The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $40 million into 31 projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, which includes the Innovative Technologies to Reduce Beef Industry GHG Emissions project led by Colorado State University (CSU).

The CIG program is part of USDA's efforts to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture, according to a release by the USDA.

“These investments move the needle in helping agricultural producers adopt and implement climate-smart practices, including nutrient management,” Clint Evans, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado, said in the release. “This helps producers manage nutrients and soil amendments to maximize their economic benefit, while minimizing their environmental impact.”

NRCS plans to invest $25 million through On-Farm Trials, will support widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches, in partnership with agricultural producers. Incentive payments will be provided to producers to offset the risk of implementing innovative approaches.

The projects will focus on the adoption and implementation of climate-smart practices, including nutrient management, which helps producers optimize economic benefits while minimizing environmental impact. The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is also investing $25 million through On-Farm Trials to support wider adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers, the release stated.

In Colorado, $1,032,839 is being invested through CIG Classic for the Innovative Technologies to Reduce Beef Industry GHG Emissions Project at Colorado State. The project aims to generate science-based estimates of CO2-equivalent emissions from the livestock grazing and finishing sectors using novel technologies and evaluate potential CO2e reductions from conservation practices, the release added.

For fiscal year 2022, NRCS set aside targeted funds for CIG Classic and other on-farm proposals that would aid underserved producers, such as those who previously lacked access or hadn't participated in NRCS programs. That included socially disadvantaged producers, veterans, beginning farmers and limited-resource producers. 

Applicants competing for those funds were also able to waive the non-federal match requirements, USDA stated.