OpportunityTitle: Oklahoma State CIG 2012
CategoryExplanation: Oklahoma NRCS will award contribution agreements to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in Oklahoma.
Description: NRCS will use these competitive grants to seek creative solutions to assist producers with emerging and traditional agricultural and natural resource issues. These emerging issues include energy conservation, nutrient management, soil health, productivity of grazing lands, wildlife, and priority landscapes. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers CIG. CIG, a component of NRCS&apos;s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), provides competitive grants to federally-recognized Indian tribes, state and local units of governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals. CIG funds one-to-three year projects that target innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. The maximum federal contribution for each project is $75,000 at the state level. Larger federal contributions, up to $1 million are available through the National CIG program. The $150,000 in State level CIG funding will be used to address six subcategories:1. Nutrient Management2. Energy Conservation3. Soil Health4. Productivity and Environmental Health of grazing land5. Wildlife6. Priority LandscapesThe State Conservationist encourages beginning farmers and ranchers, limited resource farmers or ranchers, Indian tribes or community-based organizations that service these groups to apply for grants. Interested applicants must submit proposals to NRCS&apos;s State Headquarters in Stillwater, OK by close of business on April 30, 2012. All CIG projects must include agricultural producers who meet EQIP eligibility requirements. For more information about the EQIP eligibility requirements, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip. Information about the CIG Announcement of Program Funding can be found at the Oklahoma CIG Web page at http://www.ok.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/index.html.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: kenneth.hitch@ok.usda.gov
GrantorContactText: Kenneth Hitch &lt;br/&gt;Resource Conservationist - Programs &lt;br/&gt;Phone (405)742-1208