Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 20 GEN0010745
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for FY 2020 in California is a competitive grant program designed to push new, practical conservation ideas from concept to real-world use. The main goal is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that work alongside agricultural production, not separate from it. In practice, NRCS is looking for projects that can prove conservation tools, systems, or incentive models in the field and then help move what works into wider use, whether that means adoption by farmers and ranchers, inclusion in NRCS technical references and guidance, or uptake by the private sector.
This California-only competition makes up to $750,000 total available statewide for FY 2020, with a maximum award size of $125,000 per project. Projects can run from one to three years, giving applicants room to plan multi-season trials or demonstrations if needed. Applications had to be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 8, 2020. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.912, and the program sits at the intersection of agriculture, natural resources, environmental work, and applied research and development.
Eligibility is broad, which is a major feature of this announcement. Any U.S.-based non-federal entity and individual can apply, and the only group explicitly excluded is federal agencies. That means producers, nonprofits, universities, local governments, tribes and tribal organizations (as applicable under eligibility rules), conservation districts, and private-sector partners can all be potential applicants, so long as they are not federal entities. The focus is not on purely academic research; the program is geared toward applied work that can show measurable outcomes and clear pathways to adoption.
NRCS frames CIG as a way to fund pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. The announcement defines on-farm conservation research in a very specific, practical way: it must address a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design, and it must be carried out with farm-scale equipment on working lands such as farms, ranches, or private forest lands. This emphasis signals that strong proposals should include credible evaluation methods, data collection plans, and field conditions that reflect real operational constraints, costs, and management decisions faced by producers.
The types of activities CIG supports fall into two big categories. First are efforts that develop, test, evaluate, demonstrate, or implement conservation technologies, practices, and systems. Second are approaches that encourage conservation adoption through incentives, including market-based tools and conservation finance ideas. Across both categories, the program is looking for innovations that can be verified in the field for effectiveness and usability, not just described on paper. Projects are expected to demonstrate and validate not only environmental performance, but also practical factors such as affordability, utility, and ease of use, because those are often the barriers that prevent otherwise good conservation ideas from spreading.
Several core expectations are repeatedly emphasized in the announcement. Proposed technologies or approaches should already be studied enough to indicate a high likelihood of success, meaning CIG is not meant for very early-stage concepts with no evidence behind them. Projects should also focus on adapting and transferring conservation methods or incentive systems so they perform better and are more likely to be adopted. Another eligible pathway is bringing a proven conservation approach into a new geographic area or agricultural sector where it is not currently used, essentially supporting responsible scaling and transfer when there is a clear case that the approach is new to that context.
The announcement also draws a line around what is not appropriate for CIG funding. If a technology or approach is already eligible for funding in the project area under an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract tied to an established NRCS conservation practice standard, it is generally ineligible for CIG. The main exception is when the applicant can clearly demonstrate innovation in how that practice is used, adapted, combined, evaluated, or delivered. In other words, CIG is meant to complement, not duplicate, standard NRCS cost-share pathways, and applicants need to explain what is truly new about their proposal in their specific region or sector.
All funded work must comply with applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations for the full project duration, which is standard for federal assistance but important for field-based trials that may involve water, soil, habitat, waste, pesticide use, or other regulated activities. NRCS also notes that California-specific priorities for FY 2020 are provided in the full announcement (referenced in the opportunity materials), so competitive applications would be expected to align their innovation topic and outcomes with those state priorities rather than proposing something unrelated to NRCS California needs.
For applicants looking for official guidance, the opportunity directs them to the full announcement in the related documents and encourages review of the California State CIG website for program details. The listed point of contact for questions is Erik Beardsley at Erik.Beardsley@usda.gov or (530) 792-5649. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS CA CIG 20 GEN0010745, and it is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service under a discretionary grant mechanism.Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 20 GEN0010745
- 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 (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – California" 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 2020-03-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-08. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program for FY 2020 in California?
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program for FY 2020 in California is a competitive grant opportunity that supports new, practical conservation ideas and helps move them from concept into real-world use. It is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that work alongside agricultural production.
What is the main purpose of this California CIG competition?
The main purpose is to fund projects that can prove conservation tools, systems, or incentive models in the field and then help move successful approaches into wider use. Wider use may include adoption by farmers and ranchers, inclusion in NRCS technical references and guidance, or uptake by the private sector.
