$1.8M Grant Fund Open for Ag Soil Health & Water Efficiency Innovation
A New Opportunity for Arizona Ag
The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) has opened the application window for the Agriculture, Soil Health, and Water Efficiency Innovation Pilot Program. A total of $1.8 million is available in grant funds during the Fiscal Year 2026 grant cycle to support innovation in Arizona's agricultural sector. The program aims to fund projects that implement and collect data for water-focused soil health innovations in agriculture.
What is the Program Looking For?
The core focus of this pilot program is on "Innovative Technology" and regenerative agricultural practices.
Innovative Technology is defined as products or services that improve water use and efficiency by improving soil health in agriculture. The technology must achieve this without requiring nonnative soil amendments (manufactured fertilizers and amendments) or improvements to irrigation infrastructure.
Key Project Requirements:
* The project must be conducted in Arizona.
* Applicants must commit to tracking and reporting required outcomes related to improved water-efficiency as a result of improved soil health.
* Project duration shall not exceed 2 years (24 months), with a start date no earlier than January 1, 2026, and an end date no later than December 31, 2027.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
The AZDA invites applications from the following entities:
* Agricultural landowners.
* Beneficial owners of trust land.
* Lessees of agricultural lands.
* Irrigation districts that apply for the benefit of their members.
Note: Individual landowners and lessees must have actively farmed the land or committed to intentional water conservation in three of the five calendar years immediately preceding the date of the application.
Important Application Details & Deadline
The application packet submission deadline is critical:
- Deadline: 11:59:59 p.m. (MST) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
- Submission: Application packets must be submitted online at: https://bit.ly/azdasoilhealth.
- Required Documents: Applications must be complete and include the Project Profile Template (Appendix B) and the Land Management Verification Form (Appendix C) (if applicable).
- Ineligible Applications: Incomplete applications, those including support letters, or those exceeding given character limits will be deemed ineligible.
Evaluation Focus (Where to put your effort)
Applications will be reviewed by an Evaluation Team of non-AZDA individuals. Focus your proposal on the following criteria:
* Quantifiable Innovation (30% Weight): Is the project an Innovative Technology that quantifiably enhances soil health and water efficiency?
* Problem/Solution Clarity (25% Weight): Does the proposal clearly identify a problem and intend to find a solution that maximizes soil health and water efficiency enhancements?
* Achievable Methods (25% Weight): Are the methods for collecting data and accomplishing outcomes achievable in the 2-year project period?
* Budget Alignment (20% Weight): Does the budget align with activities and contain only necessary costs?
How WiseConn Can Help
Our technology goes hand in hand with grants like these. With WiseConn you can focus on water treatment for soil health, automation for optimal water consumption and use, soil moisture and weather monitoring for accurate readings, and most importantly the collection of farm data on the cloud for all the needed reporting.
Contact Information
For specific questions regarding the program, please contact the Grant Program Coordinator, Damian Gudiño, or the Grant Manager, Ashley Estes, at soilhealth@azda.gov.
Our Yuma District Manager Jacob Hernandez is also available for any questions you may have. (805) 540-1974
