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Conservation Innovation Grant Program (CIG)
CIG what is it? Every year, usually in the early spring there’s an announcement within States and on Grant.gov of competitive grant opportunities for organizations that wish to apply. There are two different types of CIG program grants: 1) National CIG There’s a national competitive grant opportunity in which organizations from all states apply and compete within nation categories for 50% match grants. The categories in which organizations may make application are determined by the Chief of NRCS. 2) State CIG Depending on the state, a State Conservationist may elect to take a portion of their Environmental Quality Incentive Program funding allocation and offer a within state only CIG. This offering of a state CIG may target specific concerns within a geographic area of the state with special resource concerns, or be open to the entire state. While the categories of resource concerns may model the national categories, they can be more flexible and address the needs within a state. The categories which organizations may make application are determined by the State Conservationist with advisement from the State Technical Committee. Purpose of the CIG: The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals, guides, and references, or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects. Instead, it is a vehicle to stimulate the development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a likelihood of success and to be candidates for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. CIG enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns. CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations.
Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities For the purposes of CIG, the proposed innovative project or activity must encompass the development and field testing, evaluation, and implementation of: Conservation adoption incentive systems, including market-based systems; or, Promising conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, or approaches. To be given priority consideration, the innovative project or activity: 1. Will have been studied sufficiently to indicate a good probability for success; 2. Demonstrates, tests, evaluates, and verifies environmental (soil, water, air, plants, and animal) effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability in the field; 3. Adapts conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance, and encourage adoption; 4. Introduces conservation systems, approaches, and procedures from another geographic area or agricultural sector; and 5. Adapts conservation technology, management, or incentive systems to improve performance.
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6. Selected applicants may receive grants of up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must provide non-federal funding (matching funds) for at least 50 percent of the project cost. Up to half of the applicant’s matching funds (up to 25 percent of the total project cost) may be from in-kind contributions. Applicants must submit a letter from the matching source documenting the type of match being provided and the value. 7. State CIG funding awards are typically capped at $75,000 per application. The Nevada NRCS is “considering” offering a state CIG program in FY 2009 and requests that the State Technical Committee provide advisements to the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. Is the State Technical Committee in favor of NRCS offering this program in 2009? If so, should a geographic region of the state be targeted or not? If yes, where and why? Are there recommendations for resource concerns not adequately being addressed by current EQIP funding? Does the State Technical Committee desire to form a sub-committee to address these questions and respond to the entire committee and the State Conservationist by next fall (Sept., October, or November)?
EXAMPLES of CIG in other States
Washington State CIG 2006: Each was awarded $50,000 or less: Washington State University (2) No-till Farming in Irrigated Cropland - Washington State University was funded for this project which is demonstrating the use of no-till farming techniques in irrigated row crop systems. This is an area and farming type within our state that is farmed almost entirely with clean tillage techniques. They are demonstrating different drill types and difference cropping systems that lend them selves to no-till practices. This is being carried out on a full field production scale. Nitrogen efficiency with Precision Ag Techniques - Washington State University was funded for this project which is demonstrating the use of GPS guidance systems and GPS yield monitors to improve nutrient management on dryland grain farms. RE-Sources Plastics Recycling in Agriculture - RE-Sources (a private group) is developing and demonstrating the effectiveness of a community based recycling program for agricultural based plastics. They are setting up and promoting special collection efforts and establishing working relationships between Ag producers, recycling industry and conservation groups. Montana State CIG 2006: Mountain Meadows Products, Inc. $75,000 Montana Biofuel Pellet Economic Evaluation Pilot The objective of this project is to demonstrate the practicality and the economic feasibility of utilizing farm residue or native perennial grasses as a pelleted biofuel for commercial and residential heating applications. Mountain Meadows Products, Inc. will sample biomass sources in Montana to formulate an optimum biofuel pellet. This will include identifying the optimum grass cultivar for biofuel pellet production in central Montana. Then, they will develop a low cost model for the commercial production of the formulated pellet. Once produced, the pellet will be field tested in residential pellet stoves and commercial applications. Research findings will be communicated to Montana producers and energy consumers to allow them to participate in this new innovative market opportunity.
