Conservation Innovation Grants & Helping Vets Into Ag

Conservation Innovation Grants & Helping Vets Into Ag

Conservation Innovation Grants & Helping Vets Into Ag. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is awarding $142,058 to further innovative conservation research in Oregon through its Conservation Innovation Grant program. The grant will support two main projects, one for refining the use of environmental DNA for aquatic species detection and the other for on-farm production and use of biochar for composting with manure. The CIG program stimulates the development of innovative approaches and technologies for conservation on farms, ranches and forest lands. Funding for CIG comes from the 2014 Farm Bill.

USDA held a live Google+ Hangout to discuss opportunities available for returning service members looking for long-term careers in farming, ranching and agriculture. USDA Dep Sec Krysta Harden talks about how they are reaching out.

HARDEN: I do hope that what we're doing at USDA this kind of expanded cooperation with DOD and other partners, with other NGO's and groups that we can institutionalize what we do and become kind of a household name or thought for vets who are transitioning and they think about as they're ending their military service those who may have a passion for outdoors, may have a continued passion for service, a way to give back.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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