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California Underserved and
Small Producers Program

The California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Program was created in 2021. It is designed to facilitate direct assistance to individual small and mid-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who need technical assistance support in applying for economic and drought relief grant programs, and assistance with business planning and marketing strategies, and implementation of climate smart practices.

Farmers and Ranchers ELIGIBLE- for Direct drought relief through the CARCD’S CUSP Drought Relief Grant Program. Please see section below called 2022 Drought Relief Direct Farmer Grants for program details.

2023 CUSP Program Solicitation- NOW OPEN (This solicitation is open to: Non-profit organizations, Tribal Governments, County Departments of Ag, and Resource Conservation Districts. Individual producers are NOT eligible.)

Press Release: Cdfa Accepting Applications For The 2023 California Underserved And Small Producer (Cusp) Grant Program

The 2023 CUSP Drought Relief Technical Assistance and Direct Producer Grant Program is currently accepting applications from eligible entities including: Non-profit organizations, Tribal Governments, County Departments of Agriculture and Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs).

Applications will be accepted through March 16, 2023, at 5pm PST.

Applicants may apply for one or both of the funding tracks available under this grant program:

• Part 1: Drought Relief Technical Assistance grants from $50,000 up to $100,000. This funding track is for eligible technical assistance providers to support California agricultural producers in applying for Federal and State drought relief grant programs including the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant Program, and assistance with business planning, financial and marketing strategies needed to be resilient and stay in business during the on-going drought in California.
• Part 2: Drought Relief Direct Producer Block Grant Program provides funding from $500,000 up to $1,500,000 for organizations to act as regional administrators to provide drought relief grants for small and medium scale producers or small and medium scale Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR’s) to aid in addressing specific financial needs due to the drought.

The 2023 CUSP Drought Relief Technical Assistance and Direct Producer Grant Program application link can be found here: 2023 CUSP Grant Program Application.

The 2023 CUSP Drought Relief Technical Assistance and Direct Producer Grant Program request for applications (RFA) can be found viewed here: 2023 CUSP RFA.

Cusp Program Timeline

AmpliFund Applicant Portal Resources

Please view these training materials on how to set up an account on AmpliFund before applying to the 2023 CUSP Grant Program.

• New User Training Videos

2022 Drought Relief Direct Farmer Grants - Currently OPEN

California continues to face escalating drought conditions and as a result, Control Section 11.85 of the Budget Act of 2021 allocated $5 million for direct drought relief funds which will be administered through the CUSP program partner organizations throughout 2022. These direct grants will assist small-scale and historically underserved producers to apply for relief grants for those most in need of immediate drought assistance. Producers will apply for the funds through local partner organizations.

CDFA has partnered with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) to manage this current round of CUSP Drought Relief Direct Farmer Grants.

For information about the CARCD’s CUSP Drought Relief Direct Farmer Grant Program, visit the CARCD’s website:

• California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Small and Underserved Producers drought relief grants, administered by CARCD – California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
• CARCD 2022 CUSP Drought Relief Application
  (Application Period from October 15, 2022 to February 15, 2023)

Producers who have received a COVID-19 economic relief grant will be eligible for drought relief funds one calendar year (12 months) after applying for economic relief funds. This is to prioritize historically underserved, small-scale producers throughout California who have not received any Federal or State relief grant funds to date. Those who received funding in 2021 will be eligible to re-apply for CUSP direct relief funds 12 months after receiving the first round of funds.

The Drought Relief Direct Farmer Grants administered through the CUSP partner organizations are reimbursement grants for expenses incurred as a result of the drought. Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:

• Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if sole source of water for operation. To be eligible, an applicant must provide written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is located or proposed to be located approving the action, per Executive Order N-7-22.
• Increased electric utility bills of 50% or more due to increased electricity rates
• Surface water costs if increase from year prior
• Cost of hauling water for livestock
• Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost
• Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
• Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land

• List of Organizations Managing Previous Rounds of Drought Relief Direct Farmer Grants

AVAILABLE - Technical Assistance (TA) for Producers to receive assistance on business planning, marketing strategies, and application support for relief grant programs.

Critical technical assistance is available statewide for small-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to apply for federal and state economic and drought relief programs, including the CUSP Drought Relief program during open application periods. CUSP Program TA providers can also assist farmers and ranchers to adjust their business planning and marketing strategies and to become more resilient and recover from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the on-going California drought.

• List of Organizations helping producers apply to economic and drought relief programs and business support TA

2023 CUSP Program draft RFA Public Comment Summary

• View the Summary of 2023 CUSP Program Public Comments and CDFA Responses