Conservation Innovation Grants National Component Awardees: Fiscal
Year 2009
Updated and Edited
07/14/2009
Below is
a list of the Fiscal Year 2009 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) National
Component awardees. The information includes the State(s) in which the project
will be carried out, the total amount of NRCS funding provided, and the project
title.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category
Maryland Department of
Agriculture (MD)
$511,750
Implementing Point to
Non-Point Source Nutrient Trading in the Chesapeake Bay
Maryland's Nutrient Trading
Program is a recently developed public market place for buying and selling or
nutrient credits. This project is the implementation of an agricultural nutrient
trading or offset program for the State of Maryland to use in managing nutrient
loads from point and non-point sources.
Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy (PA)
$84,000
Aughwick Creek Streambank
Stabilization and Fencing to Reduce the Effects of Erosion and Nutrient Loading
Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy will address sedimentation issues that are the result of streambank
erosion, as well as, agricultural influences within the Aughwick Creek. Projects
to be completed in Aughwick Creek will be collaborative efforts to address the
creation of riparian buffers, eliminate streambank erosion, reduce in-stream
sedimentation and nutrient loading, and construct in-stream habitat structures.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation,
Inc (PA)
$800,314
Innovative Ways to Increase
Ag BMP Adoption
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)
and partners will demonstrate innovative approaches to increase implementation
of agricultural best management practices. CBF will offer a best management
practice credit system.
The Pennsylvania State
University (PA)
$223,927
Promoting Adoption of
Innovative Conservation Cropping System on Livestock Farms
The purpose is to promote
adoption of innovative conservation cropping systems on livestock farms in
Pennsylvania and use the performance evaluation to improve their effectiveness
in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Food Alliance
(PA)
$350,000
Market Incentives for
Conservation in Pennsylvania
Food Alliance will partner
with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) to
introduce a highly successful sustainable agriculture certification program in
Pennsylvania, and improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The
purpose of the project is to replicate a successful market incentive for
conservation to promote improvements in management of agricultural lands in
Pennsylvania to benefit water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
West Virginia University
Research Corporation
(WV)
$181,373.58
Precision Nutrient Management
Using a Systems Approach in Karst Geology
The Eastern Panhandle of West
Virginia is a major agricultural center with some of the most intensive
agriculture in the State. The purpose is to demonstrate the effectiveness of
precision agriculture in combination with cover crop, nutrient allocation and
sequestration to improve ground and surface water quality in Karst Geology of
the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Natural Resources & Technology Categories
Auburn
University (AL)
$92,750.58
Demonstrating Use of
High-Residue, Cover Crop Conservation Tillage System to Control Glyphosate-Resistant
Palmer Amaranth
The purpose is to demonstrate
that glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth can be managed with high residue
conservation tillage systems with or without fall inversion before cover crop
planting.
Bat Conservation
International, Inc (AZ)
$220,000
Southwest Subterranean
Program: Roost Conservation for Pollinating and Insect Eating Bats
The project stimulates the
adoption of innovative conservation approaches related to bats and regional
agricultural production. This initiative will use a partnership-based model to
implement priority actions explicitly identified by Western Bat Working Group;
US Fish & Wildlife species recovery plans and multiple Southwest State Wildlife
Action Plans.
Agflex, Inc
(CA, DE,
IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MN, MO, NC, NE, NY, OH, PA, SD, VA, WI)
$930,703
BMP Challenge Across the Corn
Belt and Rapid Adoption of Conservation Tillage in California through Improved
Technical Assistance and Managing Risk
One of the goals of this
project is to accelerate the adoption of conservation tillage acreage for silage
corn in California's Central Valley by providing financial guarantees against
the risk of crop losses associated with the transition to a new tillage
practice.
Helena Chemical Company (CA)
$37,500
Smart-rate Technology:
Improving fertilizer use efficiency
The purpose is to reduce the
phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer applications in various cropping system by
using Smart (Variable) Rate Technology
Gold Ridge Resource
Conservation District (CA)
$71,520
Insectaries for Pollinators
and Farm Biodiversity
The purpose is to create or
enhance pollinator habitat on six working farms in western Sonoma County, with
particular emphasis on supporting native bee populations, through the
development and implementation of Pollinator Farm Plans including insectaries
hedgerows, buffer strips, riparian enhancement zones, and pond re-vegetation.
California
Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CA)
$590,048
Driving Conservation
Innovation and Sustainable Winegrowing Adoption through Performance
Benchmarking, Tools and Resources
The purpose is to develop,
implement and evaluate a comprehensive system of industry-wide performance
benchmarking, tools and resources in order to drive conservation innovation and
speed adoption of sustainable practices in California wine community and other
wine region and agricultural sectors to address national natural resource
concerns such as water, atmospheric and soil resources, and wildlife habitat.
