Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
Delicious
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon
Climate Smart Agriculture Program
What is Climate-Smart Agriculture?
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) includes management practices that increase soil carbon, reduce water, improve on-farm efficiencies, and promote sustainable land practices. CSA promotes agricultural productivity, resiliency to climate change, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Program Overview
The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) has partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to provide technical assistance for Climate Smart Agriculture Incentive Programs.
How do we provide technical assistance?
We provide technical assistance, outreach, and education to increase the adoption of climate smart agriculture practices targeted at soil health, manure management, and water use efficiency across California.
Local Assistance
Hope Zabronsky serves as the Academic Coordinator and Program Lead for the statewide Climate Smart Agriculture Program. Hope also provides technical assistance to farmers and ranchers in Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento Counties. Please contact Hope at 530-574-9963 or hzabronsky@ucanr.edu for assistance.
For more information about our statewide program, please visit our website.
CDFA's Climate Smart Agriculture Programs
The grant opportunities available through CDFA's Climate Smart Agriculture Program include:
|
CDFA's State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) encourages farmers to install more efficient irrigation systems that decrease their water consumption as well as their greenhouse gas emissions. CDFA's SWEEP will fund grants up to $200,000. Currently CLOSED. |
|
CDFA's Healthy Soils Program (HSP) awards up to $200,000 per project for implementing conservation agriculture techniques that decrease erosion and greenhouse gas emissions, like cover cropping, compost, crop rotation, and mulching. Currently CLOSED. |
|
CDFA's Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) awards funds - up to $750,000 - to livestock producers who decrease their methane emissions by changing the way they manage manure. Currently OPEN. |
Program Updates
Just Awarded: 2023 Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) Block Grant Organizations
CDFA has released a list of entities that have been awarded Pilot Block Grants for the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP). HSP funds agricultural practices that improve soil health and sequester carbon. SWEEP funds on-farm irrigation efficiency practices that save water and energy. A summary of the key highlights is listed below:
Block Grant Highlights by County
What does this mean for growers?
Block Grant organizations have been awarded money to disburse to growers for HSP and SWEEP practices. Growers will be able to submit applications to the Block Grant organizations just like they would with CDFA’s regular SWEEP and HSP grants. Growers can get help from a local Technical Assistance Provider to apply for these grants. Once growers have applied to the grants when they open, they will receive updates from the Block Grant organization to learn if they were awarded.
When will CDFA’s regular application open for HSP and SWEEP?
CDFA’s regular HSP and SWEEP program will likely open in late November of 2023 and close in early February of 2024.
Where can I find the full list of awarded Block Grant organizations?
The full list of HSP Block Grant Awardees can be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/docs/HSP_Block_Grant_2023AwardedProjects.pdf
The full list of SWEEP Block Grant Awardees can be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/sweep/docs/2023/2023_SWEEP_BGP_Awards_List.pdf
Need Help?
If you would like more information about these programs please contact Hope Zabronsky at 530-574-9963 or hzabronsky@ucanr.edu.
Follow Our Blog: Climate Smart Agriculture
Meet Michael: Community Education Specialist
Michael Jaquez is one of our newer Community Education Specialist with the Climate Smart Agriculture team at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Based in San Diego County, he is excited to create connections...
What's that Smell?!
When it comes to animal housing, manure management requires thought and consideration. Much of this decision depends on the size of the operation, species of animal, and the overall goals of your farming practices. Deep bedding models have become more...
Welcome to our new CES in Tulare and Kern counties, Danielle Duyst!
Danielle Duyst is our newest Community Education Specialist with the UC ANR Climate Smart Agriculture Program based in Tulare and Kern Counties. She is excited to support farmers throughout the Central Valley and assist in implementing sustainable farm...
Sheep in the Vineyard?
Why integrate livestock into your cropping system?
Historically, farmers raised both crops and livestock because they are mutually beneficial. In an article titled, “Integrating Livestock and Crops: Improving Soil, Solving Problems, Increasing...