Deadline: 21-Jun-21
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers.
The purpose of On-Farm Trials is to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers.
For 2021, NRCS is implementing On-Farm Trials through eligible entities, which in turn work collaboratively with NRCS and agricultural producers to implement innovative approaches on private lands. On-Farm Trials supports the implementation of innovative approaches that have a positive conservation impact but which, for any number of reasons, have not yet been adopted by producers.
On-Farm Trials Priorities
NRCS identifies priority topics for On-Farm Trials. For FY 2021, On-Farm Trials applications must address one of the four priorities:
- Irrigation Management Technologies: NRCS seeks On-Farm Trials proposals to evaluate innovative water management systems that enhance a producer’s ability to monitor irrigation needs effectively, manage irrigation practices efficiently, and increase water savings. Innovative irrigation systems should focus on balancing producer needs with conservation benefits.
- Climate Smart Agricultural Solutions: NRCS seeks On-Farm Trials applications that evaluate innovative on-farm approaches to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases [e.g., nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2)] or enhancing soil carbon and perennial biomass sequestration.
- Management Technologies and Strategies: NRCS seeks On-Farm Trials applications that evaluate approaches that help producers effectively manage production systems while achieving conservation benefits through more efficient application and management. This category lumps many ideas included in the On-Farm Trials statute alongside other NRCS-derived ideas.
- Soil Health Demonstration Trial (SHD): The SHD are on-farm demonstrations of long-term, successful Soil Health Management Systems (SHMS) and/or production systems being transitioned to a SHMS managed by agricultural producers.
Funding Information
- The total amount of Federal funding the agency expects to award through this opportunity is $25 million. At least $10 million of this total is intended for awards made under the SHD.
- Projects may be from three (3) to five (5) years in duration. Three years is the standard agreement length but eligible entities may design projects that last up to five years to support
- adaptive management over multiple crop years; and,
- adequate data collection and analysis to support evaluation of innovative approaches. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of January 15, 2022.
- The agency expects to make between ten and 25 award(s).
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program.
- Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:
- 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 tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Special district governments
- State governments
- For-profit entities are eligible for On-Farm Trials if their primary business is related to agriculture. Non-profit entities are eligible for On-Farm Trials if they have experience working with agricultural producers.
- Eligible entities must have access to a sufficient number of producer participants in order to facilitate implementation of On-Farm Trials of conservation practices and systems on private lands.
- NRCS encourages applications from partners working in urban agriculture settings. Many of the natural resource priority topics described in this announcement are relevant to urban farm operations.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332993