Project Search
Since its inception in 2004, CIG has funded hundreds of projects, boosting natural resource conservation while helping producers improve the health of their operations for the future. Use this tool to search for CIG projects based on any of the criteria listed below.
CIG projects from 2004-2009 may be missing information in the following categories: Resource Concern (specific), Conservation Practice, Production/Use.
Showing 1531 - 1540 of 1760 projects
Board of Regents for the University of Nebraska- Lincoln
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NE
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2006
The goal of the project is accurately quantify net consumptive water use (CWU) for different crops and range land vegetation by processing LANDSAT images for the Nebraska panhandle. These CWU maps will be used to estimate net water use by irrigated crops during the 1997, 2002 and 2005 growing seasons. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will apply the METRIC approach to generate CWU maps. The University of Idaho will lead the METRIC processing component, produce CWU maps and provide training to UNL. UNL will receive hands-on training to produce CWU maps independent of UI. UNL will develop the capability to interpret CWU maps for water balances and develop crop curves for specific crops and to delineate irrigated and non-irrigated acres for the reference years. Accurate net water use information generated for 1997, 2002, and 2005 will provide the NRCS with the tools they need to conjunctively manage ground and surface water as mandated by Nebraska Law LB962.
Purdue University
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IN
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2006
Purdue University will develop a multi-criteria optimization-based planning tool that searches for a spatially optimal management plan for watershed management practices for sediment, nutrient and pesticide control in an efficient fashion. The planning tool is comprised of a watershed model (SWAT - Soil and Water Assessment Tool), an economic model, and a genetic algorithm. Preliminary results using a similar genetic algorithm based approach indicated that for a watershed in Indiana, the optimized plan would cost 2.5 times less than a targeting plan, providing the same level of sediment and nutrient reductions. A method is proposed to incorporate the producers willingness to participate in the management plan. The tool will be applied to derive near optimal management plans for sediment, nutrient, and pesticide control in three watersheds in Indiana. The successful completion of the project will result in a tool that could greatly increase the water quality benefits for resources spent on conservation plans.
Purdue University
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IN
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2006
Purdue University will explore the possibility of burning biofuels (biodiesel, degummed soy oil) for the purpose of drying grain (corn) on Midwestern farms and elevators. Recently completed research at Purdue University, which was partly funded by the Indiana Soybean Board (ISB), showed that burning 10% and 30% mixtures of degummed soy oil with petroleum oil in home heating furnaces showed no adverse effects and could be used in conventional furnaces without altering existing equipment. Unlike standard fuel oil, soybean oil contains no sulfur. The decreased sulfur emission was considered a major environmental benefit. Although grain is no longer dried with fuel oil in the U.S., fuel oil is still widely used for grain drying in many countries (especially in the former Soviet Bloc). The desire for more independence from petroleum Energy sources (including natural gas and LPG), the opportunity to utilize renewable Energy resources such as biodiesel and degummed soy oil, the availability of high efficiency fuel oil burners (up to 85%), and the potential for low combustion emissions point to the need for a project that explores the economic desirability and technical feasibility of utilizing biofuel alternatives for an Energy-intensive, seasonal processing operation such as corn drying in the Midwest.
Coveyou Farms LLC
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MI
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2006
Coveyou Farms LLC will design, install, demonstrate and evaluate the integration of a novel rainwater conservation irrigation reservoir system with an on farm renewable Energy system to store thermal solar Energy produced during the day in the reservoir for use in greenhouse supplemental heating during the night hours using root zone heating. The novel reservoir application will provide access to irrigation water in late winter as well as double as a large thermal mass to store the solar heat Energy. This project will also demonstrate that the use of this solar heated water in the reservoir can be applied to growing crops without fossil fuel water heaters and with improved irrigation management using new bottom watering matting. All of these technologies are ideally focused for small farms growing season extending crops. Design, operational and performance data will be collected, documented and shared to aid other farmers using season extending structures across Michigan, the Midwest and Northeast.
Subsurface Drip Irrigation and GIS/GPS Technology for Water Conservation in the Southern High Plains
The Regents of New Mexico State University
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NM
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2006
Declining groundwater levels in the Southern High Plains are threatening the sustainability of highly productive irrigated agriculture. This proposed project will demonstrate the water and Energy conserving abilities of subsurface drip irrigation and GIS/GPS (geographic information systems/global positioning systems) in cropping practices in the region. Although highly efficient, subsurface drip irrigation use in this region is practically non-existent due to limited information on system operation and application. The project will educate producers on 1) installation and management strategies for subsurface drip irrigation, and 2) the applicability and benefits of utilizing information technologies (guidance systems) in conjunction with drip irrigation and in more traditional settings. Over 3 years, these technologies will be used together in a system for production of corn, sorghum, and cotton, and will be compared with conventional systems of irrigation and management. Producers will be able to see differences between the two different production systems and the benefits associated with drip irrigation and GIS/GPS. Drip tapes will be set on a typical row spacing (30 in.) and management will be representative of common practices in the area. Water use efficiencies will be estimated for all crops and crops will be evaluated for a best fit into the drip-GIS/GPS system. Differences in system inputs (e.g. water, fertilizers, herbicides) and outputs (e.g. yields, economic returns) will be documented throughout the duration of the project.
