By U.S. Department Of Agriculture on Friday, June 5, 2026 Courtesy of USDA The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $65 million in funding this year for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.

CIG is supported by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), which increased funding for farm bill conservation programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which funds CIG.

The WFTCA strengthens the ability of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support farmers, ranchers, and partners in tackling conservation challenges at the landscape scale."America's strength is rooted in the hands that work the land. With the announcement of new NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants, we're investing in the farmers, ranchers, and private landowners who keep our soil healthy, our water clean, and our nation strong," said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley.