Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants that drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. CIG projects inspire creative problem-solving that boosts production on farms, ranches, and private forests - ultimately, they improve water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat.
Program At A Glance
The CIG program has three components, CIG Classic, CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials and state-level CIG.
CIG Classic - CIG Classic supports early pilot projects or demonstrations of promising new conservation approaches, tools and technologies. Grantees must match the CIG investment at least one to one. NRCS intends to expend at least 10% of the total funding for CIG Classic on projects that are focused on providing conservation benefits to historically undeserved producers.
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.
State CIG - Public and private grantees develop the tools, technologies, and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions to resource challenges. The State CIG opportunity in Montana also supports projects substantially involving or benefitting historically underserved producers or groups of producers. This includes proposals from historically underserved producers, veteran farmers or ranchers, or community-based organizations comprised of or representing these entities. Applications for the FY 2022 CIG State Competition must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 2, 2022.
Who Is Eligible
National CIG Classic and State CIG. All non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers.
On-Farm Trials are open to 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
CIG Classic 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. For more information on the application process visit the CIG for Applicants Webpage.
On-Farm Trials - For more information on CIG On-Farm Trials, please visit the On-Farm Trials webpage.
State CIG 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 the state competition contact the NRCS Montana State Office.
More Information
Prior-Year CIG (Archives)
