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California Underserved and Small Producers Program (CUSP) – Direct Relief Grants is sponsored by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Provides direct relief grants to small, medium, and socially disadvantaged agricultural producers in California for needs arising from drought, extreme weather, and other climate impacts via Direct Assistance Providers.
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CDFA - California Underserved and Small Producer ProgramTITLE California Underserved and Small Producer Program The California Underserved and Small Producers Program (CUSP) is designed to facilitate support for small and medium scale California agricultural producers, or small and medium scale socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through direct relief grants.
Direct Assistance Providers act as administrators of the CUSP Direct Relief Grant Program and distribute relief grants to aid in addressing specific financial needs due to drought, extreme weather, and other climate impacts in California. Direct relief producer grants are available through partnering organizations, and available on a rolling basis.
The CUSP program also funds Technical Assistance (TA) providers to assist farmers and ranchers with applications to the Drought or Extreme Weather & Other Climate Impacts Relief programs.
TA providers may also offer assistance with federal and state economic and disaster relief programs, farm business management, financial planning and marketing assistance to individual agricultural producers as tools to mitigate immediate concerns and needs related to drought and extreme weather. New!
CDFA ANNOUNCES Awards for $17 million for Extreme Weather and Other Climate Impacts Relief and an additional $5 million for Drought Relief through the CUSP program.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Grants Administration announces that it is awarding $17 million in grants to six Direct Assistance Providers throughout the state via the 2024 CUSP Extreme Weather and Other Climate Impacts direct relief program. An additional $5 million has also been awarded to four providers via the 2023 CUSP Drought direct relief program.
CUSP Direct Assistance Providers will distribute direct relief producer grants for both the Drought and Extreme Weather and Other Climate Impacts programs on a rolling basis throughout the two-year grant period. Four of the providers will also provide Technical Assistance (TA) to assist producers with direct relief applications. The start date for these projects is January 2024 and they will continue through December 2026.
Who is eligible for direct relief grants? Direct Relief Recipients are made up of the following: Small and medium scale California agricultural producers. “Small and medium scale” California producers are defined by this program as any farmer making up to $400,000 or any dairy operation making up to $1,000,000 in annual gross sales.
Small and medium scale socially disadvantaged California farmers and ranchers. “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. “Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.
These groups include all of the following: (1) African Americans, (2) Native American Indians, (3) Alaskan Natives, (4) Hispanics, (5) Asian Americans, and (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Eligible producers may receive up to $20,000 in CUSP Drought Relief funds as well as up to $20,000 in CUSP Extreme Weather Relief funds (for a total of up to $40,000) within a 12-month period.
Direct Relief Producer Grants Application Periods CUSP Direct Assistance Provider AsianBusiness Institute and Resource Center (ABIRC) Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Foundation East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District Inland Empire Resource Conservation District Sierra Resource Conservation District SRCD Agriculture and Rangeland Link to Application (Spanish) Ventura County Resource Conservation District Technical Assistance Available – Technical Assistance (TA) for agricultural producers to receive assistance on applications to CUSP Drought or Extreme Weather & Other Climate Impacts Relief Grants is available.
CUSP Technical Assistance Providers CUSP Technical Assistance Provider Asian Business Institute and Resource Center (ABIRC) (extension 111 or extension 109) Yessenya Martinez, yessenya@fresnoabirc.
org (extension 109) TA available in Spanish, Hmong, and Lao Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Foundation East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District Inland Empire Resource Conservation District Multiplier (Kitchen Table Advisors) info@kitchentableadvisors. org Resource Conservation District of Monterey County kasey. butler@rcdmonterey.
org North Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council Claudia@conservationworksnc. org Sarah@conservationworksnc. org Brian@conservationworksnc.
org Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego elizabeth. garcia@rcdsandiego. org Sierra Resource Conservation District TA available in Punjabi and Spanish Sutter County Resource Conservation District Ventura County Resource Conservation District cristina.
czochanski@vcrcd. org Offer of Help with CUSP Applications in Exchange for CUSP Funds CDFA has been made aware of individuals offering to help with CUSP applications in exchange for compensation upon receipt of CUSP funds. Anyone carrying out this scheme is not authorized or condoned by CDFA.
Only the organizations listed on the CUSP website are authorized to accept applications or provide Technical Assistance (TA). CDFA, CUSP organizations, and TA providers will never charge fees for applications or assistance.
Scroll down for links to open applications CUSP Drought Relief Funding Eligible Practices Table | CUSP Extreme Weather and Other Climate Impacts Relief Eligible Practices Table | The application period for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is now open. California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Grants Administration Sacramento, California 95814 Resources for CUSP Direct Assistance Providers
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small and medium scale California agricultural producers (annual gross sales up to $400,000 for farmers or $1,000,000 for dairy operations), including socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $20,000 drought relief + up to $20,000 extreme weather relief per recipient. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
California Underserved and Small Producers Program (CUSP) – Direct Relief Grants is funded by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in California. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
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