Orleans County Soil & Water Conservation District
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NY
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2006
Working with ten progressive EQIP eligible Orchard Farmers Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will introduce current sensor controlled precision spray technology on 1400 acres to demonstrate its potential to meet the economic and environmental needs of fruit growers of western New York, and potentially throughout the region and nation. All fruit growers strive to produce a quality product, but are often confronted with decisions on pesticide application, particularly in light of falling commodity prices. Management decisions concerning pesticide application revolve around good practice, cost of application, fruit quality and environmental issues, all within a framework of increasing legislation. Good targeting of pesticides will allow growers to reduce their pesticide use, saving money whilst still producing a quality product. The strategy of demonstrating new precision spray technology to (ensuring the spray plume goes into the target and not drift into the air or onto the ground) should lead to a dramatic reduction in pesticide use, maybe as much as 25% reduction. Orleans SWCD will certainly reduce drift, this will help growers conform to legislation, protect the environment and reduce the public profile of the spraying activity. The results of our project will be quickly disseminated to the growers via extension educators, winter conferences, summer field meetings, and publications such as growers newsletters, journals etc.
ICAST
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CO
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2006
ICAST will adapt and tailor their economic and resource model of feasibility of community scale biodiesel production to meet the needs of each individual community with the objective of demonstrating the resource conservation benefits of growing oilseed crops as part of a water and soil conservation program plus the environmental benefits of using biodiesel. ICAST will assess the feasibility of biodiesel production in that community in a manner that would help conserve their natural resources while being profitable. This project will establish an economically viable, locally sustained, community-scale biodiesel production facility in a rural community in CO or WY that can serve as a demonstration project for other communities in the region. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the value and viability of appropriate oilseed crops as a rotation to the primary crops grown in CO and WY.
Red Tomato
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MA
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2006
The purpose of this award is for the grantee to:
• Refine production protocol by improving existing and adding new soil, water, and air resource conservation criteria.
• Improve product quality by adding quality control standards, food safety, and security criteria to the protocol.
• Identify attributes, simplify and improve messages to position eco-products for long-term market growth and to achieve synergies with other eco labels including organic:
• Take USDA science to the market-reach three million people with a simple message about earth-friendly Eco Apples, and the advanced IPM and conservation practices that make them so.
• Develop effective evaluation tools to measure the impact and reach marketing initiatives.
• Educate 100 trade buyers and produce department managers about the benefits of Eco Apples and how to utilize these benefits to achieve their own business goals.
• Conduct a feasibility analysis for expanding the program to the next target product.
• Refine production protocol by improving existing and adding new soil, water, and air resource conservation criteria.
• Improve product quality by adding quality control standards, food safety, and security criteria to the protocol.
• Identify attributes, simplify and improve messages to position eco-products for long-term market growth and to achieve synergies with other eco labels including organic:
• Take USDA science to the market-reach three million people with a simple message about earth-friendly Eco Apples, and the advanced IPM and conservation practices that make them so.
• Develop effective evaluation tools to measure the impact and reach marketing initiatives.
• Educate 100 trade buyers and produce department managers about the benefits of Eco Apples and how to utilize these benefits to achieve their own business goals.
• Conduct a feasibility analysis for expanding the program to the next target product.
Illinois State University
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IL
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2006
Illinois State University will install a production scale modified, controlled drainage system, designed to utilize separated effluent from swine slurry as a soil amendment for corn/soybean production. The project includes an evaluation of a production scale solid/liquid separation, nitrification system for swine slurry. Raw slurry, separated solids and effluent will be analyzed for various constituents including SS, TSS, NH3, DO, COD, N, P, and pathogen indicators. The effects of four land application methods on crop growth and yield, and on soil and groundwater selected nutrient and pathogen concentrations will be evaluated. A website will be developed to assist in dissemination of BMP and AMP regarding slurry processing and land application. Four brochures and several newsletters outlining BMP and AMP will be developed for dissemination both on-line and in hard copy. Three workshop/field days will be held targeting livestock producers, grain farmers and educators (extension specialists, government agency staff, etc.) featuring the on-farm production scale slurry processing/land application system(s).
Eric Shafer
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MS
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2006
The overall goal of this project is to implement a unique and innovative market-based solution for effectively managing Energy generation on a typical broiler poultry farm, while addressing the highly critical issue of broiler litter disposal. An on-farm anaerobic digester is an innovative approach to conserving water, soil and atmospheric resources while generating bio-based renewable Energy and eliminating the problems of litter and dead-bird disposal. Even though the science behind anaerobic digestion is well understood, using an anaerobic digester to manage broiler litter is a truly innovative approach and has only become feasible due to a recent change in poultry production practices as described in the narrative. The proposed system will be "farmer-friendly" production-oriented version of an existing experimental poultry litter digester that is expected to come online by mid-2006. The highly-experienced project team will design the proposed new system to be effective and affordable, considering long-term economic and operational perspectives, by the typical 4-6 house broiler farm. There are nearly 2000 such farms in the state of Mississippi. This project will (1) optimize on-farm labor requirements of such systems, (2) conduct education and market coordinating efforts to farmers and other stakeholders to explain the utilization, (3) conduct a poultry growers market survey to determine the extent of the new litter management practice, and (4) facilitate technology transfer to others in the poultry industry by developing technical materials to help proliferate the adoption of this innovative approach.