SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for two “climate smart agriculture” programs, offering as much as $35 million to California farmers. These trailblazing programs are unique in the nation, providing economic support to farmers while incentivizing farming practices with climate and other environmental benefits.
Healthy Soils Program
More than $25 million in grants of up to $100,000 per farm are available on a first-come-first serve basis until June 26, 2020. Included among the 25 eligible practices are: cover cropping, applying compost, mulching, hedgerow planting, prescribed grazing, whole orchard recycling and silvopasture. CDFA is also funding technical assistance providers to support growers with the grant application process, project implementation, and grant compliance.
More background on the Healthy Soils Program is available here: http://calclimateag.org/hsp/
For more information and to apply: www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils.
Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)
Until April 27, as much as $10 million will be available for grants to dairy and livestock producers interested in projects that reduce methane emissions on their operations by shifting away from wet manure handling and storage to dry manure management. Eligible practices include solid separation, dry scrape systems, compost pack barns and increased pasture time.
There will also be funding for demonstration projects to do outreach and education on the multiple benefits of AMMP projects for producers. Eligible applicants include California universities, Cooperative Extension, Resource Conservation Districts and nonprofits, in collaboration with farmers who have received AMMP funding.
More background on AMMP is available here: http://calclimateag.org/ammp/
For more information and to apply: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/.
During its first three years, the Healthy Soils Program has funded more than 300 projects in 48 counties with almost $18 million. Through AMMP, to date CDFA has awarded $63 million to 108 dairies. Demand for the grants has greatly exceeded available funding.
To read about past grant winners and the benefits they are seeing to their farming operation, please refer to our story bank here: http://calclimateag.org/farmer-stories/.
— California Climate and Agriculture Network
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