USDA provides $66,000 grant to University of Arkansas

Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 15, 2004—Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced today the University of Arkansas will receive a $66,000 grant for a project to reduce nutrient runoff and ammonia emissions from poultry litter with pasture renovation and litter incorporation. Total cost of the project is $132,000.

The grant is part of nearly $14,250,000 in grants that will fund the development and adoption of innovative technologies and approaches through pilot projects and conservation field trials, nationwide.  Including the cost sharing from nonfederal partners, the total cost of the projects is more than $63 million.

“These grants provide opportunities for public-private partnerships to accelerate technology transfer and implement promising technologies and approaches that will help farmers and ranchers protect the environment and comply with federal, state and local regulations,” Veneman said.

The project is designed to demonstrate the effects of pasture renovation on pasture hydrology (time to runoff, infiltration, soil moisture and surface runoff), nutrient runoff and yields. The effects of litter incorporation on nutrient runoff, ammonia emissions and forage yields will also be studied. The project will include a cost/benefit analysis of pasture renovation and litter incorporation and outreach activities for the two practices.

“This project is a great example of how NRCS is using the expertise of the University of Arkansas and other agencies to improve the technological tools available to our employees and our farmers,” said Kalven L. Trice, state conservationist.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service administers the grants as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.  Nationally, nearly 150 project proposals were submitted from eligible governmental and nongovernmental organizations and individuals for single or multi-year projects involving producers who qualify for EQIP.  Selected projects address issues such as agricultural air emissions, water quality improvement, water management, livestock nutrient management and market-based approaches to conservation.

Grant recipients include 13 universities, 10 nongovernmental organizations, eight agribusinesses, four state governments, two resource conservation and development councils, two conservation districts and two individuals.  Selected proposals receive grants for up to 50 percent of the total project cost and must provide nonfederal matching funds for at least 50 percent of the project cost.  The federal contribution may not exceed $1 million for a single project. 

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