The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the 2022 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Donor Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State: Montana
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 05/02/2022
Size of the Grant: $75,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
Priorities
- Community Agriculture
- Develop innovate approaches to help Urban (Community) Agriculture have a stronger and more sustainable presences in Montana
- Soil Health
- Develop basic technology to improve understanding and monitoring for landowners regarding adaptation strategies and management practices for cropping systems affected by salinity build up and dynamics in Montana soils.
- Demonstrate integrated systems with practices and management for increasing soil organic matter.
- Quantify the impacts of cover crop presence, species mix, and management (e.g., termination growth stage, tillage practice, grazing) on soil water content and subsequent crop yield across a range of climates and cropping systems, especially in water limited regions.
- Innovative development and promotion of a soil health network, farmer to farmer network, in Montana to advance soil health technology (research and applied research), implementation and adoption of soil health management systems on perennial and annual crops in Montana.
- Irrigation Technology
- Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems apply water below the soil surface through buried irrigation tape with embedded emitters. In the western states, SDI has been used to support the production of high value crops. However, SDI has not been commonly applied Montana. NRCS Montana would like to better understand the potential for SDI in Montana and potential regional limitations on irrigated land.
- To help agricultural producers in Montana better understand the feasibility of crop production utilizing SDI, NRCS is requesting proposals that identify the limiting factors that may dictate the success and feasibility of SDI within the state. Results should be characterized to show regional differences across irrigated land in Montana and identify areas where SDI is most and least likely to be a viable alternative for irrigation of typical crop rotations.
- Range Health
- 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 pasture and range lands while sustaining productivity.
- Water Quality and Quantity
- Develop innovative water management systems that enhance a producer’s ability to monitor irrigation needs effectively and efficiently, incorporate water demand strategies, improve drought resiliency, and increase water, energy, and nutrient savings while maintaining high levels of agricultural production.
- Explore options to replace fluid-based weighing precipitation gauges currently used at mountain snow telemetry (SNOTEL) sites with a fluid-less, or alternative system, which offers similar performance and extended maintenance intervals (non-annual).
Funding Information
The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2022 is $75,000.
Performance Periods
Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of September 1, 2022.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Eligible applicant type is determined by the implementing program statute. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program (2 CFR 200.206(d)).
- All U.S.-based non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals, with the exception of Federal agencies, are eligible to apply for projects carried out in Montana. The following entity types are eligible:
- City or township governments
- County governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Independent school districts
- Individuals
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Small businesses
- Special district governments
- State governments
- For more information, visit Grants.gov.
