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 1541 - 1550 of 1764 projects
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.
North Carolina Department of Environmental & Natural Resources-Division of Soil & Water Conservation
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NC
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2006
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Division of Soil and Water Conservation will investigate the hydrology of the Upper Smith River Watershed and identify irrigation and droughts influence on the stream flow of the Smith River, so that informed decisions and plans of action can be made. Surface and ground water flowing in and out of the Smith River Watershed will be measured and tracked utilizing temperature as a natural tracer. Utilizing temperature, in conjunction with water level gradients, to determine the flow pattern and interaction between the ground water and surface water systems is a new and innovative technique that would allow hydrologic systems to be investigated at a greatly reduced cost to the present techniques in use.
The Nature Conservancy
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SD
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2006
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will use a comprehensive private lands integrated fire and patch-burn grazing system to assess landowner operations and respond to those assessments by providing the necessary tools and knowledge to the producer to meet Habitat and forage goals and ultimately improve biodiversity. TNC has established five active demonstration sites specifically designed to transfer knowledge and understanding of advanced fire and grazing systems. TNC is now poised to implement the second major phase of the project, which includes on-site evaluations of private lands, fire and grazing planning, and coordination of fire and grazing implementation. By utilizing CIG funds, we plan to perform preliminary site assessments including floristic quality indexing, establishment of grazing exclosures, species composition analysis, and Habitat structural analysis. Following pre-treatment site analysis, TNC will work with landowners to implement ecologically sound prescribed grazing and burning practices that augment not only the Habitat quality of the site, but also serve to enhance the producers overall ranch management and income potential. TNC anticipates the majority of the funding necessary to perform the actual fire implementation will come from additional funding sources. However, a portion of these funds may be utilized to perform fire implementation on pre-established demonstration sites. TNC’s objective for this project is to conduct biological assessments and management planning. Ultimately, our goal over time and with additional funding sources is to work with producers to implement patch-burn grazing systems that are economically feasible and ultimately self-sustaining, thus maintaining or increasing cattle production while concurrently stimulating biodiversity and structural Habitat mosaic.
El Dorado Irrigation District
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CA
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2006
The El Dorado Irrigation District will purchase soil moisture sensors and data loggers. This equipment will be used to determine if the neutron probe that is currently in use can be replaced with permanently placed sensors to increase irrigation scheduling capabilities and efficiencies. The primary goal of this project is to optimize irrigation timing and efficiency while reducing and/or eliminating run-off, erosion and EID resources.
Colorado State University
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CO
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2006
Colorado State University will demonstrate ways to maintain economic and environmental sustainability when transitioning cropping systems from full irrigation to limited irrigation or dry land. This project will be the basis for a detailed economic analysis to illustrate profitability of irrigation systems for varying precipitation and farm price environments. The economic analysis will provide information for producers to make informed decisions about adoption of innovative irrigation systems and potential water transfers environmental concerns that will be addressed in the demonstrations include water quality, soil quality, and soil erosion control. A comprehensive outreach and education objective will transfer the findings to audiences including fanners, agribusiness, and government agencies through field demonstrations, extension field days, a spreadsheet based decision support tool, and a fact sheet series. Further, results from the project will be extended to regional and national audiences faced with declining agricultural water resources via a web site, national meetings, and journal articles.
Winrock International Institute of Agricultural Development
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AR
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2006
This Conservation Innovation Grants project will demonstrate the ability of performance-based incentives to increase farmer flexibility and improve the technical- and cost-effectiveness of agricultural nonpoint source pollution control. Performance-based incentives will be pilot-tested in 6 watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and the Lake Champlain Basin. Incentive payments to EQIP-eligible producers will be based on the achievement of farm-level environmental performance targets that have been .created by working groups of farmers, agency staff, and scientists in each state. This performance-based approach will provide flexibility for farmers to use appropriate, creative, and innovative strategies to address nonpoint source pollution issues. In the process farmers will seek the most cost-effective solutions for their operations, which will increase the cost-effectiveness of agricultural pollution control programs. This approach will be transferable to any agricultural watershed, provided that local stakeholder input is used to design appropriate performance measures and targets.
West Virginia University Research Corp.
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WV
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2006
West Virginia University proposes a three-phased approach to develop and implement a water quality credit trading program in the WV area of the Potomac River Watershed. The first phase will focus on developing accurate watershed specific information and data to properly inform the trading development process. This information and data will be used to modify the World Resources Institutes NutrientNet electronic trading platform that has been developed for the entire Potomac River watershed. This process will provide an accurate baseline to evaluate potential credit supply and demand, incremental cost of credits and pollutant reductions. In the second phase West Virginia Research Corporation will launch broad public outreach and education to constitute a trading stakeholder process. Informed stakeholder input into the development of the trading framework and infrastructure will improve the trading program design and increase stakeholder trust and support for it. This broader process will be supported, informed, and facilitated by a core team of official project collaborators and other key players. Stakeholders will address and resolve critical trading infrastructure and element issues such as structure and function of the bank or board of trade, trading ratios, liability for non-compliance, enforcement, allowable trades, oversight, legal authority, transparency etc. In the last phase, West Virginia University will use the outcomes from the stakeholder process to establish the program rules and infrastructure and to execute a pilot-trading program. West Virginia University will build administrative functions into existing funding, procedures, staffing and infrastructure of the state agriculture cost-share program. A trading bank will be capitalized by providing incentives for early point source participation. This revenue will be used to offset cost share requirements and kick start the trading process. NutrientNet will serve as the electronic registry and marketplace for facilitating and conducting trades and determining optimal BMP applications and loading reductions. The program will be overseen by a Board of Trade with the responsibility to ensure that trades are conducted in accordance with established rules and to adapt the program in order to encourage maximum participation and efficiency.