The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds those interested the availability of $65 million through two funding opportunities to further natural resource conservation on private lands. It’s through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, but the deadline for applications is October 30, 2023.
NRCS is being directed to prioritize CIG On-Farm Trials projects that use diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, as well as other projects that have climate mitigation benefits.
Two separate CIG funding opportunities are available on grants.gov: $50 million through CIG On-Farm Trials and $15 million is available through CIG Classic.
For CIG On-Farm Trials, this year’s funding priorities are:
- Irrigation water management technologies
- Nutrient management
- Feeding management and enteric methane reduction
- Grazing lands
- Soil health demonstration trials
For CIG Classic, this year’s funding priorities are:
- Forestry
- Habitat conservation and restoration for wildlife and invertebrates
- Managing agricultural lands to improve local water quality
- Energy conservation
- Economics
- Strengthening conservation through indigenous knowledge
Strong consideration will be given to proposals that include historically underserved entities and individuals.??