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History of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in New Jersey
Many exciting projects are underway in New Jersey as a result of CIG. The first NJ Conservation Innovation Grants were awarded in 2005. 2009 Awards
Rutgers University Rutgers entomologists will examine selected native plants for use by native pollinators for various New Jersey agricultural crops. Technical recommendations for pollinator restoration plantings for use in USDA Farm Bill programs will be developed, job sheets on pollinator restoration will be produced and workshops for NRCS staff and agricultural producers will be held. South Jersey Resource Conservation
and Development Council No-till plots and conventional till plots will be established and results compared on two farms for the no-till pumpkin production demonstration project. Soil test analysis, data on cover crop species, seeding rates, seeding dates, soil moisture levels, yield data, and economic data will be assessed. Project results will be presented at meetings and in a fact sheet promoting this innovative conservation practice. Rutgers University Rutgers researchers will develop methodologies for implementing NRCS Practice 592 “Feed Management” on equine farms in New Jersey. The project will demonstrate feed management at two horse farms in targeted watersheds. Rutgers will produce facts sheets, and use field days to educate the equine public about Best Feed Management Practices. New Jersey Audubon New Jersey Audubon will develop a new specialty wood product from forest biomass produced as a result of forest improvement activities in the Pine Barrens. A fact sheet on the new product will be produced. Avian and vegetation responses to forest management activities will be analyzed and reported. 2009 Application Materials
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat.
2008 AwardsLaine Farms A local warm season pelletizing facility will be developed in Somerset County to provide an alternate market for the warm-season grass crops in northern New Jersey. The use of the pellets to provide winter heating for agricultural structures will be further demonstrated in a partnership effort with New Jersey Audubon. Rutgers.
the State University of New Jersey Audit tools for use in energy-intensive horticultural and floriculture operations will be developed and tested by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Dr. Thomas Manning at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station will lead this project with a goal of discovering appropriate energy conservation measures that reduce total energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve agricultural efficiency. Derwood Farms A local source of black-oil sunflowers for a “Jersey Grown” bird seed mix will be developed by Mark Kirby of Derwood Farms in partnership with New Jersey Audubon. The project will also include the use of an innovative bio-char product to enhance the soil condition in the sunflower fields in an effort to improve water quality and carbon sequestration. EnSave Up to five staff members from local Soil Conservation Districts and/or Resource Conservation and Development Councils will be recruited and trained to perform on-farm energy audits in New Jersey. As part of the grant agreement, four audits will be conducted and energy saving strategies will be implemented on the audited farms. 2008 Application Materials
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat. 2007 Awards
Cumberland-Salem Soil Conservation District This project will help to implement precision agriculture on over 10,000 acres of cropland in southern New Jersey. The grantee is working with over thirty local growers testing the ability of precision agriculture tools to reduce nutrient and pesticide applications on their operations. 2007 Application Materials
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat. 2006 AwardsRutgers University – Water Resources Rutgers will implement a vegetated channel system on a private nursery operation to encourage uptake of nutrients and improve infiltration of irrigation runoff into the soil. The activities carried out under this grant will: 1) incorporate turf grass and native warm season grasses into the runoff conveyance system, 2) use a water and nutrient budget as a basis for monitoring results, 3) test the recovered water for disease-causing fungus and bacteria, and 4) recommend changes to the NRCS technical standard for tailwater recovery. Rutgers University – Environmental Sciences Under this agreement, Rutgers researchers will implement soil management practices in real-crop situations to determine the effectiveness and applicability of the recommended measures. The activities carried out under this grant will: 1) establish the recommended practices on several crop fields, 2) monitor the crop response and changes in soil quality indicators, 3) develop outreach materials and results reports, and 4) recommend changes to the draft NRCS technical standard for soil management.
AgChoice, a private corporation, will study the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of a regional composting facility for agricultural waste. The activities carried out under this grant will: 1) evaluate the economic efficiency of a collecting agricultural wastes from small scale and concentrated animal operations, 2) determine the environmental benefits of an aerobic covered pile composting process, 3) provide hands-on opportunities for others to learn how the facility was developed and operates, and 4) provide a summary report of the lessons learned. 2006 Application Materials
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat. 2005 AwardsNorth Jersey RC&D This project is designed to provide recognition for farmers who assess the potential water quality impacts of their existing operation, and implement best management practices on their farms to reduce any negative impacts or enhance positive impacts. The project will focus on the Neshanic River watershed, an intensely farmed area of Hunterdon and Somerset counties that is part of the Raritan River basin and water supply for thousands of New Jersey residents.
This grant will fund innovative equine pasture systems and educational workshops, seminars, and fact sheets that will demonstrate how the implementation and management of these practices can improve water quality as well as herd health. As part of the grant, Rutgers will be reaching out to most of the 7,600 small livestock producers in New Jersey who may not be aware of the types of programs and services that NRCS and USDA can provide. 2005 Application MaterialsThe following documents require
Adobe Acrobat. < Back to Conservation Innovation Grants Home Last Modified: November 05, 2009 |
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