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 281 - 290 of 1802 projects
The Nature Conservancy
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MO
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2019
This project will develop, implement and aim to quantify the optimal combinations of grass species and grazing intensity necessary to maximize profitability for a rancher's bottom line. They will establish native plant diversity in a cool season grass dominated grazing system. Project seeks to prove that sustainable grazing is a product of a good year long available forage structure for the cattle, while ensuring productive daily gains that ultimately impacts the farmers bottom line. Implement stream side buffers and fencing out cattle from the creek, to reduce any overland flow of water, hold the soil in place and allow water to better penetrate down through the soil profile. The stream is the headwater habitat for the endangered Topeka Shiner.Additionally, promote soil health and specifically Soil Health Management Systems (SHMS) focused on maintaining or enhancing soil health by addressing all four soil health planning principles: minimize disturbance, maximize soil cover, maximize biodiversity and maximize presence of living roots.
University of Connecticut
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CT
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2019
The purpose of this project is to highlight the influence that forest management practices can have on forest soil conditions and raise awareness of soil health as a long-term forest management goal. This project will investigate ways that soil conditions can be altered by silvicultural activity and identify ways that soil conditions and soil health can be enhanced through the implementation of forest management practices. Through the lens of environmental influences specific to Connecticut that are associated with climate change, intense weather events, insect infestations and invasive plants, how forest management practices might address these and associated soil health concerns will be examined. This project will produce a literature review of current science on forest management and soil health, make specific recommendations as to how this information can be interpreted and applied in Connecticut. The project will suggest revisions to state recognized Best Management Practices (BMPs) for forest management activities for soil and water quality protection and will create educational opportunities and materials for woodland owners and forest practitioners to learn management techniques associated with promoting soil health.
University of Connecticut
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CT
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2019
Dairy farms in CT looking to improve profitability by installing anaerobic digesters to increase revenue or reduce cost by generating electricity. CT's long history of livestock production means our soils are high in phosphorus. Soils that are high in phosphorus leak dissolved phosphorus in surface and ground water even if erosion does not occur, creating water quality issues in downstream impoundments. Digester projects do not have sufficient rate of return on investment on manure alone. Food waste imports are used to maximize gas production, but at the cost of importing more phosphorus. Farms with digesters n Massachusetts have doubled their manure hauling volumes with imported food waste, and imperiled their EQIP eligibility due to their inability to manage the increased phosphorus under their CNMPs. CT farms realize they need to plan for the hauling volumes and the additional Pin their CNMPs prior to starting construction. This project proposes to install GPS capability and flow meter technology on some of the manure hauling equipment on 3 farms looking to build digesters. The GPS will allow the project to collect accurate manure spreading records for some of the manure being spread. These records will provide the data for the development of realistic estimates of how much of the manure being generated can be utilized on the farm, and how much excess there will be. The farms need to quantify these excess nutrients in order to develop cost effective approaches to moving the excess off the farms. Failure to quantify the excess and develop a plan for dealing with them will force CT farms into conducting business as usual and continuing to overload more of CT farmland soils with too much phosphorus. If we do not get the excess phosphorus under control now the detrimental effects on the state's water quality will be felt for decades and possibly centuries into the future as these soils continue to leak phosphorus.
Xerces Societty
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CA
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2019
The project seeks to increase the adoption of the Bee Better Certified (BBC) label by demonstrating the multiple benefits of the program, including supporting pollinators, monarchs, beneficial insects, soil health, and consumer interest in BBC-labeled products. The BBC label was created as a means to incentivize growers to adopt pollinator friendly
practices, such as habitat creation and pesticide risk mitigation. Although BBC is gaining recognition, the cost and logistics of becoming certified is often challenging for growers.
