2020 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant

Evaluating Environmental and Economic Benefits of Dairy Manure Treatment Technologies and Practices for Improving Water Quality

Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) developed the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) through annual funding from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in support of the innovation of tools, practices, technologies, and approaches to promote the conservation of natural resources.

Project Overview

One of the biggest barriers to scaling innovative technology solutions is access to technical, third-party evaluations. In 2020, Newtrient was granted nearly $700k through the NRCS CIG to evaluate 15 technology systems and practices nationwide over the course of three years. Due to the challenges brought about by COVID-19, Newtrient was granted one-year and six-month extensions for the original three-year grant it was awarded. The objective of the grant is to demonstrate the effectiveness of these systems in reducing the environmental impact of dairy manure, particularly concerning water quality. Working closely with NRCS, Newtrient developed a methodology to evaluate these systems. The goal was to establish a process that could potentially improve access to EQIP funding for new, innovative technologies under Conservation Practice Standard 629 (CPS 629) and other related Conservation Practice Standards. Newtrient has partnered with universities across the country to collect samples, document results, and produce comprehensive reports. These reports will be shared with NRCS and the dairy industry to promote broader adoption of sustainable technologies and practices within the dairy sector.

Project Objective

This objective of the grant is to evaluate each of the 15 technologies or practices for their effectiveness, practicality, and environmental impact, particularly in water quality, with a focus on:

• Ammonia and nitrate loss prevention
• Creating a clean stream of water and concentrated usable nutrients, including phosphorus
• Active composting of dairy manure to allow for reduced tillage application, improved soil health, and better nutrient utilization
• Multicategory technologies and practices

Project Deliverables

To enhance transparency and disseminate valuable insights, Newtrient has compiled a collection of various materials for each of the 15 technologies assessed under the CIG, designed to provide a thorough understanding of each evaluated technology. These materials include the following:

• Vendor Snapshots: Detailed descriptions of vendors and technologies, including project specifics, key financial implications, environmental impacts, and Newtrient’s 9-point technology scoring.
• Evaluation Summaries: Comprehensive overviews of the evaluation’s objectives, methodologies, key benefits, challenges, and implications.
• Comprehensive Reports: This document provides a thorough evaluation of the technology component for acceptance by NRCS, in alignment with a specific NRCS Conservation Practice Standard.
• Webinars: Online presentations providing insights and discussions about various evaluated technologies.
• Informative Videos: Visual presentations offering valuable information and discussions about the technologies under assessment.

*Please note that not all technologies will include all deliverables listed above, as the content varies based on individual evaluations. Evaluations and deliverables will be added as they are completed.