Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS HI 09 03
Apply for USDA NRCS HI 09 03
- The Hawaii State Office in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Perscribed Grazing Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 14, 2009 and posted on Aug 14, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 4, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Special district governments County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Hawaii State Office offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Perscribed Grazing Management" (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS HI 09 03) to fund hands-on grazing management documentation and technical support for ranches across Hawaii. The grant was structured as a single award totaling $20,000 (with an award floor and ceiling both set at $20,000), with no cost share or matching requirement. The overarching purpose was to help ranchers and NRCS field offices by generating the monitoring records and certification documentation needed for NRCS Practice Standard 528 (Prescribed Grazing), which is commonly tied to Farm Bill financial assistance programs such as EQIP (CFDA 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program). Projects could take place statewide, on any island, depending on priorities set by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist.
A major portion of the work focused on producing formal documentation to certify implementation of the NRCS 528 Prescribed Grazing practice on selected ranches. The grantee was expected to document grazing management decisions, verify that grazing plans were being followed, and conduct field monitoring such as stubble height measurements and annual forage production measurements, plus any additional monitoring judged necessary. All of this had to follow the established NRCS procedures and forms referenced in the August 2008 528 Prescribed Grazing standard/specification and worksheets, along with the September 2008 528 Prescribed Grazing jobsheet. Required deliverables included multiple specific worksheets (Forage Inventory and Estimated Stocking Rate; Animal Forage Requirements and Pastures Needed; Stubble Height and Plant Basal Gap), digital photo documentation of monitoring locations, GPS coordinates for each monitoring location using NAD83 datum UTM, a Prescribed Grazing Certification Worksheet (one per ranch), and copies of the producer's annual actual-use grazing records. Collected documentation was to be shared with three parties: the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist, the individual producer, and the local NRCS field office working with that producer. NRCS also built in an 8-hour field training session on the Big Island, led by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist, to walk the grantee through procedures, worksheets, and monitoring methods; this training was required only if the grantee (or representatives) had not already completed similar training under a prior NRCS contract. A stated benefit of this arrangement was reducing field office workload while also creating a practical training opportunity for NRCS staff and producers, and ensuring the paperwork needed for payment certification under programs like EQIP was complete and consistent.
Beyond documentation, the grant required the grantee to provide technical assistance tailored to grazing management and ongoing resource assessment needs on participating ranches. The ranches involved were expected to represent Hawaii's wide range of forage types and conditions, including different rainfall zones and elevations. When requested by the NRCS field office, the grantee would support the development of a grazing management plan. NRCS remained responsible for writing the official grazing plans, but the grantee was expected to contribute observations and recommendations. In practice, that meant preparing a written summary for the NRCS conservation planner that identified key grazing management issues on each ranch and suggested solutions that NRCS could consider when drafting the prescribed grazing plan. The grant also emphasized improved communication and coordination: the grantee was encouraged, whenever possible, to invite the local NRCS conservation planner to ranch visits to strengthen working relationships and provide informal, on-the-ground training.
The opportunity also included a straightforward on-ranch rainfall monitoring component intended to support grazing decisions and resource interpretation. Each project ranch was expected to work with the grantee to install at least one rain gauge. Rainfall readings would be recorded by the rancher and/or grantee after each rainfall event or, if that was not practical, at least monthly. Required rainfall data elements included the date(s) of each event, inches received per event, the elevation of the gauge location, and the gauge coordinates (again using NAD83 datum UTM). The aim was to connect grazing management discussions to real, site-specific precipitation patterns, which are especially variable across Hawaii and strongly influence forage growth and stocking decisions.
In addition to fieldwork and producer support, the grantee had a limited technical review role for NRCS reference materials. Specifically, the grantee agreed to review ecological site descriptions and forage suitability group descriptions in coordination with the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist. These reviews were meant to check quality and accuracy in areas such as state-and-transition models, plant community descriptions, and animal management considerations. NRCS would provide the set of descriptions to be reviewed, and the workload was capped at no more than five descriptions per year, keeping this task supportive rather than open-ended.
