Hawaii State Office

Description

The USDA is responsible for Farm Bill Programs intended to provide incentives for private lands conservation. The implementation of proper grazing strategies (referred to as “prescribed grazing” by NRCS) has been shown to reduce soil erosion, modulate runoff frequencies and peak flows within watersheds, improve health and vigor of desirable forage plants, improve animal health, welfare and average daily gains, and improve water quality. Those benefits have been observed and documented across the United States, and in other countries. Since implementation of the first Farm Bill (1996), the NRCS in Hawaii has spent just under $8.4 million on grazing land conservation practices to improve resource conditions of those grazed lands. Conservation practices applied include prescribed grazing, fencing, pasture planting, range planting, and brush management. Only 14% of the cost-share dollars expended has been targeted to directly improving grazing management with the prescribed grazing conservation practice. The TSP will work with NRCS field office staff and producers to implement monitoring transects, collect annual grazing records (actual use records), determine forage-animal balance for the year, install rain gauges at each ranch and collect rainfall data with the producers, assist producers with contingency plan development and implementation, and assist the State Rangeland Management Specialist with review of draft ecological site descriptions on grazed lands. SEE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROJECT DESCRIPTION. Applicants must submit one (1) original and four (4) copies of their proposal to Melissa Skillings, Contract Specialist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 4-118, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850, NO LATER THAN 3:00 PM (HST), August 15, 2008. Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile. Proposals received after this time will not be considered.

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• Individuals
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

Contact

Melissa Skillings <br/>Contract Specialist <br/>Phone 808-541-2600 x122
melissa.skillings@hi.usda.gov