02/25/08 Idaho CIG deadline nears

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho has 250 thousand dollars available this year for Conservation Innovation Grants. CIG offers financial incentives to strengthen the development or adoption of innovative technologies that address natural resource concerns. Assistant State Conservationist Bob Bartholomew says there is a 75 thousand dollar grant limit in Idaho just like there was last year. BARTHOLOMEW "We had grants ranging from 12 thousand up to the 75 thousand dollars. If they were all 75 thousand dollar requests of course that would only do about three and a third if you do the math. We would expect probably a half a dozen." Priority will go to proposals that address the development of Integrated Pest Management technologies and strategies and Global Positioning System techniques for precision agriculture. CIG funds will target innovative on-the-ground conservation activities, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. CIG does not fund research projects. BARTHOLOMEW "Let's call it the next step after the research is done. You've got an idea that's proven through research that it's very likely to work. Now we want to move it from maybe a very small test plot to farm sized fields." The application deadline is March 28th and CIG requires a 50 percent non-federal match for the total project cost. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott