Natural Resources Conservation Service

Description

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservationapproaches 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) toagricultural producers, into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or to theprivate sector. CIG generally funds pilotprojects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farmconservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer aspecific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design whileemploying farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands. CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farmresearch 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 applicablefederal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the durationof the project; and Use a technology or approach that was studiedsufficiently to indicate a high probability for success; Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify theeffectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservationtechnologies and approaches in the field; Adapt and transfer conservation technologies,management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improveperformance and encourage adoption; Introduce proven conservation technologies andapproaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology orapproach is not currently in use. Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding ina project’s geographic area using an EQIPcontract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible forCIG funding, except where the use of those technologies and approachesdemonstrates clear innovation.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Lori Barker <br/>Resource Conservationist <br/>Phone 870-523-8986, ext 3016
lori.barker@ar.usda.gov