Wisconsin Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Grant Program

Grants from Wisconsin DATCP to agricultural producers developing innovative commercial-nitrogen optimization practices, carried out with a University of Wisconsin monitoring partner.

Wisconsin agricultural producers. Projects must run at least two growing seasons with a UW-institution monitoring partner (UW-Madison Soil Science / Extension).

Maximum $40,000 per applicant.

A two-part application emailed to DATCP. This is a deadline round, not rolling intake — and as of September 2026 it is between cycles, so read the timing note below before you plan a trial.

Step 1 — Intent to Apply (mandatory pre-approval). "All grant applicants MUST submit an Intent to Apply form in order to receive required pre-approval of the project research study design prior to submitting an application." You email the Intent to Apply form (IntentToApplyNOPP.docx) to UW's NOPP Research Director; the most recent Request for Proposals gave "ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ONLY TO: MONICA.SCHAUER@WISC.EDU". Any change to the pre-approved design "must be discussed and approved by UW's NOPP Research Director prior to the submission of the final grant application," and "The final and approved Intent to Apply document will be submitted as part of the final application."

Step 2 — Final application. Submitted by email: "ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ONLY TO: DATCPNOPP@wisconsin.gov". It has two pieces: "Application Part 1" (General Project Information, a Word document) and "Application Part 2" (Budget and Work Plan, an Excel spreadsheet — "ONLY COMPLETE THE BUDGET SHEET TO MATCH THE CHOSEN OPTION").

Where the documents live. All of it is posted on DATCP's NOPP Application and Grantee Information page: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs\_Services/NOPP-Application-and-Grantee-Information.aspx — the Request for Proposals, Intent to Apply, Application Part 1 and Part 2, plus an "FAQs for Application" PDF and a Technical Research Guide.

Timing. The last round has closed: DATCP states "2027 Award Year Application was due January 16, 2026" (that cycle's Intent to Apply was due December 19, 2025). The next round is not open yet — "2027-2028 Application/Cycle 5 anticipated to be available Fall 2026". Cycle 5 dates and submission addresses were not published as of September 2026, so confirm them against the new RFP when it posts, and subscribe for updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDATCP/subscriber/new.

Choose your option before you budget — each has its own cap per producer. Option 1: "Full N-Rate Study with replicaton and randomization", 4-8 N-rates required, "Max budget of $40,000/producer". Option 2 (new producers only): Nitrogen Use Efficiency, "Requires at least 3 participants per project", "Max budget of $2,500/producer". Option 3 (new producers only): management comparison trial, two N-rates, "Max budget of $5,000/producer". A "new producer" is "a producer who has not previously been awarded a NOPP grant." Multiple producers may join one application — "an Option 1 project with two participating agricultural producers may apply for an award up to $80,000." You "DO NOT need to factor the UW System award for monitoring and research assistance into their proposed budget."

What Part 1 asks you to assemble: requested grant amount and project option, project title, project focus, the applying individual or organization (who signs the contract), the agricultural producer, a fiscal manager, a project manager, a payment address, roles and responsibilities for any collaborators, the research study design, your outreach plans, and an Equipment Purchase Request if you want equipment over $2,500 ("Pre-approval for equipment purchases over $2,500 is required from DATCP").

Don't under-prepare the project-location section — it asks for a map, not just coordinates: "Please provide a GPS point (latitude/longitude) for the project location and a map with county boundaries, project area, parcel numbers (if available), and field numbers (if available). This information is required for each field that is part of the project." Outreach is scored, so name something concrete: "Points will be given for projects which include outreach, such as a field day/field talk."

Two eligibility gates to check first: "Project must include two growing seasons" and "UWS institution should monitor the grant project on-site." Note also "Funding commitments are not final until a signed contract is in place including all parties," and on award, "If you have NOT received payments from the State of Wisconsin, please submit a W9 for the organization to be paid."

Questions. The RFP directs them: "PROGRAM MANAGER: SUSAN MOCKERT, 608-224-4648, SUSAN.MOCKERT@WISCONSIN.GOV" and "RESEARCH DESIGN: MONICA SCHAUER, 920-296-6170, MONICA.SCHAUER@WISC.EDU". Talk to Monica Schauer early — study-design pre-approval is a gate, not a formality.