# USDA Awards $65 Million Conservation Grants

On October 23, 2026, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced $65 million in FY2026 Conservation Innovation Grants for 34 projects: up to $50 million for 16 On-Farm Trials and up to $15 million for 18 Classic projects. The awards are already announced, not a new solicitation. The projects include work involving virtual fencing, agricultural sensors, and nitrogen decision-support tools, giving contractors and potential collaborators a view of funded conservation priorities and award recipients.

- Companies and organizations can review NRCS’s award list to identify recipients and assess opportunities to collaborate on funded projects.
- The funding is divided between On-Farm Trials and Classic projects; stakeholders can use those categories to focus outreach on relevant project teams and technologies.
- The selected project areas indicate demand for practical agricultural technologies that improve farm operations while conserving natural resources.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Environment
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 24, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

### Key Quotes
> Conservation Innovation Grants help turn innovative ideas into practical conservation solutions for America’s farmers and ranchers.
> — Colton L. Buckley, NRCS Chief

### Sources
- [USDA Announces $65 Million in Innovative Projects that Help Farmers Improve their Operations and Conserve Natural Resources | Natural Resources Conservation Service](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/conservation-innovation-grants/news/usda-announces-65-million-in-innovative) - USDA