Soil Survey (10.903)
Soil Survey (Assistance Listing 10.903) is run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $18.6 million in 65 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $286,774 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $270,000. Half of the 65 awards fell between $100,000 and $461,501, and they ranged from $237 to $1.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$18.6 million
- Grant awards65
- Typical award$270,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$383,691
- Size rank1,335 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceDissemination of technical information
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $2.2 million in fiscal 2021 to $383,691 in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1335th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 76% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 36 states and territories.
What the program funds
To produce and maintain up to date soil survey information (maps, data sets, soil interpretations, and reports) of the United States for widespread use by interested agencies, organizations, and individuals and to assist in the use of this information.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are typically limited to institutions of higher education within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network. Proposed projects are expected to have durations of 2-4 years, with funding amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000 per award.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Scientists and policy makers use soil survey information in studying global ecosystem changes and evaluating the sustainability and environmental impacts of land use and management practices. Soil Surveys provide input data that computer simulation models use to predict the dynamics of carbon, nutrients, and water in soils. Soil surveys are used by planners, engineers, zoning commissions, tax commissions, homeowners, farmers, ranchers, developers, landowners, and operators to evaluate soil suitability for home sites, subdivisions, commercial and industrial sites, farms, wildlife and recreational areas, prime agricultural land, hydric soils, highly erodible lands, highways, and airports and to select and implement appropriate use and management of those soils.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Agriculture, Part 611- Soil Surveys, Subpart A: General, B: Soil Survey Operations, C: Cartographic Operations,Public Law 89-560.Matching requirements are established at the time of the award based on the above authorities.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines for proposals for partnership agreements identified in applicable notices of availability of funding.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Recent Federal Grant Awards under this program have ranged from approximately $7,900 to $700,000, with most awards falling between $100,000 and $300,000. Awards typically span 2-3 years, with some extending up to 5 years. Common recipients include universities and state agricultural agencies. The Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service is the primary funding agency, usually utilizing Cooperative Agreements as the assistance type. Projects focus on various aspects of soil science, including soil carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health assessments, digital soil mapping, and wetland soil characterization. Work is performed across multiple states, with emphasis on regional collaboration and practical applications for soil survey staff.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2026: * Development of an IRIS Protocol for Problematic Smectitic Soils * Improving Soil Bulk Density and Carbon Analysis * Innovative Approaches for Soil Texture
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Soil Survey (10.903) awarded $18.6 million across 65 grant awards, an average of $286,774 per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 93% of the money, nonprofits 5.5% and state and local governments 1.1%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 61 | $17.4 million | 93% |
| Nonprofits | 3 | $1.0 million | 5.5% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $206,666 | 1.1% |
By state
6 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 3 | $1.7 million |
| Texas | 4 | $1.4 million |
| Nebraska | 4 | $1.3 million |
| Illinois | 3 | $1.1 million |
| Iowa | 3 | $1.1 million |
| Oregon | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Rhode Island | 2 | $881,663 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $862,425 |
| Kansas | 3 | $803,276 |
| Florida | 2 | $777,704 |
| California | 2 | $749,436 |
| North Carolina | 3 | $704,803 |
| Virginia | 3 | $528,035 |
| South Carolina | 2 | $523,063 |
| Maryland | 1 | $499,995 |
| Ohio | 1 | $496,802 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $450,000 |
| Arizona | 1 | $450,000 |
| Missouri | 1 | $450,000 |
| Alabama | 1 | $447,079 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $433,397 |
| Vermont | 1 | $399,574 |
| Mississippi | 2 | $299,944 |
| Colorado | 1 | $297,195 |
| North Dakota | 2 | $220,824 |
| Idaho | 1 | $209,339 |
| West Virginia | 1 | $166,599 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $99,944 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $74,758 |
| New Mexico | 1 | $57,881 |
| Indiana | 1 | $52,295 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $40,000 |
| Montana | 2 | $29,938 |
| Michigan | 1 | $27,869 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $10,628 |
| Delaware | 1 | $1,665 |