GAINESVILLE –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $65 million in 34 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects, which support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.

Conservation Innovation Grants are supported by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), which increased funding for farm bill conservation programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which funds CIG. The WFTCA strengthens the ability of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support farmers, ranchers, and partners in tackling conservation challenges at the landscape scale.

The awards include a $4,637,063  gant to University of Florida for a study on Producer-Scale Evaluation of Batch-Tested Compost and Sensor-Guided Nutrient-Water Management in Florida and Alabama Cropping Systems.

The University of Florida and Auburn University will conduct a 60-month On-Farm Trials project with 32 producers to evaluate a producer-scale conservation system that combines qualified, batch-tested commercial compost, conservative nutrient crediting, soil-moisture sensor-guided irrigation, soil and tissue testing, and allowable satellite and handheld canopy sensing. The project will use a replicated two-by-two factorial design on commercial potato, cabbage, carrot, sugarcane, sweet potato, sod, tomato, and bell pepper operations in Florida and Alabama. Environmental, agronomic, economic, and adoption outcomes will be measured at farm and regional scales, including fertilizer inputs, irrigation, nitrate movement below the active root zone, yield and quality, net return, and observed producer adoption. The University of FLorida, Auburn University, participating producers, Extension agents, qualified laboratories, and competitively selected compost suppliers will translate results into producer decision tools and NRCS-facing guidance relevant to Nutrient Management, Irrigation Water Management, and, where supported, Soil Carbon Amendment. 

“Conservation Innovation Grants help turn innovative ideas into practical conservation solutions for America’s farmers and ranchers,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “By investing in these new technologies, NRCS is leveraging partners to develop new tools, technologies and strategies that support next generation conservation efforts to keep working lands in working hands for generations to come. These grants will lay the foundation to help producers improve their operations, conserve natural resources, and strengthen the future of American agriculture.”

NRCS is awarding up to $50 million for 16 CIG On-Farm Trials projects and up to $15 million for 18 CIG Classic projects. Through CIG On-Farm Trials, partners focus on widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. Incentive payments are provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches. Through CIG Classic, partners develop new tools, technologies, and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions to resource challenges.

A full list of CIG project grants is available on the CIG website.

Since 2004, NRCS has invested $594 million to fund 957 innovative projects and 480 partners through CIG. For more information visit the CIG website.

More Information

For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife

habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, technical advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.