Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NM 11 01
Apply for USDA NRCS NM 11 01
- The New Mexico State Office in the agriculture natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2011 New Mexico CIG Program Funding Announcement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 16, 2011 and posted on Feb 16, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 22, 2011. (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.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Individuals City or township governments County governments.
- CIG applicants must be a Federally recognized Indian tribe, State or local unit of government, non governmental organization, or individual.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2011 New Mexico Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program Funding Announcement is a discretionary grant opportunity offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New Mexico State Office under CFDA 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). CIG is authorized under Section 2509 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), codified at 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8. While EQIP and CIG sit under NRCS program authority, funding is administered through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), with the Secretary of Agriculture delegating administration to the NRCS Chief.
The central goal of CIG is to accelerate real-world, on-the-ground adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes alongside agricultural production. In practice, the program is designed to help move conservation solutions from being "promising and proven" into being more widely used, including eventual incorporation into NRCS guidance such as policy, technical manuals, handbooks, and references, or broader uptake by the private sector. A key point of this announcement is that CIG is not a research grant. Projects should not be basic or exploratory research; instead, they should apply conservation technologies and approaches that have already been tested enough to show they work and have a high likelihood of success. The emphasis is on demonstration, field validation, refinement for practical use, and adoption at scale.
The types of projects CIG seeks are described as innovative conservation projects or activities that include development, field testing, evaluation, implementation, and monitoring. Innovation here is tied to application and adoption: proposals may focus on new conservation adoption approaches or incentive systems (including market-based incentives), or on promising conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, or management approaches. Regardless of the pathway, proposals must be environmentally sound and oriented toward environmental protection and natural resource enhancement. Priority is given to projects that rely on proven or well-studied technologies, produce credible field-based verification of environmental effectiveness across resource concerns (such as soil, water, air, plants, energy use, and animal-related outcomes), and show that the approach is practical in terms of utility, affordability, and usability. NRCS also highlights interest in adapting or transferring conservation systems from other regions or agricultural sectors, improving performance to encourage adoption, and demonstrating that knowledge and results are transferable beyond a single site.
For New Mexico specifically in FY 2011, proposals must show benefits in at least one of the state-identified priority categories. These include energy; productivity and environmental health of pastureland or rangeland; productivity and environmental health of forestland; promotion of sustainable agriculture; soil quality; nutrient management; pest management; air quality and atmospheric resources; sustainable and organic agriculture; and pollinator habitat. In other words, even if a project is innovative and field-ready, it still needs to connect clearly to one or more of these New Mexico priorities to be competitive within this state component competition.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes, state governments, local governments (including county and city/township governments), non-governmental organizations, and individuals. NRCS will accept applications for single-year or multi-year projects, with a maximum project period of three years. Applications are reviewed using evaluation criteria provided in the application instructions, and NRCS uses a team review process; final selections are made by the State Conservationist, which underscores that awards are competitive and decision-making is ultimately made at the state level within NRCS.
The funding details in the announcement indicate an award ceiling of $75,000, and cost-sharing or matching is required. The opportunity was posted February 16, 2011, with an application closing date of April 22, 2011 (and archived May 22, 2011). For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement or navigating the opportunity, the listed point of contact is Seth Fiedler, CIG Program Manager at the NRCS New Mexico State Office (505-761-4416; seth.fiedler@nm.usda.gov).
FY 2011 New Mexico Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the FY 2011 New Mexico Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program Funding Announcement, a discretionary grant opportunity offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) New Mexico State Office under CFDA 10.912 (Environmental Quality Incentives Program, EQIP).
Which federal program authority is this opportunity associated with?
CIG is offered under NRCS program authority and is tied to EQIP (CFDA 10.912). Although it sits under NRCS authority, funding is administered through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), with administration delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture to the NRCS Chief.
What law authorizes the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program?
CIG is authorized under Section 2509 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), codified at 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8.
What is the main purpose of CIG?
The central goal of CIG is to accelerate real-world, on-the-ground adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes alongside agricultural production. The intent is to help move conservation solutions from "promising and proven" into wider use, including possible incorporation into NRCS guidance (such as policy, technical manuals, handbooks, and references) or broader uptake by the private sector.
Is CIG a research grant?
No. A key point of this announcement is that CIG is not a research grant. Projects should not be basic or exploratory research. Instead, proposals should apply conservation technologies and approaches that have already been tested enough to show they work and have a high likelihood of success.
What kind of work does NRCS expect CIG projects to do if not basic research?
The emphasis is on demonstration, field validation, refinement for practical use, and adoption at scale. CIG seeks innovative conservation projects or activities that can include development, field testing, evaluation, implementation, and monitoring.
What does "innovation" mean in this CIG announcement?
In this context, innovation is tied to application and adoption. Proposals may focus on new conservation adoption approaches or incentive systems (including market-based incentives), or on promising conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, or management approaches that are environmentally sound and oriented toward environmental protection and natural resource enhancement.
What types of benefits or outcomes does NRCS prioritize for CIG projects?
Priority is given to projects that rely on proven or well-studied technologies, produce credible field-based verification of environmental effectiveness across resource concerns (such as soil, water, air, plants, energy use, and animal-related outcomes), and show the approach is practical in terms of utility, affordability, and usability.
Does NRCS encourage adapting conservation systems from other places or sectors?
Yes. NRCS highlights interest in adapting or transferring conservation systems from other regions or agricultural sectors, improving performance to encourage adoption, and demonstrating that knowledge and results are transferable beyond a single site.
Do proposals need to align with New Mexico priorities to be competitive in this state competition?
Yes. For New Mexico specifically in FY 2011, proposals must show benefits in at least one of the state-identified priority categories to be competitive within the New Mexico component competition.
What are the New Mexico priority categories listed in the announcement?
The announcement lists the following New Mexico priority categories: energy; productivity and environmental health of pastureland or rangeland; productivity and environmental health of forestland; promotion of sustainable agriculture; soil quality; nutrient management; pest management; air quality and atmospheric resources; sustainable and organic agriculture; and pollinator habitat.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes, state governments, local governments (including county and city/township governments), non-governmental organizations, and individuals.
Are multi-year projects allowed?
Yes. NRCS will accept applications for single-year or multi-year projects.
What is the maximum project period?
The maximum project period is three years.
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the announcement is $75,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement states that cost-sharing or matching is required.
How are applications reviewed and selected?
Applications are reviewed using evaluation criteria provided in the application instructions. NRCS uses a team review process, and final selections are made by the State Conservationist.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on February 16, 2011. The application closing date was April 22, 2011. It was archived on May 22, 2011.
Who can I contact for help with the announcement or application questions?
The listed point of contact is Seth Fiedler, CIG Program Manager at the NRCS New Mexico State Office. Phone: 505-761-4416. Email: seth.fiedler@nm.usda.gov.
What resource concerns does NRCS mention when describing environmental effectiveness?
The announcement references field-based verification of environmental effectiveness across resource concerns such as soil, water, air, plants, energy use, and animal-related outcomes.
What kinds of project characteristics help show an approach is ready for adoption?
Based on the announcement, strong projects tend to focus on proven or well-studied technologies or approaches, generate credible field-based verification of results, and demonstrate practical utility, affordability, and usability, with knowledge and results that can transfer beyond a single site.
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