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 1451 - 1460 of 1802 projects
South Dakota State University
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SD
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2007
The project is designed to demonstrate and evaluate precision conservation practices that integrate and compliment biomass production for cellulosic ethanol production from multiple feedstocks’. Ethanol production in South Dakota is currently based on corn grain using a dry or wet milling process. However in the near future (3-5 years) a cellulosic process based on enzymatic processing of pretreated biomass will begin to enter the biofuel markets and co-exist with production of ethanol from corn grain. Initially corn stover will be the feedstock of choice but this will soon begin to include other feedstock such as perennial grasses. Guidelines for stover/straw removal, annual – perennial biomass rotations, fertilization, and other agronomic practices need to be developed that are site specific. Precision conservation applies conservation practices to optimize protection of natural resources, sustain soil productivity, and protect ecological goods and services within the landscape. This project will evaluate precision conservation practices applied to typical landscapes in Eastern South Dakota that are most likely to be involved in intensive biofuels production. The proposed project will be conducted on cooperating producer fields. Evaluation of management practices involving multiple cellulosic feedstocks will be conducted in MLRAs 102A, 102B/C, 55B, and 55C of South Dakota where much of the biomass production is expected to occur. Measurements will be made of biomass and grain production, biomass removed, biomass Energy potential, residue cover, soil quality, carbon balance, erosion and sediment loss potential, nutrient distribution within the landscape, and leaching potential. Comparisons will be made of contrasting management practices to include variation in biomass removal, and landscape specific location of biomass crops including prairie cordgrass, switch grass, and corn. The evaluations will be used to develop site specific technical guidelines, fact sheets, and technical specifications for use by NRCS and the SD Extension service.
Michigan State University
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MI
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2007
The purpose of this award is for the grantee to provide a tool that will aid NRCS staff in assisting producers with making decisions on where strategies to mitigate emissions for dust, odor, VOC, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide will have the greatest impact within a livestock operation.Livestock producers are under increasing pressure to mitigate air emissions, whether it is for regulatory purposes or as part of a ‘good neighbor’ plan. Mitigation strategies are expensive to implement so care must be taken in identifying if and where strategies are most useful. Because of management and structural variability in operations, these are site specific decisions. This project consists of three components:
1) Development of an on-farm air quality assessment tool for beef feedlot, dairy, swine, laying hen, turkey and broiler chicken operations that is designed to evaluate where mitigation strategies will have the greatest impact;
2) Field testing of the tool with NRCS staff, following in-service training on the tool; and
3) Refinement of the national tool as well as regionalization of the national tool where needed. As part of this effort resource materials will be developed as needed and as identified by NRCS staff.
The resulting tool will be available through venues with national exposure and its use can be incorporated to other efforts to address air quality and livestock production. This submission illustrates the commitment of the land-grant system to developing solutions as well as the commitment of the industry in implementing strategies to protect air resources. The livestock and poultry industries have pledged their commitment through their partnership agreements with this project and their commitment of matching funds to ensure the success of the proposal.
1) Development of an on-farm air quality assessment tool for beef feedlot, dairy, swine, laying hen, turkey and broiler chicken operations that is designed to evaluate where mitigation strategies will have the greatest impact;
2) Field testing of the tool with NRCS staff, following in-service training on the tool; and
3) Refinement of the national tool as well as regionalization of the national tool where needed. As part of this effort resource materials will be developed as needed and as identified by NRCS staff.
The resulting tool will be available through venues with national exposure and its use can be incorporated to other efforts to address air quality and livestock production. This submission illustrates the commitment of the land-grant system to developing solutions as well as the commitment of the industry in implementing strategies to protect air resources. The livestock and poultry industries have pledged their commitment through their partnership agreements with this project and their commitment of matching funds to ensure the success of the proposal.
University of Georgia
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GA
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2007
The project will target dairy producers that have waste-applying center pivot (CP) irrigation systems in fields with either, known environmentally sensitive areas, overlapping conditions with adjacent pivots, or other soil/slope variations that create management problems by limiting useable areas for waste application. The University of Georgia has developed a Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) precision pivot control that integrates GPS positioning into a control system. The control system cycles individual sprinklers or groups of sprinklers OFF and ON (seconds ON per minute) and varies travel speed to achieve desired application rates within management zones. VRI has the potential to give dairy operators the ability to fine tune their waste water application, avoiding the environmentally sensitive “setback” areas as the CP makes its way around the field, eliminating over watering in overlap areas, and optimizing application in other areas. As part of the project, 6-8 suitable operators/systems (VRI-suitable, EQIP-eligible, interested producer) will be identified and have the VRI technology installed (90% from this grant, 10% from producer) on their waste-applying CP systems. Project members will coordinate all efforts of the identification and installation process between the vendor and the producer(s). Members will also monitor and evaluate the operational performance and effectiveness of the VRI systems. Field days and demonstrations will be held to disseminate information to producers on the benefits of using precision controls on their waste application pivots. Publications and other information that can be distributed and presented in various forms (i.e. Extension bulletins, newsletters, journal articles, flyers, web material, etc.) will be developed.
