Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ ON FARM TRIALS 19 GEN00101
The FY 2019 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials funding opportunity is a discretionary federal grant program aimed at speeding up real-world adoption of new conservation ideas by putting them directly on working farms and ranches. Instead of funding research that stays on paper, this program is built around practical, field-based trials carried out on private agricultural lands in close partnership with producers. The basic goal is to help agricultural operations try promising conservation practices, systems, or approaches that could deliver meaningful environmental benefits, but that have not yet been widely taken up due to cost, uncertainty, learning curves, or perceived risk.
NRCS structured the 2019 On-Farm Trials model so that awards go to eligible entities that then coordinate with both NRCS and a network of producers. In other words, the grantee acts as the organizer and implementer: recruiting enough producer participants, arranging technical support, and helping run the trials across multiple private-land sites. Funding is specifically intended to provide technical and financial assistance that reduces barriers for producers, including compensation for risks associated with trying new practices or systems. This is important because many conservation innovations come with short-term uncertainty (for example, potential yield impacts, equipment changes, or management complexity) even when the long-term conservation outcomes look strong.
A defining feature of this opportunity is that evaluation is not optional; it is central to the program. Projects are expected to measure and document outcomes so that the impacts of the innovative approaches can be captured and shared. NRCS emphasizes assessing environmental outcomes and also encourages capturing financial and social impacts to the extent feasible. The idea is to generate credible, usable evidence from real operating conditions, then disseminate those results so other producers, advisors, and agencies can learn from them. NRCS also signals that it wants to use the findings to improve how it does business, potentially influencing future NRCS guidance, technical tools, conservation practice standards, and other program policies. In practice, that means successful trials could help move a new approach from “interesting but uncommon” into something that NRCS programs more formally support.
When it comes to what kinds of projects are favored, NRCS gives priority to innovative conservation approaches that can apply across a broad range of farm and ranch sizes and production types. That preference pushes applicants toward approaches that are scalable and transferable, rather than niche solutions that only work in a narrow context. The opportunity also highlights a specific component called the Soil Health Demo Trial (SHD). SHD projects focus exclusively on conservation practices and systems that improve soil health, and recipients of SHD awards must agree to use consistent soil health assessment protocols. This requirement is meant to make results more comparable and credible across different trial locations and project partners.
Eligibility for the On-Farm Trials track is narrower than “any organization.” Under the statute described in the announcement, eligible entities are limited to three categories: private entities whose primary business is related to agriculture; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with experience working with agricultural producers; and non-federal government agencies. A practical requirement is that these entities must be able to reach and enroll a sufficient number of producers to carry out trials on private lands, since the program’s value depends on real participation and multiple on-the-ground implementation sites.
Key administrative details in the posted opportunity include the funding opportunity title, “Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2019,” with the funding opportunity number USDA NRCS NHQ ON FARM TRIALS 19 GEN00101. The agency is the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The instrument type is a grant, and the activity categories span agriculture, environment, natural resources, and research and development. The CFDA number listed is 10.912. The original closing date for applications was 2019-07-15, and the posting lists an award ceiling of $5,000,000. The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2019-05-14.Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ ON FARM TRIALS 19 GEN00101
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2019" 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 2019-05-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-15. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FY 2019 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the FY 2019 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials funding opportunity. It is a discretionary federal grant program designed to speed up real-world adoption of new conservation ideas by testing them directly on working farms and ranches through practical, field-based trials on private agricultural lands.
What is the main purpose of the On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program?
The program aims to help agricultural operations try promising conservation practices, systems, or approaches that could deliver meaningful environmental benefits, but that have not been widely adopted due to barriers like cost, uncertainty, learning curves, or perceived risk.
How is this program different from a traditional research grant?
This opportunity is built around practical on-farm and on-ranch trials under real operating conditions, rather than research that remains theoretical or confined to controlled settings. The focus is on field-based implementation and measurable outcomes that can be shared and used by others.
Who receives the award and who actually implements the trials?
Awards are made to eligible entities (the grantees). The grantee coordinates with NRCS and a network of agricultural producers. Trials are carried out on private agricultural lands, with the grantee serving as the organizer and implementer by recruiting producer participants, arranging technical support, and running trials across multiple sites.
Do projects have to be conducted on private agricultural lands?
Yes. The trials are intended to be carried out on private agricultural lands in close partnership with producers, using real working farm and ranch conditions.
What kinds of barriers is the funding meant to address for producers?
Funding is intended to provide technical and financial assistance that reduces barriers for producers, including compensation for risks associated with trying new practices or systems. These risks can include short-term uncertainty such as potential yield impacts, equipment changes, or increased management complexity.
Is evaluation required as part of the project?
Yes. Evaluation is a defining feature of this opportunity and is central to the program. Projects are expected to measure and document outcomes so the impacts of innovative approaches can be captured and shared.
What types of outcomes does NRCS expect projects to measure?
NRCS emphasizes assessing environmental outcomes. NRCS also encourages capturing financial and social impacts to the extent feasible, with the goal of generating credible and usable evidence from real operating conditions.
Why does NRCS emphasize documenting and sharing results?
The program is intended to produce credible evidence that can be disseminated so other producers, advisors, and agencies can learn from the results. NRCS also indicates it wants to use findings to improve how it operates, which could influence future NRCS guidance, technical tools, conservation practice standards, and other program policies.
What types of projects are prioritized?
NRCS prioritizes innovative conservation approaches that can apply across a broad range of farm and ranch sizes and production types. This preference supports approaches that are scalable and transferable rather than narrowly applicable niche solutions.
What is the Soil Health Demo Trial (SHD) component?
The Soil Health Demo Trial (SHD) is a highlighted component within this opportunity. SHD projects focus exclusively on conservation practices and systems that improve soil health.
Are there special requirements for Soil Health Demo Trial (SHD) award recipients?
Yes. Recipients of SHD awards must agree to use consistent soil health assessment protocols. This requirement is intended to make results more comparable and credible across different trial locations and project partners.
Who is eligible to apply for the On-Farm Trials track?
Eligibility is limited to three categories of entities: (1) private entities whose primary business is related to agriculture, (2) nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with experience working with agricultural producers, and (3) non-federal government agencies.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility list includes non-federal government agencies, but does not include federal government agencies as eligible entities.
What organizational capability is implied by the program design?
Eligible entities must be able to reach and enroll a sufficient number of producers to carry out trials on private lands, since the program depends on real producer participation and multiple on-the-ground implementation sites.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The offering agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
What is the funding opportunity title?
The title is "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2019."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ ON FARM TRIALS 19 GEN00101.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The instrument type is a grant.
What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The listed activity categories span agriculture, environment, natural resources, and research and development.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.912.
What was the application closing date shown in the opportunity record?
The original closing date for applications was 2019-07-15.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The posted award ceiling is $5,000,000.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2019-05-14.
Does this program support adoption of conservation practices that are already widely used?
The program is aimed at promising conservation practices, systems, or approaches that have not yet been widely taken up, especially where adoption is limited by cost, uncertainty, learning curves, or perceived risk.
What role does dissemination play in this opportunity?
Dissemination is part of the underlying intent: projects are expected to measure and document outcomes so results can be shared. The goal is to help others learn from the trials and potentially inform NRCS improvements to guidance, tools, standards, and policies.
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