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USDA releases $15 million, interim final rule for conservation innovation grants
Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman on March 22 released the interim final rule for Conservation Innovation Grants and announced that $15 million will be available to fund selected grant proposals.
"This program provides a great opportunity to promote conservation technologies and stimulate innovative approaches to environmental enhancement and protection on working lands," Veneman said. "Farmers and ranchers will benefit by having new technologies to protect the environment and comply with federal, state and local regulations."
The 2002 farm bill established these grants as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The interim final rule will be published in the Federal Register soon with a request for public comments. At the same time, NRCS will announce the nationwide grant competition through a request for proposals that also will be published in the Federal Register and on the federal government's eGrant website .
This grant program also will engage other sectors, such as states and the conservation and philanthropic communities, to help develop, test, implement and transfer innovative environmental solutions. It will provide opportunities for public-private partnerships to accelerate technology transfer and implementation of promising technologies and approaches.
Conservation Innovation Grant proposals will be accepted from eligible governmental or nongovernmental organizations and individuals for innovative single or multi-year projects involving producers who qualify for EQIP. The grants will fund projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. Project proposals may address areas such as market-based pollution credit trading, agricultural conservation systems, carbon sequestration and reduction of applied nutrients.
The interim final rule describes a national competition and a corresponding state-level competition. For fiscal year 2004, only the national competition will be available. In future years, each NRCS state conservationist may implement a separate state-level competition. Funding availability for the distinct state-level competitions will be announced through public notices, separately from the national program.
Selected applicants may receive grants up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must provide nonfederal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost. An exception allows for beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers, tribes and community-based organizations representing these groups to obtain a higher percentage of project matching funds from in-kind contributions. The federal contribution may not exceed $1 million for a single project.
Additional information on Conservation Innovation Grants is available at the Nation NRCS website or from Carl Lucero, NRCS Animal Husbandry and Clean Water Programs Division, phone 301-504-2222.
Date: 4/15/04
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