On-farm conservation and soil health test project applications due May 11
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting proposals through Monday, May 11, for on-farm conservation innovation trials, now in their second year.
On-farm trials, part of the agency’s Conservation Innovation Grant program, help support the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches on agricultural land.
“NRCS has achieved tremendous success seeking innovative technologies and approaches to enhance conservation for agricultural producers and forest landowners for nearly 20 years,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. “The 2018 Farm Bill enhanced CIG by strengthening its demonstration component, allowing the agency to work with producers and partners to discover new conservation approaches and tools or enhance existing ones.”
NRCS will invest up to $25 million in on-farm trials in 2020. This total includes up to $10 million for the Soil Health Demonstration Trials priority.
On-farm trials funding is designed to offer, through partners, technical and financial assistance to producers to help compensate for any risks associated with implementation of new conservation practices, systems and approaches. In addition, the trials require evaluation of the innovative conservation practices, systems and approaches at the farm level, including environmental, financial and social (to the extent possible) impacts of carrying them out.
For more information, go to www.grants.gov.
