agriculture · environment · natural_resources · USDA-NRCS

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

Natural Resources Conservation Service · USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447

Closed

Award Range

$250K – $5.0M

Total Program Funding

$50.0M

Expected Awards

Deadline

July 27, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

USDA/NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Trials fund 30 awards (up to $5M each) for large-scale on-farm testing of conservation practices and technologies. Farmers test innovations on their own land with research support.

Who Should Apply

Research institutions, nonprofits, and organizations partnering with farmers to test conservation innovations at field scale.

Who Should NOT Apply

Individual farmers alone, organizations without research capacity.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must conduct on-farm conservation trials
•30 awards up to $5M
•Must test at field scale
•No cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

CIG On-Farm is for validating conservation practices that work in the lab but need real-world testing. Partner with 20+ farms across your region for statistical power.

Competitiveness: Moderate — 30 large awards for conservation research partnerships.

What This Grant Funds

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.

Attachments

PDF

Appendix A - Sample Budget Table and Narrative

Appendix_A_Sample_Budget_Table_and_Narrative.docx

PDF

Appendix B - Budget Table Template

Appendix_B_Budget_Table_Template.xlsx

PDF

USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447

USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447_final_with_date_editsPDFJJ_20260604.pdf

Who Can Apply

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.

Eligible Applicant Types

State GovernmentsCounty GovernmentsCity/Township GovernmentsSpecial District GovernmentsPublic Colleges & UniversitiesFederally Recognized Tribal GovernmentsOther Tribal Organizations501(c)(3) NonprofitsNonprofits without 501(c)(3)Private Colleges & UniversitiesFor-Profit OrganizationsSmall Businesses

Funding Details

Minimum Award: $250K
Maximum Award: $5.0M
Total Program Funding: $50.0M
Expected Number of Awards: 30
Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: May 26, 2026

Application Deadline: July 27, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Agency Contact

Jeffrey Jacobs Grants Management Specialist Phone 2027201222

jeffrey.jacobs@usda.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov