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 191 - 200 of 1764 projects
Iroquois Valley Farms, LLC
|
IL
|
2019
Iroquois Valley Farms will accelerate conservation adoption by enabling accredited investors to invest in its 2020 Subordinated Operating Notes (SON). Through this instrument, this project will make available to organic farmers up to $25 million in Working Capital Loans. Objectives include: 1) Regenerative Financial Plans - to provide an effective tool for farm financial and conservation management, to account for and keep track of social impacts, and to develop a tool that will serve industry best practices for a triple-bottom-line organic farming model. 2) Subordinated Operating Notes. Fund this project by structuring, issuing, offering and marketing up to $25 million of SEC qualified securities for subordinated operating Notes, possibly as part of a larger Company offering, thereby positively impact the farming and conservation finance industries by establishing in the marketplace an ongoing and scalable security to fund farmer operations and operating capital. 3) Organic and Conservation Farmer Lines of credit/Operating loans - provide long-term working capital to farmers enabling more growth of organic farming businesses and conservation practices. 4) Integrative Capital Reserve: Share credit risk, catalyzing new investor participation. Develop Subordinated Operating Notes as a new financial instrument that is underwritten to require increased conservation practices.
American Forest Foundation
|
PA, VA, WV
|
2019
The Family Forest Carbon Program is a partnership between the American Forest Foundation(AFF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that seeks to create innovative solutions to two related challenges: 1) How to engage a large portion of America’s 22 million family forest owners in globally significant climate change mitigation; 2) How to accelerate the adoption of other conservation practices among family woodland owners in the U.S. The Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) reimagines carbon accounting in a way that makes it possible to incentivize landowners at scale. Rather than basing payments on inventories of carbon, the program incentivizes specific forest management practices which have been scientifically demonstrated to enhance carbon sequestration. The implementation of these practices across a known acreage will result in sequestration reportable in tons.
Greenprint Partners
|
MO, PA
|
2019
Perennial Farming Initiative
|
CA
|
2019
In 2017, the State of California established a Healthy Soils Program (HSP), funded by the state’s Cap-and-Trade proceeds and intended to incentivize healthy soil on agricultural land by providing “financial incentives to California growers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), and improve soil health.” Given the potential for healthy soil to help California withstand fire, drought, and other climate-related challenges, together with the state’s pledge to reach carbon
neutrality by 2045, HSP Incentives were deemed necessary to promote implementation of
carbon-capturing NRCS conservation practices. Funding for California’s Healthy Soils Program
has risen steadily, from $7,500,000 in its first year to $28,000,000 in the most recent state budget
(FY 2019-20), reflecting the success of the program and the soil health movement’s still-unmet
resource needs. The proposed project would overcome these adverse market and policy conditions causing environmental externalization by establishing a public/private program that will engage consumers in funding the implementation of climate friendly agricultural practices on an ongoing basis. The two-year goal of this proposal is to design and launch a pilot program in California, with the medium-term goal of expanding the program to additional states, cities and sectors of the food economy, and a long-term goal of normalizing a national cultural practice of small-scale consumer investments in healthy soil through food purchases.
neutrality by 2045, HSP Incentives were deemed necessary to promote implementation of
carbon-capturing NRCS conservation practices. Funding for California’s Healthy Soils Program
has risen steadily, from $7,500,000 in its first year to $28,000,000 in the most recent state budget
(FY 2019-20), reflecting the success of the program and the soil health movement’s still-unmet
resource needs. The proposed project would overcome these adverse market and policy conditions causing environmental externalization by establishing a public/private program that will engage consumers in funding the implementation of climate friendly agricultural practices on an ongoing basis. The two-year goal of this proposal is to design and launch a pilot program in California, with the medium-term goal of expanding the program to additional states, cities and sectors of the food economy, and a long-term goal of normalizing a national cultural practice of small-scale consumer investments in healthy soil through food purchases.
University of Hawaii
|
HI
|
2019
Optimal irrigation scheduling is about applying the right amount of water at the right time. This project will optimize scheduling by using new technology to recognize short term trends in evapotranspiration (ETo) and Rainfall (R) data to lead to improved predictions for scheduling. Objectives include: 1) Using hybrid wavelet-Artificial Neural Networks to accurately forecast daily ETo and R across different agricultural irrigation areas in Hawaii, Guam, and Nebraska; 2) Utilize the ETo and R forecasts to improve irrigation scheduling in Nebraska; 3) Incorporate the forecasted ETo and R values into CropManag tool and develop “Advanced CropManage” to improve water use efficiency for farmlands in Hawaii and Guam; 4) Validate Advanced CropManage in improving water use efficiency at the Farm-level with field trials; 5) Implement an outreach program targeting farmers and other agricultural professionals to enhance their awareness and adoption of advanced web-based irrigation tools that conserve water and enhance farm productivity.
