03/23/06 Conservation Innovative Grants

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has grant money for the first time ever under the Conservation Innovative Grant program. It's been around for a couple of years on a national basis and now says State Conservationist Rich Sims has money to help some Idaho producers on this 50-50 cost share program. SIMS "To address really three areas that we are honing in on; one is odor from feedlot operations, the second one is invasive species and the third one is grazing land management." Sims says there's 450 thousand dollars set aside for Idaho but there's a 75 thousand dollar limit per applicant. That means they can fund up to eight projects if there are enough applicants. Sims says that's the next step; check it out and apply. SIMS "And they need to have the information into Boise by May 15th and the forms and little more information is on our website, id.nrcs.usda.gov." If there aren't enough programs to fund with Conservation Innovative Grants any money left over goes back into the Idaho Environmental Quality Incentives Program and doesn't leave the state. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott