Program at A Glance
Arkansas CIG - Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 8th, 2022. 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. Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.) Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.
There will also be a Zoom informational meeting April 22nd at 10 am, please Email lori.barker@usda.gov for an invitation.
National CIG Programs: Announcements of program deadlines will be soon, so stay tuned!
National CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials
Newly authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, On-Farm Trials supports more 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 Soil Health Demo Trial (SHD) component of On-Farm Trials focuses exclusively on implementation of conservation practices and systems that improve soil health. Eligible entities receiving SHD awards agree to follow consistent soil health assessment protocols to evaluate the impacts of practice and system implementation. Learn more about On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials.
National CIG Classic
Who Is Eligible
- National and State CIG – all non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.
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.
- State Competition – The CIG state component emphasizes projects that benefit a limited geographical area. Participating states announce their funding availability for CIG competitions through their state NRCS offices. For additional information about State CIG competitions, please contact your State NRCS office or search for the latest postings here
TIPS on applying for CIG Grants: 2022 CIG Training (PPTX)
Arkansas CIG Projects Selected in previous years
2021 Conservation innovation Grant
Ecosystems Protective Services, LLC.
The Field Set-Aside Pilot Project.
This new incentive program will encourage producers to set-aside fields and flood them, plant cover crops such as millet (provide quality foraging for waterfowl), and during the growing season or post-harvest of crops. The pilot project will introduce three practices to producers in the region through two demonstrations field days, multiple articles published in Five Oaks Ag Research and Education Center’s newsletters., highlighting each farm, and each practice. The audience for these activities are producers in the region, USDA/NRCS Technical Field staff, and USDA/NRCS policy makers.
Three farms will be chosen to pilot three new practices. Data will be collected on propagation of moist soil vegetation, all inputs required for each practice including ground water costs changes.
This Field Set-aside Pilot Project will result in: Short, Intermediate, and Long- term Impacts,
- Propagation of Native Moist Soil Vegetation
- Increase forage for Waterfowl in Pilot Project fields planting small grain cover crops
- Improve wildlife habitat, increasing opportunity for recreation income
- Improve Soil Health (less tillage and more plant matter)
- Lower costs of production (from less tillage)
- Reduction of fossil fuel usage
- Reduce GHG emissions
- Reduce groundwater usage
- Build awareness and educate local producers about loss of waterfowl habitat and lack of soil Health
- Practice improving many local resource concerns (Soil Health, Water Quantity, Water Quality, Wildlife and Waterfowl habitat)
Arkansas State CIG Contact information:
Lori Barker Program Staff
2115 Malcolm Av
Newport, AR 72112
870-523-8986 ext 3016
Email lori.barker@usda.gov
