United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Montana Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content

NRCS Offers Grants to Help Farmers, Ranchers Adapt to Drought

August 20, 2012

For More Information:
Tim Ouellette, 406-587-6794

Bozeman, MT -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making $5 million in grants available to evaluate and demonstrate agricultural practices that help farmers and ranchers adapt to drought. NRCS is taking applications for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to help producers build resiliency into their production systems so they can adapt to climatic extremes, such as the historic drought impacting the nation.

NRCS is offering the grants to partnering entities to evaluate innovative, field-based conservation technologies and approaches. These technologies and/or approaches should lead to improvements such as enhancing the water-holding capacity in soils and installing drought-tolerant grazing systems, which will help farms and ranches become more resilient to drought.

Grant applications are due Oct. 15, 2012. Private individuals, tribes, local and state governments and non-governmental organizations can apply. Funds will be awarded through a competitive grants process for projects lasting for one to three years. Apply electronically at www.grants.gov/ or contact the NRCS National CIG office at (703) 235-8065.

NRCS is especially interested in projects that demonstrate:

  • Cropping or grazing systems that increase resiliency to drought through improved soil health;
  • Increases in available soil water holding capacity by enhancing organic matter with reduced tillage, cover crops and organic amendments;
  • Improvements in water use efficiency for agricultural production;
  • Coordination with NRCS Plant Material Centers in using drought resistant plants and practices;
  • Recommendations for appropriate nutrient management following an extended drought;
  • Analysis on a regional basis of how agricultural production and conservation systems faired during drought conditions;
  • Agricultural approaches that flourished in low-precipitation areas;
  • Traditional/historical production practices that have proven effective in dealing with drought;
  • Alternative feeding systems for confined animal operations that incorporate novel drought-tolerant feedstocks;
  • Alternative housing or cooling systems for improved energy efficiency and better climate control in confined animal operations; and
  • Technologies that reduce water use in confined animal operations.

View the complete Announcement of Program Funding at www.grants.gov/ or www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/. 

--end--

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."