USDA Announces Conservation Projects Through NRCS

It was announced this afternoon that USDA will be awarding $15.7 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) to 47 organizations that will help develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate innovation in private lands conservation. Some of those dollars are coming to Alabama and Florida, and Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller explains how these grants will be used.

Alabama:
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Florida:
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Gainesville, Fla., Sept. 15, 2014—USDA announced today it is awarding the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services $1 million in grant money to evaluate and improve renewable energy on individual farms, with an emphasis on historically underserved producers.

This is part of $15.7 million invested nationally through grants to 47 entities in 31 states and the District of Columbia to develop cutting-edge innovation in private lands conservation.

Recipients of USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants demonstrate innovative approaches to improve soil health, air and water quality conserve energy and enhance wildlife habitat in balance with productive agricultural systems. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service administers this competitive grants program.

“Conservation Innovation Grants activate creativity and problem-solving to benefit conservation-minded farmers and ranchers,” said Russell Morgan, Florida NRCS state conservationist. “These grants are critical in sparking new ideas and techniques for conservation on America’s private lands and strengthening rural communities. Everyone relies on our nation’s natural resources for food, fiber and clean water and will benefit from these grants.”

A full list of recipients is available here: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/

The grants are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Grantees must work with producers and forestland owners to develop and demonstrate the new technologies and approaches. At least 50 percent of the total cost of CIG projects must come from non-federal matching funds, including cash and in-kind contributions provided by the grant recipient.

NRCS has offered this grant program since 2004, investing in ways to demonstrate and transfer efficient and environmentally friendly farming and ranching. In the past years, the grants have helped develop trading markets for water quality and have shown how farmers and ranchers may use fertilizer, water and energy more efficiently.

For more on this grant program, visit USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants webpage.