Pollinator Partnership (CA)
$183,953.96
Evaluating and communicating
the ecological and economic costs and benefits of incorporating pollinator and
other beneficial insect floral resource strips into vegetable production system
The purpose of this project is
to compare the costs of installing and maintaining single-species annual and
multi-species perennial floral strips in vegetable production systems with the
ecological and economic benefits gained, and to translate this information for
use by vegetable growers in diverse agricultural regions.
Xerces Society, Inc (CA)
$202,631
Promoting Agricultural
Sustainability through Conversing Beneficial insects: Restoring Pollination and
Pest Control Services on Farms in California's Central Valley, Phase II
The purpose is to evaluate the
effects of habitat restoration for crop pollinating native bee, natural enemies
of crops pests and crop productivity and disseminate the results.
Electric Power Research
Institute, Inc (CA)
$297,778
Coupling Market Infrastructure
with Ecosystem Service Markets: Initial Framework Scoping for an Ohio River
Credit Trading Program
The project will identify the
structure, and preliminarily test the function of a specific agricultural credit
calculation tools and related infrastructure for water quality and greenhouse
gas trading in a robust water quality credit trading market developing in the
Ohio River.
Colorado State University (CO)
$270,344
Promoting Adoption of Ammonia
Reduction Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Feedlots and Dairies
The goal of this project is to
promote adoption of ammonia best management practices (BMP) and document changes
in ammonia emission following BMP implementation, and to reduce nitrogen
deposition and accompanying ecological damage in Rocky Mountain National Park
ecosystems, in particular through reductions in agricultural ammonia emissions.
Western Laboratories (CO,
ID, WA)
$291,160
Adoption of Precision IPM
Technology for Site - Specific Pathogen and Nematode Management in Potatoes
The purpose is to demonstrate
the feasibility of using GPS-driven grid sampling fro improved management of
diseases and nematodes in potatoes, resulting in a 30 percent reduction of
fumigant use.
Conservation Districts of Iowa
(IA)
$519,680
Landowners and Operators Care
about the Land: A market-driven operator certification and conservation
incentives program
The purpose is to create a
market-based incentive for operators to implement conservation-friendly
management on land owned by absentee landowners.
University of Kentucky
Research Foundation (KY)
$94,123
Soil Moisture-Based Automatic
Pulse Irrigation System for Water Conservation
This project will demonstrate
and encourage adoption of a new soil moisture-based automatic pulse irrigation
system to reduce water use and maintain crop yield quality.
Mountain Association for
Community Economic Development, Inc (KY)
$500,000
MACED 2009 NRCS CIG
Application
The purpose is to demonstrate
and grow the role carbon revenue can play as market-based economic incentives
that result in sustainable forest practice at scale in private lands.
American Forest Foundation (ME,
NH, VT)
$500,000
Northern Forest Watershed
Services: Parallel Pilot Initiatives Providing Incentives for Forest Management
and Conservation
This initiative will utilize
market mechanism to incentivize private forest landowners to restore, enhance,
and protect aquatic resources in two critical watersheds in the Northern Forest
region.
Coveyou Farms, LLC (MI)
$130,000
Innovative Geothermal/Solar
On-Farm Refrigeration Demonstration System
The purpose is to design,
install evaluate and document an on farm refrigeration system that use
geothermal and solar technology to provide vegetable and fruit cooling benches
and storage for small farm growers.
Michigan State University (MI)
$371,997
Integrating No-Till Cropping,
Manure and Cover Crops with Manure Slurry Seeding
The purpose is to prevent
erosion and protect soil and water quality on cropland where livestock manure is
used as a soil amendment.
Clinton Conservation District
(MI)
$61,420
Filter Mound Milking Center
Wastewater Treatment
The purpose is to provide an
affordable solution for small to mid-size dairy farmers for the safe disposal of
milking center wastewater
Regents of the University of
Minnesota (MN)
$500,000
Harvesting Biofuel from
Working Prairies for Environment and Commerce
This project will demonstrate,
test and disseminate information on how biofuel from high-diversity native
grassland can simultaneously provide a new source of renewable energy while
providing a crucial array of ecosystem services.
Missouri Department of
Conservation (MO)
$192,700
Best Management Practices for
Water Quality on Private Timber Sales
The purpose is to implement a
pilot cost share program for implementing best management practices (BMP) in
private land timber sales in a partnership of nine public agencies and
non-government organizations, private landowners and loggers.
