Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS ND CIG 17 01
The North Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Fiscal Year 2017 opportunity is a discretionary grant program meant to speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices in agriculture. Its core goal is to help farmers, ranchers, and conservation partners adopt approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes (like soil, water, and habitat) while still supporting productive agriculture. The program is designed to stretch the impact of federal conservation dollars by encouraging projects that bring together public and private partners, share tools and expertise, and move practical conservation solutions into broader use across North Dakota.
A key point is that CIG is focused on implementation and demonstration rather than basic research. Funded projects are expected to take conservation methods that have already shown promise and apply them in ways that increase adoption, especially where there is clear potential to scale. Typical project types include on-the-ground pilot efforts and field demonstrations that show how a practice works under real farming conditions, what it costs, what benefits it produces, and how it can be replicated by others. The program also supports the transfer of successful conservation technologies and management systems into USDA NRCS technical manuals and guidance, or into the private sector so they can be widely offered and used. Innovative approaches can include not only equipment or agronomic practices, but also management systems and market-based tools that encourage conservation outcomes.
Research is generally not funded under this opportunity, with one important exception: on-farm conservation research. This is narrowly defined as a study that answers a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design on actual farm fields, using farm-scale equipment. In practice, that means projects need appropriate replication and sound statistical analysis, and they must be tied directly to improved natural resource management alongside agricultural production. When NRCS supports research through CIG, it is because the research is tightly connected to implementing or proving out an innovative, practical approach that can be adopted by producers and conservation partners.
Projects may be single-year or multi-year, but the maximum project period is three years. This funding round is specific to applicants from North Dakota. Eligible applicants are broad and include federally recognized tribal governments, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, individuals, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses). The program is listed under CFDA 10.912, and the funding instrument is a grant.
From a funding perspective, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $75,000 and an expectation of about two awards. The opportunity was posted January 12, 2017, with an original closing date of March 14, 2017. While the listing identifies the agency as the Department of Agriculture (with a reference to a state office in the source data), the program itself is administered through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and, for this competition, the North Dakota NRCS process and leadership.
The selection process is structured and competitive. Submitted proposals are first screened to confirm they are complete and compliant with the notice requirements; incomplete or noncompliant applications are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Proposals that pass screening are scored by a technical peer review panel using evaluation criteria described in the full announcement. After technical review, proposals and reviews move to the North Dakota Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The State Conservationist makes the final funding selections. Overall, the opportunity is best suited for applicants who can clearly show an innovative but proven conservation idea, demonstrate it in practical North Dakota conditions, document measurable resource benefits, and lay out a credible plan for adoption and transfer beyond the life of the grant.Apply for USDA NRCS ND CIG 17 01
- The Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "North Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year 2017" 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 Jan 12, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 2017. (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 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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North Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2017 - FAQs
What is the North Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2017 opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant program intended to speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices in agriculture across North Dakota. The emphasis is on moving promising, practical conservation solutions into broader use through implementation and demonstration.
What is the main goal of this CIG opportunity?
The core goal is to help farmers, ranchers, and conservation partners adopt approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes (such as soil, water, and habitat) while still supporting productive agriculture.
Is this program focused on research or on implementation?
The program is focused on implementation and demonstration rather than basic research. Funded projects are expected to apply conservation methods that have already shown promise and increase adoption, especially when there is clear potential to scale.
Does this opportunity fund any kind of research at all?
Research is generally not funded, with one exception: on-farm conservation research. This is narrowly defined and must be conducted on actual farm fields using farm-scale equipment with a statistically valid design, appropriate replication, and sound statistical analysis.
What does "on-farm conservation research" mean under this opportunity?
It means a study that answers a specific conservation question using a statistically valid design on real farm fields, using farm-scale equipment. The work must be directly tied to improved natural resource management alongside agricultural production.
What kinds of projects are typically supported?
Typical projects include on-the-ground pilot efforts and field demonstrations that show how a practice works under real farming conditions, what it costs, what benefits it produces, and how it can be replicated by others.
What types of innovation are eligible under CIG?
Innovation can include equipment, agronomic practices, management systems, and market-based tools that encourage conservation outcomes, as long as the project is geared toward practical demonstration, adoption, and transfer into broader use.
How does CIG "stretch" federal conservation dollars?
The opportunity is designed to increase the impact of federal conservation funds by encouraging projects that bring together public and private partners, share tools and expertise, and help move practical conservation solutions into wider use across North Dakota.
How long can a project last?
Projects may be single-year or multi-year, but the maximum project period is three years.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, individuals, and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses).
Is this opportunity limited to North Dakota applicants?
Yes. This funding round is specific to applicants from North Dakota.
Which federal program listing covers this opportunity?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.912.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The announcement lists an award ceiling of $75,000.
How many awards are expected?
The announcement indicates an expectation of about two awards.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on January 12, 2017, with an original closing date of March 14, 2017.
Which agency administers the program?
While the listing identifies the agency as the Department of Agriculture, the program is administered through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and, for this competition, through the North Dakota NRCS process and leadership.
What happens first after an application is submitted?
Proposals are screened to confirm they are complete and compliant with the notice requirements. Incomplete or noncompliant applications are removed from consideration and applicants are notified.
How are proposals evaluated after the initial screening?
Proposals that pass screening are scored by a technical peer review panel using evaluation criteria described in the full announcement.
What role does the North Dakota Review Board play?
After technical review, proposals and reviews move to the North Dakota Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist.
Who makes the final funding decisions?
The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final funding selections.
What makes an application a strong fit for this opportunity?
The opportunity is best suited for applicants who can clearly present an innovative but proven conservation idea, demonstrate it in practical North Dakota conditions, document measurable resource benefits, and provide a credible plan for adoption and transfer beyond the life of the grant.
What does "transfer" mean in the context of this CIG opportunity?
The program supports transferring successful conservation technologies and management systems into USDA NRCS technical manuals and guidance, or into the private sector so they can be widely offered and used.
What kinds of outcomes does NRCS expect projects to document?
Projects are expected to document measurable natural resource benefits (for example, improvements related to soil, water, and habitat) while maintaining productive agriculture, and to show practical considerations such as costs and replicability.
Are partnerships encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity encourages projects that bring together public and private partners and share tools and expertise to help move workable conservation solutions into broader use across North Dakota.
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| Regional Conservation Partnership Program Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 18 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 18 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Kansas Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS KS CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KS CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Washington State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Iowa Conservation Collaboration Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS ID CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ID CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS PR CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PR CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS NM CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NM CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| New Hampshire Conservation Innovation Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS NH CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Virginia Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VA CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS-NHQ Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| MI Conservation Innovation Grants for Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS MI 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MI 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS-NHQ Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| South Carolina Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SC CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Colorado Conservation Innovation Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS CO CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CO CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Pennsylvania Cheseapeake Bay Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS PABAY CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PABAY CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| California Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Mississippi Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Apply for USDA NRCS MS CTA 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MS CTA 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Mississippi ACEP-WRP-EWP Apply for USDA NRCS MS ACEP 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MS ACEP 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Oregon Conservation Innovation Grants - Forest Stand Resiliency Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 17 02 Funding Number: USDA NRCS OR CIG 17 02 Agency: Department of Agriculture, NRCS Oregon Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Inventory and Monitoring Changes In Vegetative Communities on Flood Irrigated Wet Meadows Apply for F17AS00244 Funding Number: F17AS00244 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $65,000 |
| Assistance with the organization and function of the Pike River - Lake Carmi and Rock River Watersheds Planning Groups (VT) Apply for USDA NRCS VT CTA EQIP 03 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT CTA EQIP 03 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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