Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
2007 Accomplishments

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) promote the development and adoption of innovative conservation technologies and approaches while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.  Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals.  It enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation’s most pressing natural resource concerns. 

In Fiscal Year 2007, $279,000 was granted to two organizations through the National CIG competition and $112,000 to four organizations through the State CIG competition.

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Two Maine Organizations Recipients of National USDA Grants

The Resources First Foundation was awarded $160,000 and the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $119,000 through the National Conservation Innovation Grants program.  The two Maine projects were 2 of 51 projects nationwide to receive funding.

Resources First Foundation (RFF) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Yarmouth.  RFF was formed to promote and design conservation and education tools and solutions to promote conservation and restoration activities for fish, wildlife and other natural resources primarily on privately-owned lands across the U.S. and in Southern Africa.  The overall objective of the newly-funded RFF project is to build an online Program Finder Search Tool enabling private landowners to access pertinent NRCS conservation and technical assistance program information based on their location, conservation objectives, and program availability in their region.

The Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Augusta.  Their mission is to coordinate assistance from all available sources -- public and private, local, state and federal -- in an effort to develop locally driven solutions to natural resource concerns. The overall objective of the newly-funded Kennebec County SWCD project is to field-test, evaluate and implement energy conservation technologies and practices and farm-tailored electricity-saving practices and equipment.  The project will 1) build on existing energy audits to create an audit system that encompasses all farm activities and puts more farmers in a position to use more USDA and other programs; 2) introduce more producers to the newest energy-saving technologies for a variety of farm types; and 3) deliver measurable energy cost savings and carbon reductions.  As a result at least 30 producers in Kennebec County will have completed a Whole Farm Energy Audit.

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Four Maine Organizations Recipients of USDA Grants

State Conservation Innovation Grants funds were awarded to the following organizations:  Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, $20,000; The Community Energy Partners, $43,000; the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, $26,000; and the University of Maine, $22,000.

The Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District received $20,000 to assist them in carrying out Phase 1 of a Carbon Credit Project.  The purpose of Phase I is to establish a Carbon Credit Program for the state of Maine.  This will consist of the development of a pilot outreach and education program geared towards established farm and forest landowners, as well as beginning, limited resource and women farmers; an initial review of all available soils carbon data and assessment to determine what is needed to establish a statewide soils carbon baseline database; and continuing partnership building and planning as they approach phases II and III.

The Community Energy Partners received more than $43,000 to assist them in “Moving Agricultural Communities toward Conservation and Locally-owned Windfarming”.  This project proposes to conduct a statewide outreach work plan aimed at EQIP-eligible (and other) farmers and their communities to learn and be better informed about the costs, benefits and impacts of community wind.  Community wind is one of the many different types of community energy.

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association received more than $26,000 to help provide equipment and technical support to farmers for “Improving Maine’s Pastures and Hayfields with No-Till Drilling Techniques and Improved Nutrient Management”.  Maine’s grass-based farmers will be provided with the education and resources to restore hayfields and pastures with low-input systems.  The key management tool will be in the education, technical support and availability of a no-till drill and manure spreader to improve their grasslands without needing to go through a full tillage system, avoiding soil loss from erosion while improving their grassland production in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner.

The University of Maine received approximately $22,000 to help develop “Biomass Harvesting Guidelines for the Acadian Forest”.  The goal is to develop a practical site classification system to assess acceptable biomass harvest levels and determine appropriate harvesting equipment, and summarize expected effects of biomass harvesting on forest ecosystems based on regional, national and international scientific studies.  The primary product will be a practical field guide to help landowners, foresters and contractors make better field decisions regarding biomass retention levels with respect to soils, forest biodiversity and water quality.

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