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Montana State University Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Department $74,919 Protecting Eastern Montana Rangelands from Invasive Weeds The objective of this project is to improve early detection of new weeds and optimize weed management through prevention in eastern Montana. Rangeland protection through cooperative, early intervention efforts will work to reduce the risk of environmental harm, preserve natural habitats and native species, protect producer’s profits and wildlife-based expenditures, and safeguard rural community endurance. The project will facilitate the local level protection of non-infested rangeland ecosystems from weed spread through the development and maintenance of long-term Weed Prevention Areas. These cooperative conservation units protect prioritized rangelands from invasion through collective rancher implementation of proactive weed management efforts. These site-specific and rancher-designed efforts include ecosystem management, exclusion, detection, eradication, and GPS mapping. Montana State University Extension Water Quality $46,011 Armored-Stanchion Livestock Water Access - Design Development, Installation, and Evaluation for Water Quality Improvements and Livestock Performance. During this project, two new armored-stanchion livestock water accesses will be designed, installed, and evaluated. MSU Extension Water Quality will work with two producers and the NRCS in Gallatin County to design the new water access technology. The armored-stanchion water access point will allow livestock only a limited distance into surface water and prevent animals from turning while in the water to prevent manure deposition in the channel. For evaluation purposes, riparian fencing and a traditional water gap will be installed along with the armored-stanchion water access at each location. Temporary electric fencing will be used to facilitate equal watering pressure on each of the water access methods to be evaluated. MSU Extension Water Quality will then process water samples to evaluate water quality. Arctic Grayling Recovery Program $37,500 Big Hole Willow Bank This project will address both wildlife habitat and water quality through the development of a collection, or "bank," of willows. Specifically, this project will support innovative riparian restoration and revegetation projects for fluvial arctic grayling in the Big Hole watershed. The willow collection will be developed using plants native to the Big Hole, therefore adapted to the short, harsh growing conditions unique to the valley. Willows will be harvested from native stock and grown under controlled conditions at the state nursery. Once the containerized clippings have established root mass, they will be returned to the Big Hole watershed for use in riparian restoration and revegetation projects. The secondary benefits of this project include accelerated improvements in riparian conditions on the Big Hole River and several tributaries, accelerated improvements in habitat for fluvial arctic grayling, eventual reductions in stream temperatures, reduced sedimentation, and overall improvements in habitat for other fish and wildlife. Rocking Z Ranch $9,750 Convert Petroleum Diesel Fuel Powered Irrigation Pump to One that Burns Vegetable Oil The objective of the project is to utilize renewable resources in the form of recycled straight vegetable oil instead of petroleum diesel fuel, resulting in fewer air emissions, reduced storage risk, and lower operating expenses. The Rocking Z Ranch will convert a diesel-powered irrigation pump to use vegetable oil and install the appropriate storage facility. The system will be tested. If it is demonstrated to be user friendly, economically advantageous, and safe, the conversion process will be published for use by others. Colorado State CIG 2007: (Award dollar amount not available) Optimizing the effluent from the Vertical Tube Reactor for Agricultural Application This project will be demonstrating the Vertical Tube Reactor (VTR) on a swine operation to evaluate the environmental effect of the direct field application of reacted effluent to agricultural lands. This proven
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process for municipal and industrial operations will be evaluated for its potential widespread use in livestock operations. A Measurement System for Off-site Mitigation That Uses NRCS Ecological Sites to Enhance Ecosystem Health and Wildlife Habitat Project proposes to develop a measurement system that can be used by energy developers, agency managers and agricultural producers to determine equitable units for off-site mitigation of energy impacts. They will use NRCS ecological sites to develop descriptions of plant community composition and processes for historical states to develop an index to measure changes. They will use maps to show off-site areas that have potential enhancement benefits. Collaborative conservation of the private land sagebrush range in Colorado’s Western Slopes. This project will establish public/private partnerships to increase awareness of cooperative conservation programs that benefit private landowners and to collaborate in the immediate permanent protection of several sagebrush range private ranch properties through the use of conservation easements. Project will show the value of conservation easements and treatable conservation credits through numerous workshops. Tri-County Bio-Fuels This project will highlight the benefits of growing oilseed crops for commercial production of bio-based fuel using canola and camelina. Additionally the project will demonstrate the use of agronomic practices to reduce on farm fuel use. Best management practices will be developed looking at soils correlation, residue amounts and rotational options Solar Powered Irrigation Water Management The objective of this project is to improve water and energy conservation. It will convert 5.8 miles of lateral ditches to pipeline and control and monitor flows through the new pipeline exclusively with solar-powered equipment. All gates and turn outs will be fully automated using the radio telemetry, which will be solar powered. Installation and Demonstration of a SCADA System and Actuated Gates as Operational Improvements for Managing Surface Water Deliveries to Irrigators This project will be installing a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. This will include activated gates to more accurately monitor diversions and some deliveries, make remotely implemented changes in diverted flows, and to more rapidly react to storm flows on the river to help regulate flow into canals.
Idaho State CIG 2006: (Award dollar amount not available) Maintaining Kentucky bluegrass seed yields without burning using biodiesel co-products from mustards This project is led by the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. The primary project directors are from the crop and weed sciences departments. They are working in conjunction with a major bluegrass seed producer. The objective of the proposal is to evaluate the effectiveness and economic viability of using mustard seed meals and seed meal extracts as soil amendments to provide a chemical burn down that will promote sustained seed yields in Kentucky bluegrass. These extracts are a byproduct of biodesiel production and add an additional economic factor to this process to enhance the viability of biodiesel profitability. It of course has very high air quality benefits since field burning is a standard practice. This practice has only been tested on very small plots, but has shown good results. This grant will take the process to agricultural field level treatments and will include field day demonstrations.
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