Gainesville, FL., December 15, 2010—USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White this week announced the availability of conservation grants to support large-scale demonstration projects that will accelerate the adoption of new and innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote carbon sequestration on America’s private lands. 

“By supporting the development of the most promising new approaches for reducing greenhouse gases we can identify new methods that may ultimately help every farmer and rancher reduce their carbon footprint,” White said.  “We want to encourage technology that helps the environment but also improves producers’ ability to run sustainable and profitable operations by enhancing energy efficiency and soil quality.”

NRCS is making $5 million available nationwide through the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) program, and requesting proposals that meet the following requirements:

•           Promote the adoption of conservation systems and practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon;

•           Quantify the impacts of applied conservation practices on GHG emissions and carbon sequestration;

•           Demonstrate and further develop opportunities for marketing environmental credits associated with reducing GHG emissions and/or increasing carbon sequestration; 

•           Quantify the environmental benefits of these practices and work with GHG trading organizations to assist eligible producers interested in selling their GHG emission-reduction credits; and  

•           Assess the market response to the availability of agricultural GHG credits.

CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.  This is the first time NRCS has made GHG projects a focus of the CIG program.  Project proposals must involve producers who are eligible for the NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers financial and technical assistance to help producers implement conservation practices on agricultural land.  In addition to the CIG awards, NRCS will provide up to $10 million in EQIP funding to support eligible producers, who are working with grant recipients, as they implement conservation practices associated with selected GHG projects. 

Funding for CIG is made available through the 2008 Farm Bill.  Funds will be awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process with applications being accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).  Applications will be accepted from all eligible individuals, non-federal governments and non-governmental organizations, including federally recognized tribes and private businesses.  At least 50 percent of the total cost of the GHG demonstration project must come from non-Federal matching funds (cash and in-kind contributions) provided by the grant recipient.

Applications for CIG GHG grants must be received in the NRCS National Headquarters by close of business February 11, 2011. Applications should be sent to: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Conservation Innovation Grants Program; National Technology Support Team, Room 6227-S; 1400 Independence Ave, SW; Washington, DC 20250.

To apply electronically visit: www.grants.gov/ .  To view the complete Announcement of Program Funding, visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html.

Additional information on NRCS and our programs is available on our website at www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov or at your local USDA-NRCS office. To find the nearest office go to http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

This federal fiscal year was a learning experience for us all with the launch of the new 2008 Farm Bill.  We greatly appreciate the cooperation and assistance we received from our partners in conserving Florida’s natural resources.

To give you a short rundown, in FY 2009 we signed over 492 landowner contracts or easement agreements totaling over $94.6 million on approximately 164,000 acres. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) alone we obligated $17.6 million dollars. Under the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), we signed 81 landowner contracts covering 31,738 acres for a total of $1.5 million. Through the Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program (FRPP) there were 2 permanent easements signed with landowners covering 165 acres for a total of $1.4 million dollars.

In FY 2008, the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) celebrated a national milestone of two million acres enrolled in the program. This fiscal year Florida enrolled an additional 12,880 acres and obligated almost $75 million dollars to conserve or improve our state wetlands.

Under the EQIP program, Florida had two Conservation Innovation Grant projects approved for a total of $150,000.  We see these projects as excellent ways to add to our portfolio of conservation practices, particularly in regard to pollinators, water quality, and renewable energy.

In addition to the above programs, the 2008 Farm Bill now offers new conservation funding opportunities under EQIP. Florida has a large contingent of organic growers and the Organic Initiative is one program that they may be able to take advantage. Of those producers already organic certified we signed 12 contracts for $75,610 on 433.8 acres.  Of those transitioning to organic we signed 7 contracts and obligated $71,440 on 220.5 acres. Under the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) we had two projects approved.  The Southwest Florida Water Management District received $1 million and the Suwannee River Partnership received $750,000. Both of these new programs will have positive implications for Florida.

These accomplishments are due, in part, to the conservation partnerships NRCS has –such as the Association of Florida Conservation Districts, soil and water conservation districts, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida’s 5 water management districts and agricultural producers.

Overall, the Fiscal Year 2010 budget looks pretty favorable.  It looks like this budget may be higher than the FY2009 budget.  In light of this, we wanted to get an earlier start this year and speed the delivery of our Farm Bill program cost share and incentives to the field.  Therefore, we conducted signups with a cut off/batching date of October 30, 2009, for several FY 2010 Farm Bill programs. 

Again, thanks to your partnership, NRCS was able to achieve all that we did this year. We will continue to need the help of our partners to get high-quality conservation on the ground and…help people help the land.