Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NY CIG 20 GEN0010792
The NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for Federal fiscal year 2020 in New York is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Its central aim is to spur the development, testing, and real-world adoption of new and improved conservation practices and technologies that work alongside agricultural production rather than apart from it. In practice, this means the program is looking for projects that move beyond ideas on paper and into approaches that farmers and other land managers can actually use, replicate, and scale.
A key expectation of the New York FY 2020 CIG competition is that funded projects will result in conservation innovations that can be transferred and taken up broadly. NRCS emphasizes outcomes like getting new conservation technologies and management systems into the hands of agricultural producers, incorporating proven approaches into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or otherwise pushing viable solutions into the private sector where they can be sustained and expanded. The program is designed to act as an accelerant for conservation innovation: it supports early-stage adoption and proof-of-concept work that demonstrates performance and practicality under working conditions, with the intention that successful results will continue beyond the grant period.
CIG typically supports pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. Pilot projects generally focus on testing a new practice or system in a limited but realistic setting to determine feasibility and refine implementation details. Field demonstrations are geared toward showing how a practice works in the field, often with a strong outreach or adoption component so other producers and partners can see results and learn how to implement the approach. On-farm conservation research, as defined in the opportunity, is an applied investigation meant to answer a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design. Importantly, it must be conducted at a farm scale, using farm-scale equipment, and take place on farms, ranches, or private forest lands. This definition signals that NRCS is seeking research that is rigorous enough to generate credible findings, but grounded in real operating conditions rather than small-plot or purely lab-based work.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as "NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 - New York" with the funding opportunity number USDA NRCS NY CIG 20 GEN0010792. It is categorized as a grant (funding instrument type: Grant) and falls within the funding activity areas of Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources. The program is associated with CFDA number 10.912, which is the federal assistance listing tied to NRCS conservation innovation funding.
The announcement was created on April 2, 2020, and the original application closing date was July 3, 2020, giving applicants a defined window to prepare and submit proposals. The maximum award size (award ceiling) for this New York competition is $250,000, and NRCS expected to make approximately 3 awards. Taken together, those figures suggest a relatively competitive state-level funding round with a small number of awards and a moderate cap per project, favoring proposals that are well-defined, demonstrate innovation, and show a clear path to adoption and technology transfer.
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section not included in the excerpt. In many NRCS CIG competitions, this category often encompasses a range of non-federal entities such as nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, state and local governments, tribes, and sometimes private entities, but the exact eligible applicant types and any restrictions would need to be confirmed in the full notice text referenced by the announcement.
Overall, this New York FY 2020 CIG opportunity is best understood as targeted support for conservation innovation that is ready for field testing, demonstration, or farm-scale applied research, with a strong emphasis on practical transfer of the results into producer use, NRCS technical guidance, or broader market adoption.Apply for USDA NRCS NY CIG 20 GEN0010792
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – New York" 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 Apr 02, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 03, 2020. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for FY 2020 in New York?
The NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for Federal fiscal year 2020 in New York is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It funds projects intended to develop, test, and support real-world adoption of new or improved conservation practices and technologies that work alongside agricultural production.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The central aim is to spur conservation innovation that goes beyond concept-stage ideas and moves into practical approaches that farmers and other land managers can use. A strong emphasis is placed on projects that can be replicated and scaled, and that lead to broader adoption or integration into NRCS guidance or the private sector.
What kinds of outcomes does NRCS expect from funded projects?
NRCS emphasizes outcomes tied to transfer and broad uptake of innovations. Examples described in the opportunity include getting new conservation technologies and management systems into the hands of agricultural producers, incorporating proven approaches into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or otherwise moving viable solutions into the private sector so they can be sustained and expanded after the grant period.
What types of projects does CIG typically support?
The opportunity describes three common project types supported by CIG: pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. These formats are geared toward proof-of-concept testing, real-world demonstration, and farm-scale applied research under working conditions.
What is meant by a pilot project under this opportunity?
Pilot projects generally test a new conservation practice or system in a limited but realistic setting. The purpose is to determine feasibility and refine implementation details before broader adoption.
What is meant by a field demonstration?
Field demonstrations focus on showing how a conservation practice works in real field conditions. The opportunity notes that these projects often include a strong outreach or adoption component so other producers and partners can see results and learn how to implement the approach.
What is "on-farm conservation research" as defined in this opportunity?
On-farm conservation research is described as an applied investigation designed to answer a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design. It must be conducted at a farm scale, using farm-scale equipment, and take place on farms, ranches, or private forest lands. The intent is to produce credible findings grounded in real operating conditions rather than small-plot or purely lab-based research.
Does this program fund projects that are only theoretical or paper-based?
The opportunity emphasizes moving beyond ideas on paper. It is oriented toward approaches that can be tested, demonstrated, and adopted under working conditions, with results that can be transferred and taken up broadly.
How does NRCS describe the role of CIG in conservation innovation?
The program is presented as an accelerant for conservation innovation. It supports early-stage adoption and proof-of-concept work that demonstrates performance and practicality, with the expectation that successful results will continue beyond the grant period.
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The opportunity is identified as "NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 - New York" with the funding opportunity number USDA NRCS NY CIG 20 GEN0010792.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
What funding activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is associated with the activity areas of Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.912, which is the federal assistance listing tied to NRCS conservation innovation funding.
When was this announcement created?
The announcement was created on April 2, 2020.
What was the application closing date for this opportunity?
The original application closing date was July 3, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount for this New York FY 2020 competition?
The award ceiling (maximum award size) is $250,000.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expected to make approximately 3 awards for this New York competition.
What does the combination of the award ceiling and expected number of awards suggest about competitiveness?
With a maximum of $250,000 per award and an expectation of about 3 awards, the opportunity appears to be a relatively competitive state-level funding round. The description suggests an emphasis on well-defined proposals that demonstrate innovation and a clear path to adoption and technology transfer.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section that is not included in the provided excerpt. The excerpt notes that many NRCS CIG competitions often include a range of non-federal entities (such as nonprofits, academic institutions, state and local governments, tribes, and sometimes private entities), but the exact eligible applicant types and restrictions must be confirmed in the full notice referenced by the announcement.
Is this opportunity focused on New York specifically?
Yes. The opportunity is specifically described as the FY 2020 CIG competition for New York.
What is meant by "transferable" innovations in this opportunity?
The opportunity highlights that funded projects should produce innovations that can be transferred and taken up broadly. This includes a focus on adoption by agricultural producers, potential incorporation into NRCS technical materials, or movement into the private sector to support sustained expansion.
Does the opportunity emphasize long-term continuation after the grant period?
Yes. The description states that CIG is intended to support early proof-of-concept and early adoption work, with the intention that successful results and practices will continue beyond the grant period.
What kinds of lands can be used for on-farm conservation research projects?
As defined in the opportunity, on-farm conservation research must take place on farms, ranches, or private forest lands.
Does on-farm conservation research need to use specific methods?
Yes. The opportunity specifies that on-farm conservation research must use a statistically valid design and be conducted at farm scale with farm-scale equipment.
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| NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Rhode Island Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 20 GEN0010772 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 20 GEN0010772 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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| NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 - KANSAS Apply for USDA NRCS KS CIG 20 NOFO0001006 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KS CIG 20 NOFO0001006 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 – Montana Apply for USDA NRCS MT CIG 20 NOFO0001024 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MT CIG 20 NOFO0001024 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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