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California Underserved and
Small Producer Program

The California Underserved and Small Producer (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.

New! CDFA ANNOUNCES Awards for $12.8 million for the California Underserved and Small Producer Grant Program (CUSP)

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm Equity announces that it is awarding $12.8 million in grants to 14 projects throughout the state via the 2023 California Underserved and Small Producer Grant Program (CUSP). Eight Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) and 6 non-profit organizations will be providing technical assistance and distributing drought relief direct producer grants for the program. Funding for this grant program was made possible through the 2021 and 2022 Budget Act.

The CUSP Program is designed to facilitate support for small and medium scale California agricultural producers, or small and medium scale Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR’s) through technical assistance with business planning, financial and marketing strategies. This two-year grant program also provides direct farmer grants for drought relief for those same priority groups. The estimated start date for these projects is May 2023 and will continue through April 30, 2025.

Complete list of awardees and summaries of their projects

Full Press Release: CDFA ANNOUNCES Awards for $12.8 million for the California Underserved and Small Producer Grant Program (CUSP)