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Please click the link for full release:
> http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0309.04.html
> 
> 
> Release No. 0309.04
> 
> Wayne Baggett (202) 720-2032
> Sylvia Rainford (202) 720-2536
> 
> 
> USDA PROVIDES UP TO $1 MILLION IN NEW CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP
> INITIATIVE
> GRANTS
> 
> WASHINGTON, July 27, 2004-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced
> today that up to $1 million is available in fiscal year 2004
> Conservation
> Partnership Initiative (CPI) grants for state and local governments,
> tribes
> and nongovernmental organizations that have a history of working with
> agricultural producers.
> 
> CPI is a voluntary program that fosters conservation partnerships and
> funds
> projects that focus technical and financial resources on conservation
> priorities in watersheds of special significance and other geographic
> areas
> of environmental sensitivity. 
> 
> "This program assists farmers and ranchers in achieving critical
> conservation goals and the protection of natural resources," said
> Veneman.
> "These grants encourage partnerships to devise and implement watershed
> or
> regional solutions to pressing natural resource priorities associated
> with
> agriculture and rural settings." 
> 
> CPI is carried out through two phases. First, applicants must submit
> proposals for project planning funds to the appropriate NRCS state
> office.
> Applicants may request between $100,000 and $200,000 in funding through
> CPI
> for the project planning phase and must provide a 1:1 match using
> non-NRCS
> funding. Up to 100 percent of the match may come from in-kind
> contributions. 
> 
> Applications must address at least one of the four CPI conservation
> priorities for 2004: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat
> improvement,
> coastal resources conservation, livestock nutrient management and
> minor/specialty crop pest management. 
> 
> In addition, CPI projects must be consistent with the following four CPI
> objectives. Projects must encourage:
> . Producers to cooperate in the installation and maintenance of
> conservation practices that affect multiple agricultural operations,
> . Producers to share information and technical and financial
> resources,
> . Cumulative conservation benefits in geographic areas, and
> . Development and demonstration of innovative conservation
> methods.
> 
> The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will issue a
> Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be published on the agency's
> website
> and the Federal eGrants website at http://www.grants.gov. Funds will be
> awarded through a nationwide competition.
> 
> Selected applicants will have up to 18 months to develop the
> partnership,
> generate producer interest and participation, and prepare a final
> project
> plan. Following completion and approval of the final project plan,
> phase
> two project implementation begins. Applicants are expected to secure
> project implementation funds from a wide range of potential partners
> including local, state and Federal agencies and nongovernmental
> organizations. 
> 
> Additional information on CPI including the RFP is at
> http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cpi.
> #
> 
> USDA News
> oc.news@usda.gov
> 202 720-4623

Subject: NRCS Announces Additional EQIP Signups
FYI.

NRCS is accepting additional applications for EQIP for FY 2004.
Applications must be submitted by July 23, 2004, to be considered for
funding under this year's program.

http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/news/releases/EQIP2004additionalsignup.html