USDA to give $10 million for grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting grant proposals through Feb. 26 for conservation projects, according to a news release from the agency.
The department plans to award $10 million for the Conservation Innovation Grant program that will focus on projects on grazing lands, organic systems and soil health, the release said.
That means projects that help livestock producers improve their practices, help organic food producers to develop new techniques, and support and evaluate soil health.
Since 2004, the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service has awarded $286.7 million to more than 700 projects designed to help farmers and ranchers, the release said.
People interested in applying can attend a webinar on the grant program at 3 p.m. Jan. 11. Additional information about the webinar is available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/.
More information about the grant can be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=299499.
Undergrads sought for ecosystem effort
Undergraduates can apply for a summer-long environmental research program for 2018, according to an announcement from the Arkansas Water Resources Center.
The EcoREU program will focus on "Assessment and Sustainable Management of Ecosystem Services at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water," according to the announcement.
All undergraduates across the United States are eligible for the program, which runs May 21-July 27 at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Review of applications will start Jan. 30 until all students are selected, the announcement said.
Selected students will get a stipend of $5,500 for the summer and free room and board at the school's campus.
More information is available at ecoreu.uark.edu.
NW News on 12/25/2017