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

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

Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Assistance Listings: 10.941 -- Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Trial (OFT)

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

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:

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.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Federally recognized Native American tribal governments

Education

Public and state institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education

Nonprofit

Other Native American tribal organizations
Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)

Business

For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Small businesses

Additional information

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.

Grantor contact information

Description

Jeffrey Jacobs Grants Management Specialist Phone 2027201222

Email

If you have any questions related to preparing application content.

jeffrey.jacobs@usda.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447_final_with_date_editsPDFJJ.pdf	USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447	May 22, 2026 06:50 PM UTC

Link to additional information

Closing: July 27, 2026

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

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$50,000,000

Program Funding

Expected awards

$250,000

Award Minimum

$5,000,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIGOFT-26-NOFO0001447

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Category of Funding Activity:

Agriculture

Environment

Natural resources

Category Explanation:

History

Version:

Posted date:

May 26, 2026

Archive date:

August 26, 2026