MOSCOW, Idaho — Aug. 13, 2024 — Enrollment in the Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership (IAMP) is now open to qualified Idaho farmers and ranchers.
The University of Idaho-led program offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers interested in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices while also seeking to create market opportunities for resulting commodities. IAMP is a state-wide project focused on reducing climate impact within the production of the state's top commodities.
The initial application round will run from Tuesday, Aug. 13, through Tuesday, Sept. 11. During the initial application period, participants may work with Desert Mountain Grass Fed Beef, the Schitsu'umsh (Coeur d'Alene) Tribe, the Nez Perce Tribe and The Nature Conservancy. Participants may list multiple partners with whom they would be willing to work, but their options may be limited by geographic and commodity priorities of each project partner. At this time, soil conservation districts are not available to partner with applicants. Those interested in working with soil conservation districts are still encouraged to apply, but there may be a delay before applications are processed.
IAMP is funded with a five-year, $55 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture — representing the largest award in the university's history — of which $31 million will go directly to Idaho agricultural producers who implement designated climate-smart practices, including no tillage, reduced tillage, cover cropping, conservation crop rotation, interseeding, prescribed grazing, nutrient management and reduced applied inorganic nitrogen, nutrient management with a 15% replacement of synthetic inorganic nitrogen with manure or compost and biochar application. The Nature Conservancy contributed a $96,327 match. Annual incentives range from $38 to $74 per acre or $1 per head per day for grazing cover crops on enrolled acreage.
IAMP is a statewide program and is open to producers of potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, barley, hops, chickpeas and beef. The project seeks to support underserved farmers and ranchers by giving priority to beginning farmers and ranchers with 10 or fewer years of experience, either independently or in partnership; socially disadvantaged farmers who face racial or ethnic prejudices; farmers and ranchers who are veterans (as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs); limited resource farmers with annual gross sales below $100,000; and women farmers and producers, either independently or in partnership.
The University of Idaho, home of the Vandals, is Idaho's land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 11,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky Conference. Learn more at www.uidaho.edu.