Environmental Resources
Coalition (MO)
$500,000
Missouri Innovative Environmental Stewardship Project will
demonstrate best management practices for nutrient reductions in water runoff
and introduce carbon and nutrient trading to Missouri farmers.
This project will introduce
the concept of environmental trading (nutrient and carbon credits) in Missouri
and develop a model environmental trading program.
The Curators of the University
of Missouri (MO)
$257,261
Demonstrating alternative
methods of biofuel production to enhance farm profitability while improving
wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation
The purpose is to demonstrate
alternative land management strategies that agricultural producers can adopt for
the production of biofuels while enhancing farm profitability, soil conservation
and water quality, and results in improved wildlife habitat.
Southwest Mississippi RC&D,
Inc (MS)
$194,148
Demonstration of Bio-Energy
Heating Systems for Poultry Broiler Houses in Mississippi Using Poultry Litter
(primary) and Wood Residues (secondary)
The purpose is to demonstrate
state-of-the-art technology in biomass energy systems and the potential for such
systems to help Mississippi's 2,000 poultry producers to reduce the cost of
energy consumed by their poultry operations.
National Network of Forest
Practitioners (MS)
$260,000
Expanding Conservation
Opportunities with Sustainable Forestry in Rural Communities
The purpose is to provide
enhanced access to and enrollment in conservation incentives for
African-American landowners in forest-dependent communities of Mississippi,
Alabama and Tennessee.
The Blackfoot Challenge, Inc
(MT)
$106,108
Community-based Fire
Management Innovative for Private Lands
The purpose of this project
is to implement land use practices that enhance fire management through
partnerships with producers, private landowners, forest managers, and NRCS.
Ecosystem Management Research
Institute (NE, SD)
$650,000
Coordinated Restoration of
Native Grasslands Using Innovative Practices
The purpose is to implement a
coordinated and collaborative grassland restoration program that addresses
restoration objectives identified in South Dakota and Nebraska Wildlife Action
Plans as well as the Grassland Conservation Plan for Prairie Grouse.
The NC Farm Center for
Innovation and Sustainability
(NC)
$179,439
A Field Demonstration of
Mobile Torrefaction Technology to Produce Bio-char and Evaluate its Benefits on
North Carolina's Farms
The purpose of this project
is to demonstrate and evaluate the potential benefits derived from using a
mobile torrefaction machine on a farm and from applications and production of
bio-char.
The Nature Conservancy (OK)
$349,571
Integrated Management of
Sericea Lespedeza in Tallgrass Prairie
The purpose is to demonstrate
the effectiveness of integrating patch burn grazing and spot-application of
herbicides to manage sericea lespedeza prairie.
Oklahoma Farmers & Ranchers
Association (OK)
$254,340
Grass-finished & organic
livestock production technology education for limited resource farmers
The purpose is to develop a
whole farm approach using prescribed grazing technology and/or organic
techniques to help socially disadvantaged, limited resource producers.
The Samuel Roberts Noble
Foundation, Inc (OK)
$267,697
Switchgrass and Native
Rangeland Management for Grazing and Bioenergy
The purpose is to educate
producers, farm managers, and the general public of best management practices
for use in the establishment and production of switchgrass and native rangeland
in grazing, bioenergy, and conservation systems.
Burnt River Soil and Water
Conservation District (OR)
$171,939
Baker County Grassbank Project
The goal is to improve the
ecological function of Baker County grazing lands while maintaining the ranching
traditions and economy of the west by establishing a self-sustaining pilot
grassbank on a county-wide basis.
Xerces Society, Inc (OR)
$255,312
Develop and Test Pollinator
Habitat Job Sheets for Six Regions of the US
The purpose is to develop
regionally-appropriate, general and crop specific formulas for creating
pollinator habitat on working lands.
University of Puerto Rico, Estación Experimental Agrícola (PR)
$153,150
Windrow composting of
agricultural residues demonstration and validation
The purpose is to validate and
demonstrate the use of windrow composting to manage agricultural organic
residues as a resource for nutrients and organic carbon in Puerto Rico.
Integral Fund for Agricultural
Development of Puerto Rico, Inc (PR)
$30,000
Technology Transfer for
Enhanced Management and Utilization of Poultry Litter in Puerto Rico Directed to
Poultry Producers technical Personnel and Farmers who are Users of End Products
The purpose is to transfer
technology to Puerto Rican farmers and agronomists regarding the proper handling
and use of recycled poultry litter.
