CDFA NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR STATE WATER EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SWEEP)

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SACRAMENTO, October 19, 2021 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), a grant program that incentivizes farmers to invest in irrigation water and energy efficiency. Agricultural operations can apply for up to $200,000 for projects that involve improvements to irrigation systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save water. 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.

“In this unprecedented drought, SWEEP is helping farmers by incentivizing water efficiency technologies” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “These investments are not only a mitigation strategy for greenhouse gases, but also an adaptation strategy as farmers and ranchers deal with climate change impacts.”

Applications will be accepted on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Applications that meet a minimum qualifying score will be funded, in the order received. The application window will end January 18, 2022 at 5 p.m. or earlier if funding is depleted.

CDFA will hold three no-cost, online workshops to provide information on program requirements and the application process. Potential applicants should review the application materials and workshop schedule posted on the SWEEP webpage at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep. A list of CDFA-contracted technical assistance providers is also available on the SWEEP webpage. These organizations are available to provide no-cost application assistance to farmers who would like to apply for a SWEEP award.

This round of SWEEP is authorized by the Budget Act of 2021, which appropriated $50 million to SWEEP as part of the water resilience and drought funding package. The SWEEP website will be updated weekly to indicate how much dollars have been awarded and how much funds are remaining for awards. 

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