The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting applications for the Conservation Agriculture Planning Grants Program. This program will fund 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.
Donor Name: California Department of Food & Agriculture
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/23/2022
Size of the: up to $250,000
Grant Duration: 24 Months
Details:
The Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program (CAPGP) will fund the development of various types of agricultural conservation plans related to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programs. CSA addresses risks that climate change poses to agriculture, including but not limited to, drought, uncertain water availability, increased temperatures, and increased pest pressures. The funded plans will promote CSA efforts which will help to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, support agricultural adaptation to climate change impacts and promote environmental and agricultural sustainability. The duration of the grant agreement will be 24 months from the date of execution. The CAPGP funds the development of plans, not the implementation of those plans.
- For the purpose of this program, a plan is defined as a comprehensive document that sets forth goals and strategies to achieve them.
- For the purpose of this program, an agricultural operation is defined as row, vineyard, field and tree crops, commercial nurseries, nursery stock production, and livestock and livestock product operations, including dairies.
Funding Information
Applicants may apply for up to $250,000 to prepare conservation agriculture plans in the following categories:
- Agricultural Energy Design
- Carbon Farm Planning
- Comprehensive Nutrient Management
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Grazing Management
- Irrigation Water Management
- Nutrient Management
- Organic Transition
- Pollinator Habitat
- Pest Management
- Soil Health Management
Eligibility Criteria
The CAPGP will provide funding to eligible entities in California to assist California farmers and ranchers in developing plans for on-farm use. The following entities are eligible to apply in collaboration with farmers or ranchers on private land or Native American Indian Tribal land.
- Individuals
- Technical Service Providers (TSPs) registered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Farmers and ranchers – in collaboration with qualified experts that meet minimum qualifications criteria
- Professionals with the following certifications: Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), Pest Control Advisor (PCA), Certified Rangeland Manager
- Federal and California-Recognized Native American Indian Tribes
- Organizations
- Not-for-profit entities including agricultural industry not-for-profit entities
- Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs)
- Federal and University Experiment Stations
- University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
- Public universities such as University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) and community colleges
- Agricultural cooperatives
- Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs)
For more information, visit CDFA.
