Conservation Innovation Grants - Florida

Florida CIG Projects

Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies into NRCS standards and practices. Florida NRCS offers CIG state program funding opportunities to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. Florida NRCS CIG has a total of 11 projects as of FY 2023.

In Fiscal Year 2023, Florida NRCS awarded four new CIG projects:

• Archbold Expeditions, Inc: To develop innovative unmanned aerial vehicle
  technology (commonly known as drone) to better identify and quantify brush and improve data collection and management of Florida’s grazing lands.
• Blackbeard’s Ranch: To show virtual fence is a helpful tool that works towards long-term, agro-ecosystem goals on grazing and ranchlands.
• Florida State University: Evaluate the efficiency of rain gardens as a selected conservation practice to mitigate microplastic pollution in urban farms, and provide guidance on proposing effective plans to prevent and lessen this pollution using green infrastructure.
• IMG Citrus Inc: An implementation and on-farm research and demonstration
  project that integrates rhizome perennial peanut cover crop in citrus groves as a soil best
  management practice.

_{Cattle graze at Blackbeard Ranch, Florida. - NRCS CIG Project} 

Who Is Eligible

State and National CIG: All United States (U.S.) based, non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals are eligible to apply for projects carried out in the U.S. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.

On-Farm Trials: Private entities whose primary business is related to agriculture, non-governmental organizations with experience working with agricultural producers, and non-Federal government agencies.

How To Apply

National Competition: A CIG funding notice is announced each year. Funds for single- or multi-year projects, not to exceed three years, are awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process. Projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-state or nationwide in scope. The natural resource concerns eligible for funding through CIG are identified in the funding announcement and may change annually to focus on new and emerging, high priority natural resource concerns.

On-Farm Trials: Up to $25 million annually is available for On Farm Trials, which support widespread adoption of innovative approaches, practices and systems on working lands. On-Farm Trials projects feature collaboration between NRCS and partners to implement on-the-ground conservation activities and then evaluate their impact. Incentive payments are provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches.

The state CIG component emphasizes projects that benefit a limited geographical area.

 Florida CIG Priorities:

• Urban Agriculture - Urban farming comes with unique conservation challenges and opportunities. We are accepting proposals that demonstrate innovations that support conservation of natural resources in urban agricultural contexts.
• Water Conservation - Water conservation is the most important action we can take to sustain our water supplies, meet future needs, and reduce demands on Florida’s water-dependent ecosystems such as springs, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. We are accepting proposals that improve water quality, reduce irrigation usage, and improve soil water holding capacity by implementing innovative ideas and practices.
• Soil Health - Demonstrate and quantify impacts of soil health promoting practices and management systems (e.g., no-tillage, cover crops, and crop rotations) on improving soil moisture, water infiltration, and soil water holding capacity coupled with an analysis of resulting production impacts on yield, yield variability, and economics of crop production across a range of soils, cropping systems, and climates.
• Carbon Sequestration - Carbon dioxide is absorbed by trees, plants, and crops through photosynthesis and stored as carbon in biomass of tree trunks, branches, foliage, roots, and soils. We will be accepting proposals that show improvement in the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with innovative practices focused on carbon sequestration.

State CIG Overview

All CIG applications must be submitted on grants.gov. The grants.gov electronic submission interface is called Workspace. Workspace is the standard way for organizations or individuals to apply for federal grants in grants.gov. Workspace allows an applicant grant team to access and edit different forms within an application simultaneously. In addition, the forms may be filled out online or as a PDF. Please allow extra time to register in Workspace because there are several preliminary registration steps before an applicant can submit the application.

To register, go to grants.gov, click on “Applicants”, then click on “Get Registered.” If you have completed a prior grants.gov application, you may already have completed the registration process. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (e.g., Braille, large print, or audio tape) should contact the USDA TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.