CDFA ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE INCENTIVES PROGRAMS

SACRAMENTO, December 28, 2018 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting grant applications for climate smart agriculture incentives programs administered by its Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) and funded by SB 5 and California Climate Investments. Appropriations for these four grant programs total $134 million.

The following programs at CDFA are accepting grant applications:

State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP)

Applications are due on Friday, March 8, 2019 by 5:00 P.M. PT.

SWEEP provides farmers and ranchers with grants to implement irrigation systems that save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Projects funded through SWEEP commonly include elements such as soil, plant or
weather sensors, micro-irrigation systems, pump retrofits or  replacements, renewable energy, and variable frequency drives (among others). SWEEP is funded through a $20 million appropriation authorized by the Budget Act of 2018 and funded through the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (SB-5).  

Detailed information on SWEEP, including application process, application requirements, schedule of application assistance workshops conducted by CDFA and list of third-party technical assistance providers is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep

Healthy Soils Program (HSP)

Applications are due on Friday, March 8, 2019 by 5:00 P.M. PT.

The HSP provides financial assistance for implementation of conservation management that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The HSP is funded through a $10 million
appropriation through SB-5 and $5 million appropriation from California Climate Investments (CCI), for a total of $15 million authorized by the Budget Act of 2018. The Healthy Soils Program will be implemented under two separate sections:

Incentives Program: The Incentives Program will award grants to farmers and ranchers for implementation of agricultural management practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Detailed information on HSP Incentives Program, including application process, application requirements, schedule of application assistance
workshops conducted by CDFA and list of third-party technical assistance
providers is available at is available at: 
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/IncentivesProgram.html

Demonstration Projects: The Demonstration Projects will award projects that monitor and demonstrate to farmers and ranchers in California, specific management practices in agriculture that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gases.

Detailed information on HSP Demonstration Projects, including application process, application requirements and a schedule of
application assistance workshops conducted by CDFA is available at:  https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/HealthySoils/DemonstrationProjects.html

Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP)

Applications are due on Tuesday, April 3, 2019 by 5:00 P.M. PT.

The DDRDP provides financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters on commercial dairy operations in California. The DDRDP is funded through a $99 million appropriation from the CCI, authorized by the Budget Act of 2018. The DDRDP will be implemented under two separate sections:

Incentives Program: The DDRDP Incentives Program will award grants to provide financial assistance to commercial milk producers and dairy digester developers for implementation of anaerobic digesters that reduce methane emissions from dairy manure management.

Detailed information including application process, application requirements, schedule of application assistance workshops conducted by CDFA, and third-party assistance for community outreach assistance is available at:  https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/ddrdp/

DemonstrationProjects: The DDRDP Demonstration Projects will award dairy operations and digester developers for the implementation of dairy digester projects that demonstrate innovative technologies to achieve long-term methane emission reductions on California dairies and minimize or mitigate adverse environmental impacts.

Detailed information including application process, application requirements and a schedule of application assistance workshops conducted by CDFA is available at:  https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/ddrdp/DemoProject.html

Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)

Applications are due on Tuesday, April 3, 2019 by 5:00 P.M. PT.

The AMMP provides financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters on commercial dairy operations in California. The DDRDP is funded through a $99 million appropriation from the CCI, authorized by the Budget Act of 2018. The AMMP will be implemented under two separate sections:

Incentives Program: The AMMP Incentives Program awards competitive grants to California dairy and livestock operations for specific management practices that result in long-term methane emission reductions and maximize environmental benefits.

Detailed information including application process, application requirements, schedule of application assistance workshops conducted by CDFA, and list of third-party technical assistance providers is available at:  https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/

Demonstration Projects: The AMMP Demonstration Projects will fund projects that demonstrate to a wide audience innovation in the implementation of diverse manure management practices that reduce methane emissions and maximize environmental co-benefits on California dairy and livestock operations.

Detailed information including application process, application requirements and a schedule of application assistance workshops conducted by CDFA is available at:  https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/ammp/DemoProject.html

The DDRDP, AMMP and HSP are part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.