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.
Project and Report Search Toggle
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.
First Nations Development Institute
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AZ
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2018
: The project’s goal is to develop resources that will build the capacity of Native producers to sustainably manage agricultural natural resources through developing conservation plans as well as monitoring and evaluating grazing systems. Two-year objectives are to: 1.Build local capacity in three communities on the Navajo Nation Reservation and at the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona to develop conservation plans. 2.Develop A Conservation Evaluation & Monitoring Planning Guide for Native American Ranchers to support the evaluation and monitoring of grazing systems to meet natural resource objectives. 3. Document and publish three case studies of successful Native conservation plan development and implementation to encourage other Native producers to develop conservation plans.
University of Wisconsin
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WI
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2018
Currently, tillage is the primary method for weed management in organic grain systems. As this high degree of soil disturbance can have a negative impact on soil health and erosion mitigation, many organic producers are examining the potential for organic no-till practices, to reduce tillage, improve soil quality, and maintain optimal yields. Facing a multitude of organic no-till options for cover crop termination, cover crop rolling, planting dates, and planter modifications, organic farmers are seeking assistance with innovative solutions for best technique and practice recommendations that are in concert with EQIP and CSP standards. Working with EQIP and EQIP-eligible farmer-cooperators, we will demonstrate, on-farm and on-station, which innovations in cover crop selection, planting dates, roller type, planter modifications, and termination methods will lead to the most successful organic no-till outcomes for soil health, corn and soybean yields, and farm profitability. Results from these demonstrations also will be applicable for conventional farmers who seek alternatives to herbicides for their cover-crop-based systems. Technology transfer, through Field Days, webinars, website articles, conference presentations, and testing of soil assessment tools, will help solidify long-range impacts of organic no-till practices on conservation of soil, water and land resources.
The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
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GA
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2018
This project will promote using a perennial legume as a living mulch using a) on-farm demonstrations and documenting improved soil health at the Farm-level, and b) expanding the living mulch technology to dairy producers
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
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PA
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2018
We are advancing three innovative ideas for generating real improvements in soil health on working farms: 1.) a citizen-science approach to monitor community progress and draw insights from the practices of soil health leaders, 2.) open-source farm management software to facilitate data collection on working farms, 3.) outcome-based marketing that educates consumers on the importance of soil health and adds value to the businesses of farmers practicing excellent soil stewardship. Our project will prepare participating farmers to achieve on-going, measurable changes in soil health, and our methods could be readily adopted by partner organizations working in other regions and with different farmer communities.
Kansas State University
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KS
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2018
The project will conduct survey on prescribed rangeland burning, retrieve historical daily burned‐area from satellite data, develop regression models on smoke impact using advanced data technologies, and thus develop a practical burning decision tool to assist land managers to reduce smoke impact on ozone, and to increase capacity of land management by allowing more burning when conditions are favorable.