USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for grants until July 1, 2019, to fund Montana projects that could stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) generally fund pilot projects, field demonstrations and on-farm conservation research.

Tom Watson, NRCS state conservationist for Montana, said $225,000 is available for the state-component CIG this year. He said applicants can request up to $75,000 for projects lasting one to three years.

Watson said projects should address one or more of the three resource concerns identified for this program:  soil health, water quality and quantity, and range health. All projects need to result in technology or methods that can be used to augment agency technical guidance; be designed with an understanding of NRCS practice standards, pertinent assessment tools, and planning criteria. Information about CIG and the application process is available online at grants.gov.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the grants.gov website by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on July 1, 2019. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to [email protected].

Source: NRCS Press Release