Reporting and data submission were central to how the grant was managed and paid. The grantee had to provide monthly written reports identifying which ranches were worked on, total hours spent on project items, which NRCS staff accompanied the grantee (when applicable), and a brief list of planned activities. Quarterly reports were also required and needed to include summaries of completed items along with the collected worksheets and digital photographs. Rain gauge results had to be compiled and submitted as an Excel spreadsheet summary for each ranch. When the grantee assisted with grazing plan development, the written summary of issues and recommendations had to be emailed to the NRCS conservation planner within five days of the relevant visit(s) and assistance date(s). Reports were to be submitted to the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist as technical services were completed, and payments were tied to that submission. NRCS anticipated a relatively light operational role beyond the initial training and occasional joint ranch visits; NRCS would provide oversight plus forms, databases, and reference information, while the grantee would generally complete the work from their own facility using their own vehicle and equipment.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted August 14, 2009, with an application closing date of September 4, 2009, and an archive date of October 4, 2009. Eligibility was broad, including individuals, various levels of government, tribal governments and organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), and for-profit entities other than small businesses as well as small businesses. The listed administrative contact for access issues was Stephen Case, Contract Specialist, at 808-541-2600.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USDA NRCS Hawaii - Prescribed Grazing Management (USDA NRCS HI 09 03)
What is this grant opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Hawaii State Office titled "Perscribed Grazing Management" under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS HI 09 03. It funded hands-on grazing management documentation and technical support for ranches across Hawaii.
What was the main goal of the grant?
The main goal was to help ranchers and NRCS field offices by producing the monitoring records and certification documentation needed to certify implementation of NRCS Practice Standard 528 (Prescribed Grazing). This documentation is commonly required to support payment certification under Farm Bill financial assistance programs such as EQIP (CFDA 10.912).
How much funding was available?
The grant was structured as a single award totaling $20,000.
What were the award floor and ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling were set at $20,000, meaning the only award amount described was $20,000.
Was cost share or matching required?
No. There was no cost share or matching requirement.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity was structured as a single award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included individuals; various levels of government; tribal governments and organizations; educational institutions; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and for-profit entities (including small businesses and other than small businesses).
Where could the work take place?
Projects could take place statewide in Hawaii, on any island, depending on priorities set by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist.
What type of ranches were expected to participate?
The ranches involved were expected to represent Hawaii's wide range of forage types and conditions, including different rainfall zones and elevations.
What was the primary work the grantee would perform?
A major portion of the work focused on producing formal documentation to certify implementation of the NRCS 528 Prescribed Grazing practice on selected ranches. This included documenting grazing management decisions, verifying that grazing plans were being followed, and conducting required field monitoring.
What monitoring activities were specifically mentioned?
Monitoring activities specifically mentioned included stubble height measurements and annual forage production measurements, plus any additional monitoring judged necessary.
What standards, procedures, and forms had to be used?
All documentation and monitoring had to follow established NRCS procedures and the forms referenced in the August 2008 NRCS 528 Prescribed Grazing standard/specification and worksheets, along with the September 2008 528 Prescribed Grazing jobsheet.
What worksheets were required deliverables?
Required deliverables included multiple specific worksheets, including:
- Forage Inventory and Estimated Stocking Rate
- Animal Forage Requirements and Pastures Needed
- Stubble Height and Plant Basal Gap
What photo documentation was required?
Digital photo documentation of monitoring locations was required.
Were GPS coordinates required for monitoring locations?
Yes. GPS coordinates were required for each monitoring location using the NAD83 datum UTM coordinate system.
What certification document was required for each ranch?
A Prescribed Grazing Certification Worksheet was required, with one completed per ranch.
Were producer grazing records part of the deliverables?
Yes. Copies of the producer's annual actual-use grazing records were required.
Who received the collected documentation?
Collected documentation was to be shared with three parties: the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist, the individual producer, and the local NRCS field office working with that producer.
Was training provided by NRCS as part of the project?
Yes. NRCS built in an 8-hour field training session on the Big Island led by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist to cover procedures, worksheets, and monitoring methods.
Was the field training always required?
No. The training was required only if the grantee (or representatives) had not already completed similar training under a prior NRCS contract.
Did the grant include technical assistance beyond documentation?
Yes. The grantee was required to provide technical assistance tailored to grazing management and ongoing resource assessment needs on participating ranches.
Was the grantee responsible for writing the official grazing plans?
No. NRCS remained responsible for writing the official grazing plans.
How could the grantee support grazing plan development?
When requested by the NRCS field office, the grantee would support plan development by contributing observations and recommendations. This included preparing a written summary for the NRCS conservation planner identifying key grazing management issues on each ranch and suggesting solutions NRCS could consider when drafting the prescribed grazing plan.
How quickly did the grantee need to send plan-development summaries to NRCS?
When the grantee assisted with grazing plan development, the written summary of issues and recommendations had to be emailed to the NRCS conservation planner within five days of the relevant visit(s) and assistance date(s).
Did the opportunity emphasize coordination with local NRCS staff?
Yes. The grantee was encouraged, whenever possible, to invite the local NRCS conservation planner to ranch visits to strengthen working relationships and provide informal, on-the-ground training.
What rainfall monitoring was required?