Is this grant opportunity limited to California?
Yes. This is a California-only competition for FY 2020, with funding available statewide within California.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
Up to $750,000 total is available statewide in California for FY 2020 under this competition.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The maximum award size is $125,000 per project.
How long can projects run?
Projects may run from one to three years, which can support multi-season field trials or demonstrations when needed.
When was the application deadline?
Applications had to be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 8, 2020.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number referenced for this opportunity is 10.912.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Any U.S.-based non-federal entity and individuals can apply. The only group explicitly excluded is federal agencies. Potential applicants can include producers, nonprofits, universities, local governments, tribes and tribal organizations (as applicable under eligibility rules), conservation districts, and private-sector partners, as long as they are not federal entities.
Are federal agencies allowed to apply?
No. Federal agencies are explicitly excluded from eligibility under this opportunity.
Is this program intended to fund purely academic research?
No. The program is geared toward applied work that can show measurable outcomes and clear pathways to adoption, rather than purely academic research.
What kinds of projects does CIG fund?
NRCS frames CIG as a way to fund pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. Funded projects should validate innovations in real-world conditions and support adoption beyond the project itself.
What does NRCS mean by "on-farm conservation research" in this announcement?
On-farm conservation research must address a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design. It must be carried out with farm-scale equipment on working lands such as farms, ranches, or private forest lands.
What are the two main categories of supported activities?
The opportunity supports activities in two broad categories: (1) efforts that develop, test, evaluate, demonstrate, or implement conservation technologies, practices, and systems; and (2) approaches that encourage conservation adoption through incentives, including market-based tools and conservation finance ideas.
What does NRCS expect projects to demonstrate in the field?
Projects are expected to demonstrate and validate field-verified effectiveness and usability. This includes environmental performance as well as practical adoption factors such as affordability, utility, and ease of use.
Does CIG fund very early-stage concepts?
The announcement emphasizes that proposed technologies or approaches should already be studied enough to indicate a high likelihood of success. CIG is not intended for very early-stage concepts with no evidence behind them.
Can CIG fund projects that adapt or improve existing conservation methods?
Yes. A key emphasis is on adapting and transferring conservation methods or incentive systems so they perform better and are more likely to be adopted.
Can a project be eligible if it brings a proven approach to a new place or sector?
Yes. One eligible pathway is transferring a proven conservation approach into a new geographic area or agricultural sector where it is not currently used, supporting responsible scaling and transfer when the approach is new to that context.
Are there restrictions related to practices already funded under EQIP?
Yes. If a technology or approach is already eligible for funding in the project area under an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract tied to an established NRCS conservation practice standard, it is generally ineligible for CIG.
Is there any exception to the EQIP-related restriction?
Yes. The main exception is when the applicant can clearly demonstrate innovation in how the practice is used, adapted, combined, evaluated, or delivered. Applicants should explain what is truly new about their proposal in their specific region or sector.
What is the relationship between CIG and standard NRCS cost-share programs?
CIG is intended to complement, not duplicate, standard NRCS cost-share pathways. Proposals should clearly describe the innovative aspects that go beyond established approaches in the project area.
Do projects need to follow laws and regulations?
Yes. All funded work must comply with applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations for the full project duration. This is especially important for field-based trials that may involve regulated activities such as water, soil, habitat, waste, or pesticide-related work.
Are there California-specific priorities applicants should follow?
Yes. NRCS notes that California-specific priorities for FY 2020 are provided in the full announcement. Competitive applications would be expected to align their innovation topic and outcomes with those state priorities.
Where can applicants find the official announcement and additional details?
The opportunity directs applicants to the full announcement in the related documents and encourages review of the California State CIG website for program details.
Who is the point of contact for questions about this opportunity?
The listed point of contact is Erik Beardsley. Email: Erik.Beardsley@usda.gov. Phone: (530) 792-5649.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS CA CIG 20 GEN0010745.
Which agency administers this grant?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under a discretionary grant mechanism.
What fields or sectors does this program sit within?
The program sits at the intersection of agriculture, natural resources, environmental work, and applied research and development, with an emphasis on practical, field-validated outcomes.
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