Source: USDA, 4/21/21
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking
proposals through June 21 for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm
Trials). On-Farm Trials, part of the agency’s Conservation Innovation Grant
(CIG) program, feature collaboration between NRCS and partners to implement
on-the-ground conservation activities and then evaluate their impact. Incentive
payments are provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing
innovative approaches.This program harnesses the expertise, resources and capacity of
partner organizations nationwide to help NRCS boost natural resource
conservation on private lands and support climate smart agriculture. “USDA is a leader in using the latest science, research and conservation tools to reduce the impacts of climate change,” said Acting NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “We’re doing our part in helping America’s farmers and ranchers conserve the natural resources we all depend on, like clean air and water, while supporting the health and resiliency of their operations for the future. Conservation Innovations Grants are an important tool in the development of new and innovative technologies and systems to support agriculture and conservation.” A critical element of each On-Farm Trials project is the project
evaluation. Partners must propose robust scientific approaches for their
projects, resulting in data and analyses of the environmental, financial and,
to the extent possible, social impacts of the trials. NRCS will invest up to $25 million on On-Farm Trials in 2021. This
total includes up to $10 million for the Soil Health Demonstration Trials (SHD)
priority. The Soil Health Demonstration Trial (SHD) component of On-Farm Trials
focuses exclusively on implementation of conservation practices and systems
that improve soil health. NRCS is seeking proposals that address at least one of the
following four On-Farm Trial priorities:
- Climate-smart
agricultural solutions
- Soil health
demonstration trial
- Irrigation water
management
- Management
technologies and strategies
NRCS will accept proposals from the following eligible entities:
- Private entities
whose primary business is related to agriculture
- Non-government
organizations with experience working with agricultural producers
- Non-federal
government agencies
NRCS encourages proposal submissions from historically underserved
entities and encourages all applicants to meaningfully include historically underserved
producers in their On-Farm Trials proposal submissions. Historically
underserved producers include those who identify as one or more of the
following: American Indian, Alaskan native, Asian American, Black/ African
American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latino. It also includes producers who
are military veterans, low income or have farmed for 10 years or less.
Proposals that include the meaningful participation of these producers receive
priority consideration through the evaluation criteria. In the past two years, NRCS has invested $50 million in 30 On-Farm
Trials projects. The On-Farm Trials component is distinct from the national CIG
Classic competitive grants funding, which is used to support early pilot
projects or demonstrations of promising conservation approaches and
technologies. This year, NRCS will invest $15 million in the national CIG
Classic competition, and more details will be announced in coming weeks. More Information Visit the grants.gov website and view the On-Farms Trials funding announcement
. For more information on CIG On-Farm
Trials, please visit the On-Farm Trials webpage. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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