Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 19 GEN0010093
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a discretionary USDA funding program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that supports new and practical conservation ideas tied directly to agricultural production. CIG is authorized under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) statute (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8). While EQIP is a well-known NRCS conservation program, CIG functions as the innovation-oriented component, aimed at testing and proving approaches that can be adopted more broadly by producers and conservation partners. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated EQIP and CIG administration to the Chief of NRCS (who also serves as a Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation), and the program is funded and managed under Commodity Credit Corporation authorities.
The core purpose of CIG is to stimulate both the development and the real-world adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that work in active farming, ranching, or private forestry settings. The program is not focused on purely theoretical research; instead, it targets applied innovations that can be demonstrated, evaluated, and then moved into wider use. Projects are expected to generate outcomes that help transfer conservation technologies, management systems, or other innovative approaches into one or more of the following: direct use by agricultural producers, NRCS technical manuals and guidance materials, or adoption and delivery through the private sector. The mention of market-based systems signals that innovation under CIG can include new business or incentive mechanisms, not just equipment or field practices, as long as they advance conservation in working landscapes.
CIG generally supports pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. Pilot projects and demonstrations are meant to prove that an approach works under realistic conditions and can be replicated. On-farm conservation research is specifically defined in the notice as an investigation designed to answer a particular applied conservation question using a statistically valid research design and employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands. That definition is important because it sets expectations for rigor (statistical validity), relevance (an applied conservation question), and scale (farm-scale equipment in real operating conditions rather than small plots or lab-only work).
From the opportunity details provided, this particular announcement is identified as USDA NRCS OR CIG 19 GEN0010093 under CFDA 10.912, with funding activity in natural resources. NRCS indicates that it will make awards via grants and/or cooperative agreements, which typically means some projects may involve closer collaboration with the agency depending on the selected instrument. The listed award ceiling is $75,000, and the opportunity anticipated about 10 awards. The original posting date was April 3, 2019, with an original closing date of May 27, 2019. Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility clarification expected in the full announcement, suggesting that applicants could include nontraditional entities depending on the specifics stated in that eligibility section.
Overall, CIG is designed for organizations or partners who can take a conservation idea that is promising but not yet widely adopted, test it through credible field work, demonstrate measurable outcomes, and produce a pathway for adoption by producers, NRCS, or the private sector. The emphasis on demonstration, transferability, and real-world farm and ranch implementation is what distinguishes CIG from more basic research programs.Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 19 GEN0010093
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "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 Apr 03, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 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 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program is a discretionary USDA funding opportunity administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It supports new and practical conservation ideas that are directly tied to agricultural production and intended for use in real farming, ranching, or private forestry settings.
How is CIG connected to EQIP?
CIG is authorized under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) statute (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8). EQIP is a well-known NRCS conservation program, and CIG functions as the innovation-oriented component designed to test and prove approaches that can later be adopted more broadly.
Who administers the CIG program?
The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated EQIP and CIG administration to the Chief of NRCS. The Chief of NRCS also serves as a Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and the program is funded and managed under CCC authorities.
What is the main purpose of CIG funding?
The core purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and real-world adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that work in active agricultural production and private forestry environments. The program emphasizes applied innovation that can be demonstrated, evaluated, and moved into wider use.
Is CIG intended to fund theoretical or basic research?
No. CIG is not focused on purely theoretical research. It targets applied innovations that can be tested under practical conditions, demonstrated in the field, and shown to be transferable to broader use.
What kinds of outcomes are CIG projects expected to produce?
Projects are expected to generate outcomes that help transfer conservation technologies, management systems, or other innovative approaches into one or more of the following pathways: direct use by agricultural producers, inclusion in NRCS technical manuals and guidance materials, or adoption and delivery through the private sector.
Can CIG support market-based or business-model innovations?
Yes. The opportunity notes that innovation can include market-based systems, meaning new business mechanisms or incentive approaches may be eligible if they advance conservation in working agricultural and forestry landscapes.
What types of projects does CIG generally support?
CIG generally supports pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. These project types are intended to prove that an approach works under realistic conditions and can be replicated.
What is meant by a pilot project or field demonstration under CIG?
Pilot projects and demonstrations are intended to show that a conservation approach or technology works in real-world conditions, can produce measurable results, and can be replicated or adopted more broadly by producers or conservation partners.
How does the announcement define on-farm conservation research?
On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation designed to answer a particular applied conservation question using a statistically valid research design and employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands.
What does "statistically valid research design" imply for on-farm conservation research?
Based on the notice language, it implies that projects framed as on-farm conservation research are expected to use rigorous methods that can credibly answer the applied conservation question, rather than informal observation or non-replicable testing.
Where must CIG-funded work take place?
CIG emphasizes implementation and testing in active farming, ranching, or private forestry settings. For on-farm conservation research specifically, the work is expected to occur on farms, ranches, or private forest lands using farm-scale equipment.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing for this announcement?
This announcement is identified as USDA NRCS OR CIG 19 GEN0010093 under CFDA 10.912, with the funding activity area listed as natural resources.
What funding instruments will NRCS use for awards?
NRCS indicates it will make awards via grants and/or cooperative agreements. This suggests some selected projects may be supported as standard grants, while others may be structured as cooperative agreements that typically involve closer collaboration with the agency.
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling for this opportunity is $75,000.
About how many awards does NRCS expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making about 10 awards.
What were the original posting and closing dates for this announcement?
The original posting date was April 3, 2019, and the original closing date was May 27, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others." The opportunity description indicates that additional eligibility clarification is expected in the full announcement, suggesting that nontraditional entities may be eligible depending on what is specified in the eligibility section.
What kind of applicant or partnership is CIG best suited for?
CIG is designed for organizations or partners who can take a conservation idea that is promising but not yet widely adopted, test it through credible field work, demonstrate measurable outcomes, and produce a pathway for adoption by producers, NRCS, or the private sector.
What distinguishes CIG from other conservation or research programs?
The distinguishing features described are the emphasis on demonstration, transferability, and real-world implementation in working landscapes. CIG focuses on proving applied innovations under practical conditions and supporting pathways for broader adoption, rather than supporting basic or purely theoretical research.
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