Appalachian Sustainable Development
|
KY, WV
|
2019
This project seeks to conserve threatened forest ecosystems and regenerate previously mined and mono-cropped land, by creating a transferable economic incentives system that can be used to encourage forest farming and alley cropping adoption among EQIP eligible landowners. Goals: 1) Enhance forestland conservation by increasing the adoption of sustainable and profitable forest farming practices in the forest understory as financial incentive; 2) Explore Alley Cropping (code 311) with medicinal herbs and shrubs as an economically viable conservation practice with market-based incentives for adoption. Objectives include: Conserve 1,800 acres of forestland under forest farming best management practices, including the mitigation of invasive species and biodiversity enhancement; attract $35,000 of additional funding as a financial incentive to support forestland conservation through profitable cultivation of forest botanicals; conduct an economic analysis of forest farmed botanicals to quantify profit potential and break-even price points required from buyers for financially viable operations; establish at least 4 alley cropping demonstration sites trialing economically important medicinal herbs and shrubs, to determine best practices for crop productivity, economic viability, and ecological enhancement.
The Nature Conservancy
|
KS
|
2019
This project proposes a technology transfer and training related to improved Irrigation Management Technology and practices on croplands. Key components include Mobile Drip Irrigation technology currently being tested on Water Technology Farms, and the KanSched irrigation scheduling tool. The technical approach is supported by the generation and strengthening of social networks. An outreach/Extension component is planned for effective and rapid adoption and subsequent improvement of current conditions. Specific objectives for this Irrigation Management Technology project include 1) Increase adoption of MDI, soil moisture sensors, and the KanSched irrigation scheduling mobile app, to test improvements in irrigation efficiency and irrigation water management, maintaining crop water productivity while minimizing groundwater withdrawals; 2) Develop water budgets and irrigation scheduling tools; 3) Facilitate a peer-to-peer mentoring network for enhanced communication; 4) Identify successful techniques and strategies that could be adapted to other communities trying to minimize groundwater withdrawals and sustain local aquifers. The project will partner with NRCS soil and range conservationists to develop strategies that fulfill the needs of local agricultural producers and aid in policy and procedure development.
Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District
|
OR
|
2019
This project will pilot an approach to improve pollinator habitat along recently modernized irrigation pipeline corridors. Develop a streamlined protocol to evaluate, establish, and monitor pollinator habitat along irrigation infrastructure. Demonstrate cost-effective solutions to create and improve pollinator habitat and corridors that unite stakeholders through outreach and education.
Allamakee Soil and Water Conservation District
|
IA
|
2019
The main goal of this project is to get more producers to try interseeding as an option for cover crop establishment. Numerous studies have documented the benefits of Cover Crops including cycling nutrients, reducing soil erosion, improving aggregate stability, increasing microbial diversity, and suppressing weeds (Clark A., 2007). One barrier to more widespread cover crop adoption is the short timeframe in the fall for cover crop seeding. In recent years, heavy fall rainfall has delayed commodity crop harvest which pushed back cover crop seeding until after the recommended seeding deadline (from NRCS) for winter-hardy Cover Crops. Many producers in Allamakee County, Iowa have tried aerial application (airplane) in late August or early September with highly variable success due to dependence on timely rainfall and drift issues in many of the strip-cropped fields. These issues have caused most producers to discontinue this method. This project will compare interseeded strips with non-interseeded check strips. A strip will be wide enough to allow for two combine passes. The strip layout will be randomized with a minimum of four replications. Above-ground cover crop biomass will be measured in each treatment strip multiple times throughout the growing season. Soil samples will be sent to a lab to run Haney tests. After corn harvest, cover crop samples will be sent to a lab for nutrient analysis. Cooperating producers will provide information including application regarding the corn planting, management, and yield and the interseeded cover crop species and management.
Colorado Conservation Tillage Association
|
CO
|
2019
Soil health is rarely achieved through isolated methods, but rather through a producer’s integration and
adaptation of a suite of practices to his/her local context. It is this systems-based and context-dependent approach to soil health, in concert with social support, that can transcend the limitations of isolated conservation practices and decision making. To increase the adoption of soil health management systems in the High Plains, we will demonstrate that producers can implement these systems profitably. An emphasis on applying principle-based systems rather than specific practices will permit us to work with a diverse cohort of 6 long-term practitioners of soil health and 18 transitioning producers representing both dryland and irrigated operations. Producers will receive financial support to create Comprehensive Soil Health Management Plans and implement a suite of practices well-suited for their operation. FARMS: Farmers for Advancing Regenerative Management Systems will provide qualified technical assistance, facilitate peer working groups, and leverage the expertise of long-term practitioners to mentor transitioning producers. This innovative combination of technical and social support will equip participants to sustain these soil health systems and regenerate their land for future generations.
adaptation of a suite of practices to his/her local context. It is this systems-based and context-dependent approach to soil health, in concert with social support, that can transcend the limitations of isolated conservation practices and decision making. To increase the adoption of soil health management systems in the High Plains, we will demonstrate that producers can implement these systems profitably. An emphasis on applying principle-based systems rather than specific practices will permit us to work with a diverse cohort of 6 long-term practitioners of soil health and 18 transitioning producers representing both dryland and irrigated operations. Producers will receive financial support to create Comprehensive Soil Health Management Plans and implement a suite of practices well-suited for their operation. FARMS: Farmers for Advancing Regenerative Management Systems will provide qualified technical assistance, facilitate peer working groups, and leverage the expertise of long-term practitioners to mentor transitioning producers. This innovative combination of technical and social support will equip participants to sustain these soil health systems and regenerate their land for future generations.