Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 18 01
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced a Virginia-specific Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding opportunity for federal fiscal year 2018 to encourage new and creative conservation solutions that can be used alongside working agricultural operations. The program is meant to push forward practical, on-the-ground innovations that help producers conserve natural resources while maintaining or improving agricultural production. In general, the emphasis is on ideas that can be tested, proven, and then moved into broader use, either by being incorporated into NRCS technical references (like manuals and guides) or by being adopted and carried forward through private-sector channels.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS VA CIG 18 01) is a discretionary grant program in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, and science/technology research and development space (CFDA 10.912). It supports projects that take innovative conservation approaches and turn them into real-world applications, especially through pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. The announcement highlights that on-farm conservation research has a specific meaning here: it is applied research designed to answer a focused conservation question using a statistically valid study design, carried out with farm-scale equipment on actual farms, ranches, or private forest lands. That detail signals that NRCS is looking for work that is rigorous enough to be credible, but still grounded in day-to-day production conditions rather than lab-only experimentation.
Funding for Virginia under this FY 2018 announcement totals up to $450,000, with an award ceiling of $75,000 per project. NRCS anticipated making about six awards, which implies a competitive process with limited slots and a need for strong, clearly defined proposals. Project periods can range from one to three years, allowing applicants to propose shorter demonstrations or multi-season efforts where results depend on timing, field conditions, or repeated measurement.
Eligibility is broad as long as the applicant is not a federal agency. NRCS invited applications from non-federal entities and individuals, including county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), individuals, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. This wide eligibility reflects the program's practical focus: innovations can come from many places, such as local governments managing conservation priorities, nonprofit conservation groups partnering with producers, private companies piloting new tools or systems, or individual practitioners testing new management approaches.
The timeline for this specific announcement shows it was created on February 12, 2018, with an original application closing date of April 6, 2018. Overall, the program is designed to move beyond theory and into adoption by agricultural producers, with funding aimed at proving conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (including market-based ideas) that can scale into standard practice across Virginia and beyond.Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 18 01
- The Department of Agriculture, 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) 2018 - Virginia" 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 Feb 12, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 06, 2018. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Virginia-specific USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding opportunity for federal fiscal year (FY) 2018. It is designed to encourage new and creative conservation solutions that can be used alongside working agricultural operations.
What is the main goal of the Virginia CIG program?
The goal is to advance practical, on-the-ground conservation innovations that help agricultural producers conserve natural resources while maintaining or improving agricultural production. Projects are intended to move beyond theory into approaches that can be tested, proven, and then adopted more broadly.
What kinds of projects does this grant support?
The opportunity supports projects that take innovative conservation approaches and turn them into real-world applications. Examples of supported formats mentioned in the announcement include pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research.
What does NRCS mean by "on-farm conservation research" in this announcement?
In this opportunity, on-farm conservation research is applied research that answers a focused conservation question using a statistically valid study design. It must be carried out with farm-scale equipment on actual farms, ranches, or private forest lands, emphasizing rigor while staying grounded in real production conditions.
How much total funding is available for Virginia under this FY 2018 announcement?
NRCS made up to $450,000 available in total for Virginia under this FY 2018 announcement.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling is $75,000 per project.
About how many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS anticipated making about six awards.
How long can a project last?
Project periods can range from one to three years.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. The announcement indicates NRCS anticipated making about six awards under a limited pool of funding, which implies a competitive selection process.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NRCS VA CIG 18 01.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.912.
What type of grant program is this?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, and science/technology research and development area.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad as long as the applicant is not a federal agency. NRCS invited applications from non-federal entities and individuals.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. The announcement specifies that applicants must not be a federal agency.
Which government entities are eligible to apply?
Eligible government-related applicants listed include county governments, city or township governments, independent school districts, and federally recognized tribal governments.
Are tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement lists federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations among eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status may apply, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible as nonprofits under this announcement?
No. The announcement states that nonprofits are eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Can an individual apply?
Yes. Individuals are included among the eligible applicant categories.
Can for-profit companies apply?
Yes, for-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible applicant types in the announcement.
What is the program trying to achieve beyond completing the project?
The emphasis is on innovations that can be tested and proven, then moved into broader use. The announcement notes that successful ideas may be incorporated into NRCS technical references (such as manuals and guides) or adopted and carried forward through private-sector channels.
Does the program focus on real farm conditions or lab research?
The program emphasizes on-the-ground application. In particular, on-farm conservation research is defined as being conducted on actual farms, ranches, or private forest lands using farm-scale equipment, rather than relying only on laboratory settings.
Are market-based approaches allowed?
Yes. The announcement states that innovative approaches may include market-based ideas.
When was this opportunity created?
The timeline provided indicates the announcement was created on February 12, 2018.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date listed is April 6, 2018.
Is this opportunity specific to Virginia?
Yes. The announcement is described as a Virginia-specific CIG funding opportunity.
What kinds of conservation solutions is NRCS looking for?
NRCS is looking for practical conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches that can be demonstrated or tested in the field and then scaled into broader use by producers in Virginia and beyond.
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