WASHINGTON, May 27, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the availability of $65 million in funding this year for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.
CIG is supported by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), which increased funding for farm bill conservation programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which funds CIG. The WFTCA strengthens the ability of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support farmers, ranchers, and partners in tackling conservation challenges at the landscape scale.
“America’s strength is rooted in the hands that work the land. With the announcement of new NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants, we’re investing in the farmers, ranchers, and private landowners who keep our soil healthy, our water clean, and our nation strong,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “Strong farms build a strong America. NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants are helping producers pioneer the next generation of conservation while protecting the working lands that define our nation.”
The national CIG program has two parts: CIG Classic and CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials. Through CIG Classic, partners develop new tools, technologies, and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions to resource challenges. Through CIG On-Farm Trials, partners focus on widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. Incentive payments are provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches.
For fiscal 2026, NRCS is investing $50 million for CIG On-Farm Trials and $15 million for CIG Classic.
This year’s priorities for CIG On-Farm Trials are:
· Irrigation water management technologies;
· Nutrient management;
· Grazing lands; and
· Soil health demonstration trials.
This year’s priorities for CIG Classic are:
· Water management;
· Conserving ecosystems by managing pest pressure;
· Soil;
· Habitat improvement; and
· Farmer-focused conservation outcomes.
Notices of funding for CIG Classic and CIG On-Farm Trials are available on Grants.gov. Applications are being accepted now through July 27, 2026.
Since 2004, NRCS has invested $528 million to fund 923 innovative projects and 467 partners through CIG. For more information visit the CIG website.
Source: USDA
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