Innovations Awards

Alternate - Idaho - 2005 - Mapping Evapotranspiration from Satellites Project

To address water supply issues, cooperation between the University of Idaho, the Idaho Department of Water Resources, NASA and the private sector has created an operational tool for water administration using satellite image data.

Alternate - Pennsylvania - 2004 - Adjusted Gross Revenue—Lite (AGR-Lite)

This insurance program protects producers of agricultural commodities from reduction or loss of revenue due to natural disasters or fluctuations in market prices, paying out when a producer’s gross revenue falls below a level of coverage that the producer selects.

Finalist - Michigan - 2005 - Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)

In order to develop and promote a recognized, voluntary and proactive environmental assurance program targeted to Michigan's agriculture industry, this program ensures that producers engage in cost-effective pollution prevention practices and are in compliance with applicable state and federal environmental regulations. MAEAP uses a systems approach based on education, site-specific risk assessments and third party verification that is developed for all Michigan farms, regardless of size, commodity or species.

Finalist - Missouri - 2005 - Rediscover Your Roots: Connecting Urban Dwellers with their Rural Heritage

This program promotes travel destinations that involve work/stay farms and native grown produce to address visitors' increased demand for cultural heritage and historical experiences, the need for additional income in agricultural communities and the need to reconnect vital constituencies in a state polarized by an urban/rural split.

Finalist - Pennsylvania - 2005 - Blue Ribbon Passport Program

The keystone in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s agritourism initiative, this program aims to partner various agricultural related assets and promote agricultural awareness through increased tourism. The program also helps drive agricultural economic development by assisting farms and farm-based ventures with additional income, thus preserving small farm operations and increasing tourism revenue in rural communities.

Finalist - North Dakota - 2004 - Cooperative Weed Management

This program encourages federal, state and local agencies to share funding and personnel to control and eradicate invasive weeds on public and private lands in the state.

South Dakota - 2004 - Livestock Auction Barn Planning Grant Program

This program gives grants to help communities modify livestock auction barns to comply with new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules for concentrated animal feeding operations.

Finalist - Washington - 2004 - Comprehensive Irrigation District Management Plan

This program provides a framework and guidelines for irrigation districts and farmers to voluntarily develop comprehensive management plans that simultaneously comply with the federal Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act and maintain economic viability.

Finalist - Missouri - 2003 - Grow Native!

This program is designed to increase demand for Missouri-grown native vegetation and promote naturally resilient plants to increase biological diversity on public and private lands. Through a combination of education, demonstration and marketing techniques, the program boosts consumer and commercial demand for these plants and helps consumers find quality native plant materials and capable native landscape professionals.

Finalist - Texas - 2003 - Office of Rural Community Affairs

Designed to serve as a focal agency for the state’s health, economic development, community development and leadership development programs, this office targets rural communities. The agency has positioned itself as the door to Texas government for rural citizens, acting as a research and policy resource for rural issues.

Finalist - Utah - 2003 - Strategy to Address Water Pollution from Animal Feeding Operations

This program is a partnership between the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the state’s agricultural community. Its goal is to reduce the amount of polluted surface and groundwater areas that endanger human health by issuing federal water quality permits to concentrated animal feeding operations.

Finalist - Washington - 2003 - Burn Team: Reducing Smoke in Eastern Washington State from Agricultural Burning

This Department of Ecology program seeks to reduce the amount of field crop residue that directly impacts the safety and health of citizens breathing in the smoke-filled air. The burn team makes daily burn/no burn decisions for agricultural burning permit holders and provides air quality reports and forecasts to citizens with respiratory illnesses.