UW-Extension Receives CIG

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $15.7 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) to 47 organizations that will help develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate innovation in private lands conservation, including two grants for Wisconsin conservation efforts.

The University of Wisconsin – Extension received $571,708 to develop a statewide farer network for nutrient use efficiency and water quality. Whether nitrogen is applied as fertilizer or manure, it can quickly transform into nitrate, which can easily leach through the soil. Through the development of a farmer network for nutrient use efficiency and water quality, farmers will learn how to conduct their own nitrogen use efficiency assessments, and evaluate the effectiveness of different cropping practices designed to decrease nitrogen loss through leaching or volatilization.

GrassWorks, Inc. of Medford, Wis., received a $140,000 grant to provide beginning Wisconsin dairy producers with innovative managed grazing skills.