Albany State University
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GA
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2007
The purpose of this award is for the grantee to recruit participants to adopt the Farmer Portal on 40,000 acres of irrigated farmland in order to guide efficient use and water conservation activities.Good management practices are knowledge-driven. This proposal seeks to provide farmers and water resource managers with the knowledge needed to improve water resource management. Recent droughts, litigation with neighboring States over water allocation, and endangered aquatic species have created a high level of concern over water resource availability in the Georgia.
A key barrier to better water resource management in Georgia is a lack of data on how water is used in the State, especially in the agricultural sector. This project will help to bridge this information gap through implementation of the Farmer Portal, an interactive, Internet-based technology that was developed by the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center.
The Portal collects information on agricultural water use and crop yields and gives farmers immediate, practical, and customized feedback in return. It has been demonstrated that conservation adoption is more likely when potential adopters understand their performance relative to others. The Portal provides such relative performance data to encourage the adoption of conservation practices. The Portal gives farmers a tool that can track water use and production against real-time benchmarks based on data from other farms operating under similar conditions in the same region or watershed.
This project will demonstrate the Portal through outreach and facilitate its adoption with direct technical assistance and incentive payments. The project area consists of two water-stressed sub-basins in southwest Georgia: the Ichawaynochaway and Spring Creek sub-basins. The Portal technology is fully developed, but successful implementation requires farmer participation. This project focuses on promoting farmer adoption of the Portal technology and securing adequate participation to support a reliable database.
The results will be transferable to other basins in Georgia as well as other irrigated agricultural lands across the U.S. We are also currently working to expand the applications of the Portal through cooperative arrangements with agencies such as the USDA Farm Service Agency.
A key barrier to better water resource management in Georgia is a lack of data on how water is used in the State, especially in the agricultural sector. This project will help to bridge this information gap through implementation of the Farmer Portal, an interactive, Internet-based technology that was developed by the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center.
The Portal collects information on agricultural water use and crop yields and gives farmers immediate, practical, and customized feedback in return. It has been demonstrated that conservation adoption is more likely when potential adopters understand their performance relative to others. The Portal provides such relative performance data to encourage the adoption of conservation practices. The Portal gives farmers a tool that can track water use and production against real-time benchmarks based on data from other farms operating under similar conditions in the same region or watershed.
This project will demonstrate the Portal through outreach and facilitate its adoption with direct technical assistance and incentive payments. The project area consists of two water-stressed sub-basins in southwest Georgia: the Ichawaynochaway and Spring Creek sub-basins. The Portal technology is fully developed, but successful implementation requires farmer participation. This project focuses on promoting farmer adoption of the Portal technology and securing adequate participation to support a reliable database.
The results will be transferable to other basins in Georgia as well as other irrigated agricultural lands across the U.S. We are also currently working to expand the applications of the Portal through cooperative arrangements with agencies such as the USDA Farm Service Agency.
University of Georgia
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GA
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2007
This project will demonstrate the use of anaerobic digestion as a means to convert agricultural waste into methane for Energy purposes. Agricultural waste of interest in this demonstration project is liquid poultry waste. The use of the proven anaerobic digestion technology will allow the farmer to convert the organic fraction of flush water from a poultry operation into methane. This will be accomplished by completing the following objectives:
1) install an anaerobic digestion system at a poultry layer operation for treating flush water from a high-rise layer house for production of methane;
2) install an anaerobic digester for demonstrating co-digestion of poultry litter and fruit and vegetable waste;
3) monitor reactor inputs and outputs and use produced gas for on-site operations; and
4) provide Extension education on the anaerobic digestion process, Energy availability and operation.
1) install an anaerobic digestion system at a poultry layer operation for treating flush water from a high-rise layer house for production of methane;
2) install an anaerobic digester for demonstrating co-digestion of poultry litter and fruit and vegetable waste;
3) monitor reactor inputs and outputs and use produced gas for on-site operations; and
4) provide Extension education on the anaerobic digestion process, Energy availability and operation.
Northwest Natural Resource Group
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WA
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2007
This project aims to provide access and market development for small forest landowners in Western Washington to allow them access top emerging markets for carbon sequestration in addition to their existing access to market for sustainable wood products. Working through all levels of the supply chain, NNRG (with Earth Economics and Pacific Forest Trust) will apply existing research and models by develop protocols for determining carbon sequestration on land certified as sustainable managed by the Forest Stewardship Council and the additionally of this sequestration over traditional management practices. This can be packaged into marketable verifiable carbon credits for sale in voluntary or regulatory markets. NNRG and the Nisqually River Council will work through a variety of outreach methods to recruit landowners into the program and assist them with the development of long term management plans meeting certification requirements. NNRG will develop methods of aggregating the carbon credits and sustainable wood streams produced by participating landowners to allow them to access larger scale markets at premium prices. NNRG will also be working with regional and State decision markets to develop carbon registries of in advance of regulatory requirements and build a regional and then State-wide carbon market, compatible with other developing markets in other States, in which landowners can participate. The ability of landowners to access the emerging market for carbon sequestration services (and other ecosystem services) will contribute to their ability to rema9in financially stable while sustainable managing their forestlands, keeping this land as part of a functioning ecosystem and encouraging practices that lead to greater carbon sequestration and, therefore, improved health of Earth’s atmosphere.
Solomon Valley RC&D
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KS
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2007
The purpose of this award is for the grantee to incorporate the cereal grain, teff, into a market-based crop rotation to maximize soil moisture and precipitation while increasing the annual income for dry land farmers in Kansas.Teff, a crop native to Ethiopia, has been proven to grow in northwest and north central Kansas. Two years of teff experimentation has also been conducted by Kansas State University at the Experiment Station near Colby, Kansas and by the KBFA at Nicodemus, Kansas. Teff is also being commercially grown in both Oklahoma and Idaho and sold throughout the United States to Ethiopian restaurants and health food stores. Teff is drought and flood tolerant, can be used as both forage and a grain, and is low in gluten. The Solomon Valley RC&D, in collaboration with the KBFA will select six to eight limited resources, EQIP eligible producers to incorporate and grow eighty acres of teff within existing crop rotations. Teff will maximize the efficient use of precipitation and soil moisture. With teff the innovative crop rotations will improve soil health, conserve moisture, and sustain productivity.
Maryland Department of Agriculture
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MD
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2007
This project is the development and pilot implementation of an agricultural nutrient raiding or offset program for the State of Maryland to use in managing nutrient loads from point and non-point sources. The approaches developed will provide opportunity and structure for intrastate, as well as, interstate trading in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The project will build on the basic tenets contained in the 2001 EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Nutrient Trading Fundamental Principles and Guidelines and the 2003 EPA Water Quality Trading Policy.
The development of this program will require and include the participation of the affected communities, environmental organizations, and State and local elected officials prior to adoption. A second objective is to gain a better understanding of the quantitative issues surrounding nutrient trading in the agricultural sector. Issues of costs, efficiencies, incentives and returns will be analyzed in order to develop policy based on current market and economic forces. A further goal of the project is to demonstrate, through a pilot or demonstration project in the upper Chesapeake Bay, that trades can be part of a successful program to reduce nutrients to the Bay and its tributaries.
The development of this program will require and include the participation of the affected communities, environmental organizations, and State and local elected officials prior to adoption. A second objective is to gain a better understanding of the quantitative issues surrounding nutrient trading in the agricultural sector. Issues of costs, efficiencies, incentives and returns will be analyzed in order to develop policy based on current market and economic forces. A further goal of the project is to demonstrate, through a pilot or demonstration project in the upper Chesapeake Bay, that trades can be part of a successful program to reduce nutrients to the Bay and its tributaries.
Kennebec County Soil & Water Con District
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ME
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2007
The proposed CIG project will 1) build on existing Energy audits to create an audit system that encompasses all farm activities and puts more farmers in a position to use more USDA and other programs; 2) introduce more producers to the newest Energy-saving technologies for a variety of farm types; and 3) deliver measurable Energy cost savings and carbon reductions. Results:1) At least 30 producers in Kennebec County will have undergone the Farm-level Energy Audit. At a minimum the audit prepares farmers for the broadest slate of Energy programs: State incentive programs for Energy-saving technologies, the USDA 9006 program, as well as a number of EQIP farm practices (e.g., crop rotation, green manure). It is expected that the project will result in recommendation to adopt specific practices as NRCS standards and practices for future use in cost-share programs. A thorough assessment of the cost-efficiency of the pilot project, lessons learned, and feasibility for expansion will be included in the Final Report. The results and recommendations for expansion will be communicated to the farming communities in the State, the National and State USDA offices, and State Energy programs throughout New England.
Giziibii RCD
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MN
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2007
The purpose of this award is for the grantee to reduce the reliance of coal generated electricity and replace it with a renewable Energy source from biomass gasification.Project will evaluate biomass produced on two demonstration farms and burned in a low water use gasification system for the production of syngas to generate electricity. This power will be used at the Northern Excellence seed processing facility in Williams, Minnesota. Northern Excellence Seed, LLC is a producer-owned cooperative made up of 30 members. All of these producers are eligible for EQIP. Installation of a 100-kilowatt gasifier at the Northern Excellence Seed, LLC will produce an estimated 744,600-kilwatts per year. Biomass sources include 2 million pounds of seed screenings per year from Northern Excellence Seed, LLC and producers growing perennial Energy crops within a reasonable distance from the seed plant. Gasification of biomass for electricity is a proven technology. Long-term use and available demonstration sites are not readily available however. This project will resolve these issues and provide vital information to producers considering the value of perennial Energy crops. The Energy produced will improve atmospheric air quality in multiple ways. Perennial grass crops have been shown to capture and store carbon dioxide. These carbon sequestrations along with the replacement of coal generated electricity to a renewable Energy source are the primary purposes of this project.