At a glance
USDA NRCS is offering Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year 2026. The program funds projects that recruit producers, provide technical assistance and incentive payments, and evaluate innovative conservation approaches, with priority topics including irrigation water management, grazing land management, nutrient management, and soil health demonstration trials. Eligible applicants include certain for-profit organizations, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits, higher education institutions, small businesses, and some non-federal governmental organizations; individuals, foreign entities, and partnerships are not eligible, and applications must come from a single entity. The agency expects to award between 20 and 30 grants ranging from $250,000 to $5 million each, with up to $50 million available, and there is no cost-share requirement. Projects must be carried out in the United States or U.S. territories, and awardees must make incentive payments directly to EQIP-eligible producers who meet the program’s AGI and conservation compliance requirements.
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
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.
Who can apply
- City or township governments
- County governments
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Special district governments
- State governments