Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS MD CIG 20 GEN0010726
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) opened the FY 2020 Maryland Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) competition to support new and creative conservation ideas that can be used alongside working agricultural operations. The basic aim of this opportunity is to push conservation beyond standard practice by helping applicants test, refine, and demonstrate approaches or technologies that improve natural resource outcomes while still fitting real-world farming and forestry conditions. The program is focused on innovations that are practical enough to move from a trial phase into broader use, whether that means adoption by producers, incorporation into NRCS technical references, or commercialization through the private sector.
Funding under this announcement is provided as a discretionary grant through CFDA 10.912, with up to $150,000 available statewide for Maryland in FY 2020. NRCS anticipated making about four awards, and the maximum award size (the award ceiling) for any single project was set at $75,000. Projects could run for as little as one year or as long as three years, giving applicants flexibility to propose short pilots or multi-season demonstrations that better capture weather variability, cropping cycles, and longer-term management impacts.
Eligibility was intentionally broad. Any non-federal entity and individuals could apply, and the only applicants explicitly excluded were federal agencies. In practice, that means the competition was open to a wide range of potential applicants such as universities (in non-federal roles), conservation districts, state or local governments, nonprofit organizations, private businesses, farmer-led groups, and individual producers or landowners, as long as the work proposed would be carried out in Maryland.
The kinds of projects NRCS expected to fund through CIG typically fall into three main categories: pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. The on-farm research component is defined in applied, practical terms: a study designed to answer a specific conservation question using a statistically valid research design while using farm-scale equipment on real farms, ranches, or private forest lands. That definition signals that NRCS is looking for credible, measurable results generated under operating conditions similar to what producers face, rather than small controlled trials that may not translate to commercial-scale decision-making.
Another central theme in the announcement is technology and knowledge transfer. CIG projects are not meant to end with a report on a shelf; they are expected to produce outputs that help conservation practices spread. This could include demonstrating a new management system that producers can replicate, testing a technology that can be incorporated into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or developing innovative approaches like market-based systems that create incentives for conservation outcomes. The underlying expectation is that a successful project will show clear potential for adoption and scalability, not just novelty.
Administratively, the opportunity was published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS MD CIG 20 GEN0010726 by USDA NRCS, with a creation date of March 12, 2020. Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, and the deadline for receipt was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2020. Overall, the Maryland FY 2020 CIG opportunity was structured as a relatively small, competitive state-level grant program meant to catalyze field-tested conservation innovations that can be replicated, institutionalized, or brought to market for broader environmental and agricultural benefit.Apply for USDA NRCS MD CIG 20 GEN0010726
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 –Maryland" 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 Mar 12, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 11, 2020 Applications must be received by grants.gov no later than 500 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on May 11, 2020.. (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 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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|---|
| Conservation Collaboration Grants or Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Announcement for Program Funding – MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, and SOUTH DAKOTA Apply for USDA NRCS MULTI CCG 20 GEN0010740 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MULTI CCG 20 GEN0010740 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Missouri Apply for USDA NRCS MO CIG 20 GEN0010780 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MO CIG 20 GEN0010780 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Pacific Islands Area Apply for USDA NRCS PIA 20 GEN0010774 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PIA 20 GEN0010774 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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| Cooperative Conservation Agreements Fiscal Year 2020 Announcement for Program Funding – Wisconsin Apply for USDA NRCS WI CCA CO GEN0010656 Funding Number: USDA NRCS WI CCA CO GEN0010656 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – New Hampshire Apply for USDA NRCS NH CIG 20 NOFO0001012 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH CIG 20 NOFO0001012 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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