Partnerships” or other similar groupings (i.e., application must be submitted by a single entity; a partner may serve as a subrecipient). • Individuals Eligible entities must have access to a network of producers that they can recruit as participants to facilitate implementing On-Farm Trials of conservation practices and systems on private lands and meet the participation goals outlined in the proposal. NRCS will not assist with producer recruitment for On-Farm Trials projects.
Grant Announcement Contact: Jeffrey Jacobs
Grants Management Specialist
Phone 2027201222
If you have any questions related to preparing application content.
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