Are you considering introducing cover crops into your production system?
Are you wanting to plant hedgerows or wind breaks?
Are you interested in prescribed grazing?
Are you implementing reduced or no-tillage practices?
If your are 1) interested in adopting these or other conservation management strategies (i.e. reduce tillage, riparian plantings, compost additions, etc...) or if your are interested in 2) showcasing your successful implementation of conservation techniques, then there may be funding available to you through CDFA's Healthy Soils Program (HSP).
The HSP has two components:
1) the HSP Incentives Program (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/HealthySoils/IncentivesProgram.html)
2) the HSP Demonstration Program (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/HealthySoils/DemonstrationProjects.html)
How do they differ? From the CDFA website:
The HSP Incentives Program provides financial incentives to California growers and ranchers to implement conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), and improve soil health. GHGs benefits are estimated using quantification methodology and tools developed by California Air Resources Board (CARB), USDA-NRCS and CDFA and soil health improvement will be assessed by measuring soil organic matter content.
The The HSP Demonstration Projects aim to improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) funding on-farm demonstration projects that collect data and/or showcase conservation management practices that mitigate GHG emissions and increase soil health, and creating a platform promoting widespread adoption of conservation management practices throughout the state. There are two types of demonstration projects that will be funded: Type A and Type B.
Type A projects will demonstrate implementation of conservation management practices, measure field GHGs emissions, and conduct analysis on cost/benefits for adoption of the proposed practice(s) and anticipated barriers;
Type B projects will demonstrate implementation of HSP conservation management practices and/or conduct analysis on cost/benefits for adoption of the proposed practice(s) and anticipated barriers.
A total of $15 million is available. (Incentives for $75,000 per farm/ranch; Demonstrations for up to $250,000)
Grant applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 8, 2019. The review process is expected to occur between March and June 2019, with the awards being announced this summer.
Please see the following links for more information about funding details, the application process, frequently asked questions, and award payments. https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/HealthySoils/