California Farmer Relief Fund

California Farmer Relief Fund is sponsored by Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) & Partners. This fund provides direct financial assistance to small-scale and family farms in California impacted by high costs or climate events.

California Farmer Relief Fund - Community Alliance with Family Farmers Rooted in care. Ready in crisis. Since 2020, the California Farmer Relief Fund (CFRF) has provided direct financial assistance to over 1,000 small-scale family farmers impacted by climate disasters like wildfire, flood, and drought, rising costs, and systemic exclusion.

Administered by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) in partnership with grassroots and regional organizations, the fund prioritizes those most often left out of traditional aid: BIPOC, immigrant, and undocumented farmers. CUSP Drought Grant now closed for 2026 We are currently reviewing applications from the July 2026 application round and will message applicants with more details when the process is complete.

The California Underserved and Small Producer (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 and financial and marketing strategies, and also provides direct farmer grants for drought relief for those same priority groups.

Funding is available for drought impacts dating back to 2017. Click below to learn more about the new grant application portal, eligibility requirements for the California Underserved Small Producer (CUSP) Program, documentation quality, and to get connected with technical assistance providers if need be! Join our interactive webinars and get more information tailored to your specific situation.

If you're a small-scale farmer in California, CFRF may be able to help. Single payment reimbursable grants for eligible farmers Application assistance from local organizations Materials available in multiple languages Priority given to BIPOC, immigrant, and undocumented farmers "To us, getting this grant made us feel seen as small farmers." Claire Main, Capay Valley Thank you CAFF for the continuing support of small family farmers.

A drought farm grant would benefit our small family farm greatly. We farm in an area in Southern California that can be especially bad in the summer months. A grant will help us immensely in our ability to keep our trees, farm, animals alive and healthy.

It keeps our farm standing on its feet, preventing crops from drying, ensuring we have enough water and it helps keeping a balanced ecosystem. This grant means so much to my farm and family right now! We have struggled with so many cost increases caused by the drought that we’ve barely been able to stay afloat.

This grant brings much need relief to get us through the winter and better prepare us for next year! I am beyond grateful for this emergency funding! Alexandria Miranda Turlock We're extremely grateful to have received a CFFEF grant from CAFF.

The 2021 drought impacted our small farm in a big way. This grant will help us recover the lost momentum of that year by helping us afford the equipment and infrastructure improvements we need to settle into our new site. Our family, employees, and hundreds of members and clients will benefit.

Thank you CAFF! West County Community Farm Sebastopol Help us strengthen California’s food system by contributing to a trusted, equitable model for rapid relief. Over $7.

8M disbursed to date 65% of recipients are BIPOC or immigrant growers 45+ counties reached across the state 25+ grassroots partners involved in distribution Small-scale and family farmers form the backbone of California’s local food system—but too often, they’re the last to receive support. When disaster strikes, a timely grant can mean the difference between recovery and closure.

CFRF was built to respond quickly and equitably, with a process informed by the people it serves. By supporting this fund, you’re investing in resilience, equity, and the future of our food system. Our trusted community partners: Talk to Someone on Our Team Arden Rosenthal is the new Farmer Support Specialist at CAFF and is leading the California Farmer Relief Fund.

She is based in Santa Cruz , CA and holds a B. A. in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems from UCSC.

She has held a number of jobs within the world of agriculture including working markets, farming on diversified crop and flower farms, and working at California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). She is excited to help farmers access financial relief for climate-related hardships, so please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. You can reach her by emailing farmerfund [at] caff.

org or calling 831-291-5048. Find awesome listings near you!