Category: Timeline Stories

  • Iowa NRCS Statewide Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)

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    birch-admin

    2023-2028 Iowa NRCS Statewide Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) FDCE is the project lead on a 5-year contract for project execution, producer outreach and communication. We are working in close coordination with NRCS WRP Specialist, DCs and producers to complete EWP restoration projects statewide.

  • Piedmont Hospital Biomass

    Piedmont Hospital Biomass

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    birch-admin

    2006-Ongoing Due to innovation and switchgrass establishment success, Virginia Tech and Conservation Management Institute asked FDCE for help in converting the feedstock for Piedmont Geriatric Hospital’s (PGH) biomass boiler to native switchgrass. Prior to this effort, PGH relied primarily on sawdust as their boiler feedstock. While the sawdust was sourced from local mills, as much…

  • Harvesting Switchgrass

    Harvesting Switchgrass

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    birch-admin

    FDCE is currently harvesting switchgrass to support developing markets for locally produced biochar and erosion control filter socks and other engineered erosion control products.

  • Virginia Regional Conservation Partnership Program

    Virginia Regional Conservation Partnership Program

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    birch-admin

    2024-2028 FDCE and its team partners received RCPP award from NRCS for their innovative plan to improve water quality and reduce soil erosion while improving landowner net incomes. The goal is to convert 5,000 acres of marginal cropland, expiring CRP, hay land and pasture land to switchgrass.