This project will focus specifically on the vineyard industry in California. Working with three
growers in major wine-grape growing regions of the state, we will walk these pilot farms through the steps required to achieve certification, including the creation of habitat, the adoption of nonchemical pest management techniques, and pesticide risk mitigation practices. Using these pilot vineyards, we will produce plant lists, seed mixes and pest management techniques that will support other vineyards seeking certification. We also will conduct market surveys to demonstrate the willingness, on the part of the consumer, to pay for sustainably produced, Bee Better Certified, products. As the project wraps up, we will develop a written summary on how NRCS programs and practices can be used to support grower adoption of BBC, provide detailed suggestions for updated conservation practice specifications, and conduct several outreach events to showcase practices on farms that are working towards BBC and how NRCS can help. We aim for this project not only to result in conservation and sustainable benefits for our pilot farms and the expansion of the BBC label, but also to further demonstrate how pollinator and wildlife habitat can be integrated into the working lands matrix and to increase markets for and distribution of forage mixes and plant materials for bees, monarchs, and other beneficial insects.
practices, such as habitat creation and pesticide risk mitigation. Although BBC is gaining recognition, the cost and logistics of becoming certified is often challenging for growers.
This project will focus specifically on the vineyard industry in California. Working with three
growers in major wine-grape growing regions of the state, we will walk these pilot farms through the steps required to achieve certification, including the creation of habitat, the adoption of nonchemical pest management techniques, and pesticide risk mitigation practices. Using these pilot vineyards, we will produce plant lists, seed mixes and pest management techniques that will support other vineyards seeking certification. We also will conduct market surveys to demonstrate the willingness, on the part of the consumer, to pay for sustainably produced, Bee Better Certified, products. As the project wraps up, we will develop a written summary on how NRCS programs and practices can be used to support grower adoption of BBC, provide detailed suggestions for updated conservation practice specifications, and conduct several outreach events to showcase practices on farms that are working towards BBC and how NRCS can help. We aim for this project not only to result in conservation and sustainable benefits for our pilot farms and the expansion of the BBC label, but also to further demonstrate how pollinator and wildlife habitat can be integrated into the working lands matrix and to increase markets for and distribution of forage mixes and plant materials for bees, monarchs, and other beneficial insects.
Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District
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OR
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2019
This project will create a carbon farm planning toolkit specific to Oregon to assist with incorporating carbon sequestration accounting in EQIP planning.
The Curators of the University of Missouri
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MO
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2018
This project aims to better understand the environmental and economic impacts of a farm management system, which integrates three conservation practices including: cover crops, riparian buffers, and crop rotation with biochar. Specifically, we aim to: (1)Examine the improvements of soil health including nutrients (N and P) under cover crop practice(2) Demonstrate soil and productivity benefits of application of biochar, (3) Explore theenvironmental benefits of adopting a production system focused on water quality by adoption of riparian buffers, cover crops, and use of biochar, (4) Evaluate the economic profitability of adopting the farm management system, and (5) Promote the adoption of these conservation practices.
The Curators of the University of Missouri
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MO
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2018
The overall objective of project is to determine the optimum cover crop termination date as it affects soil health factors and corn and soybean grain yield. This will be accomplished by monitoring soil health factors throughout the growing season as they are influenced by cover crop species and termination date. The effects of cover crop species (cereal crop, legume, and mix) and termination time over three years will be determined and the additive effects of these management choices on soil health changes during the growing season will be correlated to grain yield. Additionally, whether soil microbial communities are enhanced when grain crops are planted directly into the living cover crop 'green' will be monitored and if this affects grain yield.
The Nature Conservancy
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ME
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2018
This project will develop a map-based web application that will help planners and managers prioritize dams and culverts for improved Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) and measure progress towards restoration of AOP goals.
United Farmers, Inc.
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SC
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2018
Thie project will provide education to increase establishment and subsequent management of the longleaf ecosystem located within the focus area of the Sandhills Longleaf Pine Conservation Partnership located in South Carolina.
University of Connecticut
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CT
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2018
The goal of this project is to develop, through a transparent, collaborative process, a comprehensive shellfish conservation, management and restoration plan that addresses barriers and recommendations for high priority projects and practices for Connecticut. The purpose is to overcome the existing barriers and facilitate permitting and investment in shellfish restoration. The project is innovative in that it will engage public and private sector stakeholders with diverse perspectives in a science-based process to facilitate shellfish restoration in the state.