South Dakota State University
(SD)
$608,935
Precision cover crops for
improved soil health
The purpose is to demonstrate
that precision cover crops can increase the sustainability of renewable
resources, improve soil health, microbial diversity, water availability, and
salt accumulation within continuous no-tillage systems.
Thule Group of Consultants (SD,
WI)
$1,124,859
Establishing Carbon Credits
for Aerobic Treatment of Manure Lagoons
The goal of this project is to
establish market-based incentives using Carbon Credit dollars to encourage the
use of promising new technologies for aerobic manure treatment.
James E Bradbury (TN)
$100,000
Middle Tennessee Agriculture
Resource Management - Water Project
The purpose is to develop a
prioritized set of rules for precision agriculture mapping packages to aid in
selection of land areas within a farmstead that are best suited to handle the
nutrient loading associated with animal waste application to minimize impacts on
water quality.
Buck Farms LP (TN)
$76,000
Innovative cattle solid waste
system
The purpose is to develop and
demonstrate innovative cattle solid waste handling systems that efficiently
large-bales bedding to improve storage, transportation and land application
logistics and nutrient management.
University of Tennessee (TN)
$665,361
Enhancing Resource
Conservation through Low-Input Grazing: Native Warm-season Grasses on Mid-South
Farms
The purpose is to demonstrate
the use of native warm-season grasses as a low-input grazing system with
significant resource conservation benefits to regional producers.
Hansen Energy and
Environmental (UT)
$198,500
Production of butanol from
animal manure and food waste for use as a liquid fuel in rural America
The purpose is to demonstrate
an economical method to convert methane that is produced on the farm from waste
products into a liquid fuel.
New River-Highlands RC&D
Council (VA)
$111,000
Extreme
Forest Makeover: Expanding the Local Knowledge of sustainable Forest Management
in the Appalachian Hardwood Region of Virginia
The purpose is to increase the
acres of sustainability managed forest land, via coached implementation of
forest management projects.
The Nature Conservancy
(VT)
$89,308
Protecting Wildlife
Habitat, Biodiversity and Forest Productivity in Focal Conservation Areas of
Vermont's Champlain Valley
The goal of the project is
to increase the number of landowners who incorporate land management practices
that improve bat habitat; improve habitat for aquatic and riparian species; and
reduce invasive terrestrial plant infestations that affect forest productivity
and the quality of wildlife habitats.
University of Vermont & State
Agricultural College (VT)
$86,097
Phosphorus and E. Coli
Reduction from Silage Leachate via Innovative Steel Slag Filtration
The purpose is to demonstrate
the effectiveness of innovative steel slag filtration technology in pollutants,
solids, and pathogens reduction from silage leachate.
The Nature Conservancy (WA)
$345,415
Farming for Wildlife - Phase
II: Building a Model for Sustainable Wetland Rotations and Long Term Soil
Stewardship
The purpose is to establish
new wetland rotation demonstration sites to determine which combination will
maximize agronomic and habitat benefits.
Washington State University (WA)
$165,712
Absentee Forest Landowner
Education Project
The purpose is to engage
absentee forest owners in face-to-face and online learning to stimulate
stewardship behaviors and create a desirable future condition.
College of Menominee Nation (WI)
$122,973
Demonstrate Innovative
Approaches of Carbon Sequestration Strategies
The purpose is to demonstrate
the viability of carbon sequestration as a market mechanism tool for promoting
environmental preservation, biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable
development among tribes and their lands.
SureHarvest
(Nationwide)
$630,000
The Stewardship Index for
Specialty Crops
The purpose of this project is
to develop a system for measuring sustainable performance throughout the
specialty crops supply chain. The project seeks to offer a suite of
outcomes-based metrics to enable operators at any point along the supply chain
to benchmark, compare, and communicate their own performance.
Grant Leveraging
Integral Fund for Agricultural
Development of Puerto Rico, Inc
(PR)
$250,000
CIG/FIDA Grant Leverage
Collaboration for Renewable Energy Projects on Existing Farm Operations in
Puerto Rico
The purpose of this project is
to establish a grant program similar to CIG for administering a Competitive
Grants Process aimed specifically at renewable energy projects for agricultural
operations.
United States Endowment for
Forestry and Communities, Inc (TBD)
$2,000,000
Advancing Healthy Watersheds
through Healthy Forests: A Conservation Innovation program to Effect Improved
Watershed Function through Improved Management and Retention of Non-Industrial
Privately Own
The purpose of this project is
to establish a thematically-targeted, geographically-focused grant program in
two to three identified watersheds in the Eastern US for the purpose of
advancing water management and conservation through watershed health and forest
retention.
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