California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Grant Programs for Farmers

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Grant Programs for Farmers is sponsored by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Grant Programs for Farmers is a suite of grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture that funds farmers and ranchers throughout California across multiple program areas, with priority funding available for so…

CDFA - Farmers Equity - Grant Programs Grant Programs for Farmers CDFA Grant Programs for Farmers Information about CDFA grants that are available for farmers and ranchers throughout California. Several programs have priority funding available for socially disadvantaged farmers.

Application Assistance Programs If you need direct assistance to apply for a CDFA grant program, these programs offer one-on-one direct assistance for agricultural producers.

California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Technical Assistance 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.

Please visit the Program Webpage for California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) for a list with contact information for current CUSP Technical Assistance Providers.

Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Programs Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Providers from around the state that provide one-on-one support to farmers and ranchers for application assistance with the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP).

Please visit the Program Webpage for Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Programs Technical Assistance for a list with contact information for current Technical Assistance Providers (located on the right sidebar). Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Providers from around the state that provide application assistance for the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program.

Please visit the Program Webpage for Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program Technical Assistance for a list with contact information for current Technical Assistance Providers.

Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) Alternative Manure Management Program CDFA's Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) provides financial assistance for the implementation of non-digester manure management practices in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative manure management practices involve handling manure in ways that don't involve using an anaerobic digester.

Currently, eligible practices for funding through AMMP include: pasture-based based management; solid separation or conversion from flush to scrape in conjunction with some form of drying or composting of collected manure.

Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program This program funded the development of plans that will help farmers and ranchers identify actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, further environmental stewardship on farms and ranches and ensure agricultural food security into the future.

Please visit the program webpage for a list of current awarded organizations that may be contacted for further information about implementation opportunities (dependent on current funding levels and geographic locations).

Dairy Digester Research and Development Program CDFA's Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) provides financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The Healthy Soils Program consists of an Incentives Program, Demonstration Projects, and a Block Grant Pilot Program.

These programs provide grants for incentivizing and demonstrating the implementation of conservation agricultural management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases and improve soil health. On farm management practices that include but are not limited to: cover cropping, no-till, reduced-till, mulching, compost application, and conservation plantings.

The HSP Incentives Program provides financial assistance for implementation of conservation management that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The HSP Demonstration Projects showcase California farmers and rancher's implementation of HSP practices.

The HSP Block Grant Pilot Program is designed to facilitate financial assistance to California agricultural operations through regional block grant administrators. Please see the program webpage for a list of regional block grant administrators. Organic Transition Pilot Program The purpose is to provide support to farmers and ranchers who prepare land for organic certification.

The program is designed as a block grant to be administered through organizations that disburse financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for a wide range of eligible costs for transitioning acres to organic farming. Please visit the program webpage for updates on awarded organizations that may be contacted for further information about implementation opportunities (dependent on current funding levels and geographic locations).

Pollinator Habitat Program The Pollinator Habitat Program awarded funds to experienced organizations to work directly with farmers and ranchers to install habitat and implement management practices that support pollinators.

Please visit the program webpage for a list of current awarded organizations that may be contacted for further information about implementation opportunities (dependent on current funding levels and geographic locations).

SWEEP (State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program) The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on California agricultural operations.

Eligible system components include (among others) soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water use and energy.

An additional component of the program is the SWEEP Block Grant Pilot Program that is designed to facilitate financial assistance to California agricultural operations through regional block grant administrators. Please see the program webpage for a list of regional block grant administrators.

Water Efficiency Technical Assistance Program Organizations that provide on-farm, one-on-one technical assistance to farmers to evaluate irrigation system efficiency (e.g., mobile irrigation lab) and provide diagnostics, reports and recommendations to growers. Additionally they coordinate or provide pump efficiency testing for farmers and provide training regarding water use efficiency and nutrient management practices and technology.

Office of Grants Administration (OGA) CUSP (California Underserved and Small Producers Program) The California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Program is designed to facilitate direct assistance to individual small and mid-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who need support applying for economic relief grant programs and assistance with business planning and marketing strategies.

This program also includes direct relief payments for historically underserved and small producers impacted by COVID-19 and drought.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities.

CDFA, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will make competitive Infrastructure Grant awards to support infrastructure in the middle-of-the-supply-chain for domestic food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. Middle-of-the-supply-chain activities include processing, aggregation, and/or distribution of targeted agricultural products.

This program is to support food system crops and products meant for human consumption (excluding meat and poultry products, which are funded through other USDA programs).

Specialty Crop Block Grant Limited Request for Funding for Organizations working with Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers The Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is focused on supporting local and regional farm to school projects that promote nutrition education, sustainable food production and procurement, and high-quality student engagement through experiential learning.

Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program Through this program, CDFA funds energy efficient refrigeration units in corner stores and small businesses in low-income or low-access areas throughout the state to stock California-grown fresh produce, nuts and minimally processed foods.

The purpose of the program is to improve access to healthy food choices in the small retail environment for underserved communities, while promoting CA-grown agriculture.

Return to the Farmer Resource Portal For more information / Para más información Thea Rittenhouse - Farmer Equity Advisor Sigue a CDFA en español Climate Smart Agriculture: Rossow Farms Episode 1: SWEEP has had a positive effect on Seth Rossow’s family owned farm, Rossow Farms which is located in Merced, San Joaquin County.

(4:06) Climate Smart Agriculture: Giacomazzi Farms Episode 2: SWEEP has had a positive effect on Dino Giacomazzi’s family owned farm, Giacomazzi Farms which is located in Hanford, Kings County.

(4:05) Climate Smart Agriculture: Tchieng and Thao Farms Episode 3: SWEEP has had a positive effect on Fong Tchieng’s family owned farm, Tchieng Family Farm and Kong Thao’s family owned farm, Thao Family Farms, both of which are located in Fresno County. (5:00) Climate Smart Ag - Episode 4: Ronald Leimgruber Farms.

Ronald Leimgruber of Ronald Leimgruber Farms in Holtville, CA, shares results of using a more efficient water monitoring system. (5:00) Yoon Chao's Farms – Marysville, California For 26 years, Yoon Chao's Farms has been serving delicious berries. The family farm is in Marysville, California...

(2:11) Toledo Farms – Lodi, California Conocimos a Federico Toledo de Toledo Farms, un agricultor del área de Sacramento y nos presenta la cosecha de esta semana. Disfruten de los bonitos colores... (4:53)