Each project ranch was expected to work with the grantee to install at least one rain gauge to support grazing decisions and resource interpretation.
How often were rainfall readings supposed to be recorded?
Rainfall readings were to be recorded after each rainfall event, or if that was not practical, at least monthly.
What rainfall data elements were required?
Required rainfall data elements included: the date(s) of each event, inches received per event, the elevation of the gauge location, and the gauge coordinates using NAD83 datum UTM.
How were rainfall results submitted?
Rain gauge results had to be compiled and submitted as an Excel spreadsheet summary for each ranch.
Did the grant include review of NRCS reference materials?
Yes. The grantee agreed to review ecological site descriptions and forage suitability group descriptions in coordination with the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist.
What was the purpose of the ecological site and forage suitability reviews?
The reviews were intended to check quality and accuracy in areas such as state-and-transition models, plant community descriptions, and animal management considerations.
How many descriptions could the grantee be asked to review?
The workload for these reviews was capped at no more than five descriptions per year.
What reporting was required?
Monthly and quarterly reporting was required, and submissions were central to how the project was managed and paid.
What had to be included in monthly reports?
Monthly written reports had to identify which ranches were worked on, total hours spent on project items, which NRCS staff accompanied the grantee (when applicable), and a brief list of planned activities.
What had to be included in quarterly reports?
Quarterly reports needed to include summaries of completed items along with the collected worksheets and digital photographs.
Who were reports submitted to?
Reports were to be submitted to the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist as technical services were completed.
How were payments handled?
Payments were tied to submission of the required reports and technical documentation to the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist.
What support did NRCS provide to the grantee?
NRCS would provide oversight plus forms, databases, and reference information. NRCS also anticipated an initial training (when required) and occasional joint ranch visits.
What resources was the grantee expected to provide?
The grantee would generally complete the work from their own facility using their own vehicle and equipment.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on August 14, 2009, and the application closing date was September 4, 2009.
When was the archive date?
The archive date was October 4, 2009.
Who was the administrative contact for access issues?
The listed administrative contact for access issues was Stephen Case, Contract Specialist, reachable at 808-541-2600.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: Strengthening Rehabilitation in District Environs (STRIDE)
Previous opportunity: Idaho Wildlife Habitat Improvement Stewardship Project
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NRCS HI 09 03
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NRCS HI 09 03) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Interregional Research Project #4 Minor Crop Pest Management Program (IR 4) Apply for USDA CSREES SRGP 002624 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SRGP 002624 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| AMA Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for AMS TM 09 0057 Funding Number: AMS TM 09 0057 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for AMS TM 09 0056 Funding Number: AMS TM 09 0056 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| State and Regional AgrAbility Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002651 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002651 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| FY2010 Wood Education and Resource Center Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA FS WERC 2010 Funding Number: USDA FS WERC 2010 Agency: Forest Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 002778 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 002778 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002776 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002776 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Education Equity Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCEG 002777 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCEG 002777 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $93,750 |
| Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS FSMIP 2010 Funding Number: USDA AMS FSMIP 2010 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Data Collection and Support Services for Malawis Agricultural Development Program Support Projects Impact Evaluation Apply for MCC 10 0044 RFA 60 Funding Number: MCC 10 0044 RFA 60 Agency: Millennium Challenge Corporation Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $128,000 |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill Apply for AMS FV 09 0072 Funding Number: AMS FV 09 0072 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 002918 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 002918 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| marwan 020610 Apply for MARWAN 020610 Funding Number: MARWAN 020610 Agency: KVkv Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FARM BILL PROGRAMS and CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Apply for NRCS MD 10 0001 Funding Number: NRCS MD 10 0001 Agency: Maryland State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2010 Cooperative Agreements for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability Apply for USDA GRANTS 030510 001 Funding Number: USDA GRANTS 030510 001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program Apply for USDA RMA OUTREACH 2010 01 Funding Number: USDA RMA OUTREACH 2010 01 Agency: Risk Management Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RECOVERY Perform Farmland Preservation with Navajo Youth Corps HUTR 151632 14 1035 561990 This project will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and is subject to the reporting requirements of the Act. Apply for NPS ARRANOIHUTR100002 Funding Number: NPS ARRANOIHUTR100002 Agency: National Park Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program Apply for USDA AMS FMPP 2010 Funding Number: USDA AMS FMPP 2010 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| EQIP IRRIGATION RELATED TECHNICAL SERVICES Apply for USDA NRCS HI 10 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS HI 10 01 Agency: Hawaii State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $58,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2010 North Carolina State Component Apply for USDA NRCS NC 10 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NC 10 001 Agency: North Carolina State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NRCS HI 09 03", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.