Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 19
The NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that focuses on pushing practical, new conservation ideas from concept to real-world use in working agricultural landscapes. The core purpose is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that can operate alongside agricultural production, meaning the emphasis is on solutions that farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners can realistically use while continuing to run productive operations. The program is geared toward innovations that improve natural resource outcomes, such as soil health, water quality, water conservation, wildlife habitat, and broader resource stewardship, but it is not limited to a single practice area as long as the project clearly advances conservation in an applied, on-the-ground way.
A central expectation of CIG projects is technology and practice transfer. In other words, the work funded is not meant to stay confined to a single test site or a one-off experiment. Projects are expected to produce results, tools, approaches, or systems that can be shared and adopted by agricultural producers, incorporated into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or transitioned to the private sector for broader deployment. The program also explicitly recognizes innovative approaches beyond equipment or field practices, including market-based systems, which can include mechanisms that encourage conservation adoption through incentives, improved market access, or new business models tied to environmental outcomes.
In terms of what CIG typically funds, the opportunity highlights three main project types: pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. Pilot projects are generally early-stage implementations designed to show whether an innovation works under realistic conditions and to identify the operational details needed for scaling. Field demonstrations focus on showcasing a practice or technology in a way that producers and partners can observe directly, often with outreach components that support adoption. On-farm conservation research is more formal and is defined in the notice as an investigation designed to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while using farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands. That definition signals that NRCS is looking for rigorous, credible evidence, but gathered in real production settings rather than controlled laboratory environments.
The grant is identified as USDA NRCS VA CIG 19, with the activity area categorized under Natural Resources and the CFDA number listed as 10.912. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, with the caveat that applicants must still follow any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement. The agency administering the opportunity is NRCS within the Department of Agriculture.
From a funding and competition standpoint, the listed award ceiling is $75,000, with an expectation of approximately 7 awards. The opportunity was created on March 20, 2019, with an original closing date of May 20, 2019. Taken together, those figures suggest a small, competitive funding round aimed at supporting multiple targeted projects rather than a single large-scale initiative, with budgets sized to support applied testing, demonstration, and producer-facing innovation work that can be completed and shared within a manageable project scope.Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 19
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 20, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) - FAQs
What is the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is designed to move practical, new conservation ideas from concept into real-world use on working agricultural landscapes.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that can operate alongside agricultural production. The emphasis is on solutions that farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners can realistically use while continuing productive operations.
What kinds of conservation outcomes does CIG aim to improve?
CIG is geared toward innovations that improve natural resource outcomes such as soil health, water quality, water conservation, wildlife habitat, and broader natural resource stewardship. The opportunity is not limited to a single practice area as long as the project clearly advances applied, on-the-ground conservation.
Does CIG focus only on equipment or field practices?
No. The program explicitly recognizes innovative approaches beyond equipment or field practices, including market-based systems. These can include mechanisms that encourage conservation adoption through incentives, improved market access, or new business models tied to environmental outcomes.
What does NRCS mean by "technology and practice transfer" in CIG projects?
A central expectation is that the work funded will not remain a one-off effort at a single site. Projects are expected to produce results, tools, approaches, or systems that can be shared and adopted by agricultural producers, incorporated into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or transitioned to the private sector for broader deployment.
What types of projects does this opportunity typically fund?
The opportunity highlights three main project types: pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research.
What is a pilot project under CIG?
Pilot projects are generally early-stage implementations intended to show whether an innovation works under realistic conditions and to identify operational details needed for scaling.
What is a field demonstration under CIG?
Field demonstrations focus on showcasing a practice or technology in a way that producers and partners can observe directly. These projects often include outreach components that support adoption.
What is "on-farm conservation research" as defined in this notice?
On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation designed to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while using farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands. This definition reflects an expectation for rigorous, credible evidence gathered in real production settings rather than in a controlled laboratory environment.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
What is the opportunity identifier for this grant?
The grant is identified as USDA NRCS VA CIG 19.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.912.
What activity area is this opportunity associated with?
The activity area is categorized under Natural Resources.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant program?
This opportunity category is discretionary.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity. Applicants must still follow any additional eligibility clarifications included in the full announcement.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $75,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of approximately 7 awards.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 20, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was May 20, 2019.
What does the award ceiling and expected number of awards suggest about competitiveness and project scope?
Taken together, a $75,000 award ceiling and approximately 7 expected awards suggest a small, competitive funding round aimed at supporting multiple targeted projects rather than a single large-scale initiative. The budgets appear sized for applied testing, demonstration, and producer-facing innovation work that can be completed and shared within a manageable project scope.
What kind of setting should CIG-funded work take place in?
The program focuses on working agricultural landscapes and emphasizes real production settings. Projects are intended to operate alongside agricultural production and be practical for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners.
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