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 11 - 20 of 1802 projects
Purdue University
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IN
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2023
The 2021 Davidson Prize winner, LeafSpec, is the first touch-based high resolution hyperspectral leaf scanner of its type. Instead of measuring the leaf’s averaged spectrum, this project will explore a new algorithm to utilize both spatial and spectral information in the hyperspectral leaf image for more accurate nitrogen assessment. A fully automated robot system will also be further developed to operate this touch-based leaf scanner in the field.
South Dakota State University
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NE, SD
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2023
The project aims to support bison producers in the Great Plains and nearby grasslands by implementing innovative conservation practices, such as bale grazing. Over three years, the project has three main objectives: assessing the environmental impact of bale grazing on soil and wildlife habitats, monitoring the bison herd's health, and providing educational opportunities to improve the skills of producers and agency personnel. These efforts aim to promote sustainable bison farming practices in the region.
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
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IA, MN, WI
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2023
Audubon will customize and expand its successful 2017-CIG-supported Conservation Ranching program to beef and dairy producers to benefit grassland health, producers’ bottom lines, and grassland bird species currently in decline. This project will provide producers with enhanced financial and technical assistance for the swift uptake and deployment of these NRCS-prioritized conservation practices across 2,000 acres: 512 Pasture and Range Planting, 338 Prescribed Burning, 314 Brush Management, 382 Fence, and 516 Livestock Pipeline. Additional project elements include: (1) payment to producers for each year that Audubon’s regional priority bird species are identified on-site through avian monitoring; (2) a social evaluation study to probe what motivates and/or deters producers from joining this program to increase its uptake, and (3) soil analysis and modeling to determine the practices’ climate smart viability.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
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HI
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2023
Water is by far the major constraint to crop production for regions with high agricultural potential and value in Hawaii. Even areas with abundant rainfall experience a high seasonal variability that does not maintain adequate water for vegetable crops throughout the year. In this project, climate data from a dense network of weather stations in Hawaii will be transmitted to an innovative weather-based irrigation management technology, allowing farmers across Hawaii to take advantage of this technology. Intensive on-farm irrigation trials will be implemented at 14 collaborating farms. The results of the on-farm trials will be evaluated and presented to agricultural producers through field days and workshops to enhance the broad adoption of the developed irrigation management technology.
North Dakota State University
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ND
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2023
Virtual fencing is an innovative technology that is becoming available to help with herd management on grazed rangelands. Incorporating this new technology opens up new opportunities for management that promotes wildlife and invertebrate habitats while maintaining healthy and productive herds. Thus, the overall goal of this project is to stimulate the development and adoption of virtual fencing within grazing management strategies to benefit the livestock industry while also providing conservation benefits to wildlife and invertebrates.
DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP INC.
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MN, PA, VT, WI
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2023
This project will deploy PaddockTrac, an innovative and cost-effective precision Ag technology that accurately measures forage availability, on 20 small and mid-sized dairy farms in four states: Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Collaborating with dairy producers who currently implement continuous grazing, these on-farm trials aim to reduce the learning curve and stimulate the increased adoption of innovative practices by providing comprehensive technical assistance, data collection, and evaluation of the economic and conservation impacts of utilizing this technology to transition to managed grazing. Project partners are Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, University of Missouri, University of Wisconsin, Farm Financial Institute, and Water and Land Solutions LLC.
University of Minnesota
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IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, SD, WI
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2023
This project will combine efforts among soil fertility faculty in the North central region to work together to develop common criteria for phosphorus management guidelines. A common unbiased approach to management through combining data and research efforts would lead to more precise information on when and where fertilizer P is needed. Reducing P application in soils already high in P
would be beneficial to reduce impacts of P on surface water quality.
would be beneficial to reduce impacts of P on surface water quality.
Minority Farmers of the South
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MS
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2023
The project will collect data using drones, an innovative conservation approach, to support precision irrigation and nutrient management and improve economic, environmental, and social outcomes for historically underserved producers spanning over 12,000 acres in Mississippi. Collection and analysis of LiDAR or multi spectral imaging via drones can obviate the need for expensive precision leveling or soil and plant tissue analysis. Findings over the course of this three-year project will be carefully analyzed and evaluated, resulting in a case study that will inform future NRCS policy and establish best practices for historically underserved producers.
TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
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OK, TX
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2023
This project aims to sustainably intensify agricultural production on the Southern Great Plains
through adopting soil health management in semi-arid cropping systems. The key objectives are to: 1) identify adoption barriers to soil health management system (SHMS) and pathways to overcome them, 2) demonstrate successes through implementation on-farm and dissemination of knowledge of SHMS, 3) increase understanding of field-level processes, effects, and optimization of agricultural intensification using SHMS, 4) quantify the field and regional effects of SHMS, and 5) evaluate the economics of SHMS adoption at farm and regional scales. On-farm SHMS demonstrations will be initiated on 10 innovation and 100 observation farms within the region. We expect this project will increase cover crop adoption by 20% and no-tillage by 25% in the Southern Great Plains region and, thus, agricultural production will increase by 25% while decreasing the environmental footprint.
through adopting soil health management in semi-arid cropping systems. The key objectives are to: 1) identify adoption barriers to soil health management system (SHMS) and pathways to overcome them, 2) demonstrate successes through implementation on-farm and dissemination of knowledge of SHMS, 3) increase understanding of field-level processes, effects, and optimization of agricultural intensification using SHMS, 4) quantify the field and regional effects of SHMS, and 5) evaluate the economics of SHMS adoption at farm and regional scales. On-farm SHMS demonstrations will be initiated on 10 innovation and 100 observation farms within the region. We expect this project will increase cover crop adoption by 20% and no-tillage by 25% in the Southern Great Plains region and, thus, agricultural production will increase by 25% while decreasing the environmental footprint.
Koniag, Inc
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AR
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2023
develop the first silvopastoral subsistence management program for deer, elk, salmon & brown bears and pollinators in Alaska; development of the first adaptive management Silvo-pastoral grazing system for subsistence species in AK, new cost-effective reforestation & habitat enhancement methods, and subsistence species population surveys that result in decision tools for harvests.