California Underserved and Small Producer Program

The California Underserved and Small Producers Program (CUSP) is designed to facilitate support for small and medium scale California agricultural producers, or small and medium scale socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through direct relief grants. Direct Assistance Providers act as administrators of the CUSP Direct Relief Grant Program and distribute relief grants to aid in addressing specific financial needs due to drought, extreme weather, and other climate impacts in California.

Direct relief producer grants are available through partnering organizations, and available on a rolling basis.

The CUSP program also funds Technical Assistance (TA) providers to assist farmers and ranchers with applications to the Drought or Extreme Weather & Other Climate Impacts Relief programs. TA providers may also offer assistance with federal and state economic and disaster relief programs, farm business management, financial planning and marketing assistance to individual agricultural producers as tools to mitigate immediate concerns and needs related to drought and extreme weather.

Who is eligible for direct relief grants?

Direct Relief Recipients are made up of the following:

• Small and medium scale California agricultural producers. “Small and medium scale” California producers are defined by this program as any farmer making up to $400,000 or any dairy operation making up to $1,000,000 in annual gross sales.
• Small and medium scale socially disadvantaged California farmers and ranchers. “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. “Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following: (1) African Americans, (2) Native American Indians, (3) Alaskan Natives, (4) Hispanics, (5) Asian Americans, and (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
• Eligible producers may receive up to $20,000 in CUSP Drought Relief funds as well as up to $20,000 in CUSP Extreme Weather Relief funds (for a total of up to $40,000) within a 12-month period.

Direct Relief Producer Grants Application Periods

Technical Assistance Available – Technical Assistance (TA) for agricultural producers to receive assistance on applications to CUSP Drought or Extreme Weather & Other Climate Impacts Relief Grants is available.

CUSP Technical Assistance Providers