THE FOLLOWING IS A NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE RELEASE
(Washington, D.C., Oct. 28, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $65 million in 34 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects, which support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.
Conservation Innovation Grants are 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.
“Conservation Innovation Grants help turn innovative ideas into practical conservation solutions for America’s farmers and ranchers,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “By investing in these new technologies, NRCS is leveraging partners to develop new tools, technologies and strategies that support next generation conservation efforts to keep working lands in working hands for generations to come. These grants will lay the foundation to help producers improve their operations, conserve natural resources, and strengthen the future of American agriculture.”
NRCS is awarding up to $50 million for 16 CIG On-Farm Trials projects and up to $15 million for 18 CIG Classic projects. 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. 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.
One awarded CIG project in Idaho uses an innovative virtual fencing system that relies on locally deployed radio beacons rather than GPS to support small- and mid-sized livestock operations, which will examine how technology improves strategic herd and flock management and whether it offers producers more precise control over grazing patterns.
One awarded CIG project in Illinois will use field experiments, sensors, weather data, and other field data to develop a “decision tool” to help farmers determine when and where to apply nitrogen to increase profitability, reduce waste and improve soil health. A list of the Illinois-related projects is located below:
Partner: Aquatic Agriculture, Inc. Lead State: Illinois Project States: Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Iowa Amount Awarded: $1,984,174 Project Title: Optimization and Field Validation of an Innovative Precision Nutrient Recovery System to Improve Water Quality While Maintaining Agricultural Productivity
Partner: University of Illinois Lead State: Illinois Project States: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington Amount Awarded: $4,899,276 Project Title: Using On-farm Precision Experimentation to Increase Farmer Profits, Reduce Crop Nutrient Loss, and Enhance Soil Health
Partner: The American Farmland Trust Lead State: District of Columbia Project States: Arizona, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin Amount Awarded: $4,999,980 Project Title: Scaling Soil Health Management Systems: A National Demonstration Network Integrating Biochar and Complementary Practices Toward a Profitable and Resilient Agriculture
Partner: Field to Market Lead State: District of Columbia Project States: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Wisconsin Amount Awarded: $503,269 Project Title: Innovative Field-Level Water Quality Estimates and Practice Comparison for Farmers, Delivered at Regional and National Scale A full list of CIG project grants is available on the CIG website.
Since 2004, NRCS has invested $594 million to fund 957 innovative projects and 480 partners through CIG. For more information visit the CIG website.
More Information
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, technical advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.
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