USDA opens signup for new on-farm trials

Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting proposals through July 15, 2019, for on-farm trials, a new sub-program created by the 2018 Farm Bill for the USDA’s conservation innovation grants program. Trials include a soil health demo trial, also created by the 2018 Farm Bill.

USDA is investing up to $25 million per year over the next five years to help support the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches on agricultural lands.

“Our conservation innovation grants program is time-tested, highly successful and has led to tremendous discoveries and enhancements in conservation over the years,” NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr said. “The addition of on-farm trials and the soil health demo trial provide us with expanded opportunities to work with partners to encourage the adoption of innovative conservation approaches that, for any number of reasons, have yet to be widely adopted by agricultural producers.”

NRCS is now accepting proposals from private entities whose primary business is related to agriculture, organizations with experience working with agricultural producers, and non-federal government agencies.

On-farm trials funding goes directly to partners, which in turn provide technical assistance and incentive payments to producers to implement new approaches on their lands. Producers receiving payments must be eligible to participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).