USDA Awards Nearly $20 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants, Two Montana Projects Funded

June 27, 2007

For More Information:
Erik Suffridge, 406-587-6849

Bozeman, Mont.-Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey today announced the award of nearly $20 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). The grants go to 36 states to fund 51 projects designed to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that can help producers maintain viable agricultural operations.

Two projects directly impact Montana.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive $179,000 for improving conservation of wetland and riparian habitat through enhanced National Wetland Inventory updates, aquatic weed mapping, and reed canary grass control demonstration projects.

Beartooth Capital Partners, LLC will receive $169,098 to further develop the Rangeland Carbon Sequestration Program in conjunction with the Chicago Climate Exchange in order to allow ranchers across the West to profit from the sale of the carbon credits generated by implementing grazing management practices that restore rangeland health.

“CIG accelerates development, transfer, and adoption of promising new technologies and approaches to some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns,” said Rey. “CIG benefits agricultural producers and consumers by providing more options and possibilities for environmental enhancement. We proposed further expanding this successful program in the 2007 Farm Bill and we hope Congress enacts our proposal.”

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service administers CIG, which funds pilot projects and conservation field trials that can last from one to three years. The total value of the approved projects is about $45 million after the grantees match of at least 50 percent. Applicants from 47 states submitted 171 CIG project proposals and requested CIG grants totaling about $61.7 million.

Find additional CIG information, including summaries of approved projects, on the Natural Resources Conservation Service website.

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