FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION PROJECTS ANNOUNCED: Focus on Energy and Nutrient Management Research

Contact:  Christina Coulon, 614-255-2471

COLUMBUS, July 6 -- State Conservationist Terry J. Cosby recently announced awards of nearly $250,000 in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to five Ohio organizations.

The funds, provided through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will assist the groups in developing and refining cutting-edge technologies to help agricultural producers sustain resources, maintain viability, and improve their operations.

"Cooperative efforts such as those supported through this program provide an excellent opportunity for public-private partnerships that can effectively promote innovative technologies and approaches to environmental enhancement on working lands," states Cosby.

The following is a list of Ohio's 2007 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Awardees:
• Environmental Defense, $74,216 – Advancing Farmer-Friendly, Highly Effective Nutrient Use Efficiency Tools: Evaluation, Demonstration, and Farmer Education;
• Mercer Soil and Water Conservation District, $10,000 – Geotextile Tube Liquid Manure Dewatering;
• The Malabar Farm Foundation, $51,140 – Malabar Farm Small Feedlot Runoff and Manure Management;
• The Ohio State University Research Foundation, $66,554 – Demonstrating the Efficacy of a Phosphorus Sorbent to Reduce Agricultural Phosphorus Transport to Protect Surface and Ground Water Quality;
• Thad Cooperrider, $75,000 – Bio-Mass Alternative Energy Project.

This is the third year that these grants have been made available by the NRCS Ohio State office. The proposals were screened by a subcommittee of the Ohio State Technical Committee with the final selection made by the Ohio State Conservationist. Selected Ohio CIG awardees can receive up to $75,000 with a 50 percent nonfederal match required. Nationally awarded projects may be funded up to $1 million with a 50 percent match requirement.

Additional information regarding the CIG program and the 2007 year program awards is available at: http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/CIG/cig2007.html or from Michelle Lohstroh, Program Manager, NRCS, Columbus, Ohio; michelle.lohstroh@oh.usda.gov or (614) 255-2508.

 

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