The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced plans to invest $65 million in Conservation Innovation Grants, with several of the selected projects involving Illinois, according to a release from the Illinois NRCS Public Affairs office.
The release is an Illinois-specific update to a national announcement shared with national media outlets, the agency said.
What the grants fund
According to the NRCS, Conservation Innovation Grants support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. The program's stated goal is to address water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges while improving agricultural operations.
USDA announced in October 2026 its plans to invest $65 million in 34 Conservation Innovation Grants projects, according to the agency's website. The agency says it is awarding up to $50 million for 16 CIG On-Farm Trials projects and up to $15 million for 18 CIG Classic projects.
Illinois projects
According to the NRCS awards page, one CIG Classic project led by Aquatic Agriculture, Inc. — with Illinois as the lead state — was awarded $1,984,174. The project is titled "Optimization and Field Validation of an Innovative Precision Nutrient Recovery System to Improve Water Quality While Maintaining Agricultural Productivity," and focuses on reuse options for nutrient-laden livestock lagoon slurry.
A second project led by Field to Market, with Illinois among its project states, was awarded $503,269 to incorporate a soil and water assessment model into a widely used conservation assessment tool for farmers.
According to a USDA announcement, another Illinois project will use field experiments, sensors, weather data and other field data to develop a "decision tool" to help farmers determine when and where to apply nitrogen to increase profitability, reduce waste and improve soil health.
Background
According to the NRCS, the grants are supported by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which increased funding for farm bill conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that funds CIG.
"Conservation Innovation Grants help turn innovative ideas into practical conservation solutions for America's farmers and ranchers," NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley said in the announcement.
More information is available on the Illinois NRCS website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/il.
Source: the original release