NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture
State: Oregon
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/08/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands.
2023 CIG Priorities
For each of the following priorities, Oregon NRCS is looking for proposals that either provide innovative conservation technology, involve ways to monitor to assess conservation impacts, or provide ways to inventory and assess planning efforts. All proposals should be related to local conservation efforts.
- Energy Priority- The objective of this priority is to implement new technologies and/or approaches to conserve energy while indirectly promoting on farm renewable energy opportunities.
- Air Quality and Atmospheric Change Priority- The objective of this priority is to demonstrate the capabilities of agricultural and forest conservation systems to improve air quality and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase soil and vegetation carbon sequestration, and to maintain high levels of food and fiber production in the face of changing temperature and precipitation regimes.
- Water Quality Priority- The objective of this priority is to implement new technologies, methods or market-based approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance water quality resources associated with agricultural and forest land uses while sustaining productivity.
- Water Quantity Priority- The objective of this priority is to implement new technologies, methods or market-based approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance water quantity resources associated with agricultural uses while sustaining productivity.
- Plant Health/Vigor Priority- The objective of this priority is to develop and/or implement new technologies, methods or market based approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance plant health and vigor on forest, crop, hay, pasture and range lands while sustaining productivity.
- Soil Quality Priority- The objective of this priority is to implement new technologies, methods or market-based approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance soil resources associated with agricultural and forest land uses while sustaining productivity.
- Wildlife Habitat/Livestock Priority- The objective of this priority is to implement new technologies, methods or market- based approaches for environmentally sound wildlife habitat management while sustaining agricultural and forest productivity.
Proposed projects must be performed in Oregon.
Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities
- CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:
- Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and
- Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.
- Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project; and
- Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
- Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
- Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;
- Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.
Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project’s geographic area using an EQIP contract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible for CIG funding, except where the use of those technologies and approaches demonstrates clear innovation.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding Amount: $300,000
- Maximum Funding Amount: $100,000
- Minimum Funding Amount: $50,000
- Period of Performance: Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of August 1, 2023.
Eligible Applicants
All U.S. domestic, non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
