CDFA ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR DAIRY METHANE REDUCTION INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

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SACRAMENTO, May 12, 2023 – CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) is accepting public comments on its draft Request for Grant Applications (RGAs) for the 2023 Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), 2023 Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), and the new Dairy Plus Program. 

AMMP and DDRDP are supported by funding from the Budget Act of 2022 and provide financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters and non-digester manure management practices on dairy and livestock operations in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

The Dairy Plus Program will offer the opportunity to supplement traditional AMMP and DDRDP projects with funds from the USDA Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program. CDFA and the California Dairy Research Foundation teamed up to secure funding from this USDA program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while expanding markets for America’s climate-smart commodities. These additional funds can expand the reach and scope of on-farm climate-smart projects and practices, maximizing the opportunity for large-scale GHG emissions reduction. Advanced manure management practices that reduce GHG emissions and address nitrogen surplus, such as adding a vermifilter after a solid separator or anaerobic digester, are eligible for Dairy Plus funding.  

The draft RGAs establish parameters by which competitive grant applications must be submitted and evaluated. These can be read on the following web pages: 
•    AMMP: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/
•    DDRDP: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/ddrdp/ 
•    Dairy Plus: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/dairyplus 

CDFA will accept public comments regarding the draft guidelines by email until May 23, 2023, at 5 PM PT. Comments must be submitted to the specified email address noted on the first page of each draft document. CDFA will consider all comments received before releasing final RGAs for the programs. 

In addition, CDFA will host a stakeholder workshop on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 2:00 PM PT to provide information on the RGAs and receive questions and comments on the draft guidelines.  
Register in advance for the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_451liJhRTXmjOltUlses5w 

Separately, the California Air Resources Board is still accepting public comments through May 19, 2023, on the AMMP and DDRDP draft Benefits Calculator Tools and supporting Quantification Methodologies. To access these documents, go to the following website: https://www.arb.ca.gov/cci-resources.  

For questions on the draft Quantification Methodology and Benefits Calculator Tools email: GGRFProgram@arb.ca.gov. 

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