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California Underserved and
Small Producers Program

The California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Drought Relief Grant Program has two components; drought relief direct producer grants for socially disadvantaged, small-scale and medium scale producers to address immediate drought relief concerns and eligible expenses, and a separate technical assistance program.

The drought relief direct producer grants are available through local partnering organizations, and available on a rolling basis.

The technical assistance (TA) program funds non-profit organizations, resource conservation districts, Tribal Governments and county ag commissioners to assist farmers and ranchers with application assistance to the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant program, federal and state economic and disaster relief programs, and technical assistance related to farm business management, financial planning and marketing assistance TA to individual agricultural producers as tools to mitigate immediate concerns and needs related to the drought.

CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant information for individual farmers & ranchers:

Emergency drought relief is available to small and medium scale farmers and ranchers that qualify under the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant Program. CDFA is partnering with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) to administer these funds including application processing.

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 & 2023. These direct drought relief grants will assist small and medium scale and historically underserved producers to apply for immediate drought assistance based on their eligible expenses. Producers will apply for the funds through local partner organizations.

The next CARCD CUSP application period will open on April 15, 2023. Please check the CARCD’s webpage for details:

CARCD CUSP Program

If you are a farmer or rancher, or agricultural producer in need of technical assistance support with the CARCD CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant application, please see below for Technical Assistance Available information.

Additional CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant Program Eligibility Information:

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

NOT Covered:

• Upgrading to a larger pump that will draw more water

Organizations that managed past rounds of Drought Relief Direct Producer Grants

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE - Technical Assistance (TA) for Producers to receive assistance on business planning, marketing strategies, and application support for federal and state relief grant programs including the CUSP Drought Relief Direct Producer Grant Program.

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 Direct Producer Grant 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 CUSP Technical Assistance Providers

2023 CUSP Program Solicitation for Organizations (individual farmers or ranchers were not eligible. Solicitation was open for eligible entities to become a CUSP TA Provider) - NOW CLOSED

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

Applications closed on March 16, 2023, at 5pm PST.

2023 CUSP Program for Organizations Timeline

2023 CUSP Program Solicitation for Organizations - Additional Information

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

Applications closed on March 16, 2023, at 5pm PST.

Press Release: CDFA Accepting Applications For The 2023 California Underserved And Small Producer (CUSP) Grant Program (Closed)

2023 CUSP Grant Program Application. (Closed)

2023 CUSP RFA. (Closed)

2023 CUSP Program Public Comments and CDFA Responses

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