Timeline and Details:
- Applications must be completed online
- Click here to access the application
- Click to review a sample application
- Applications periods are on a quarterly basis
- Granting rounds will open on the first Monday, and close the last Friday of each quarter
- January 6 – March 28, 2025
- April 7 – June 27, 2025
- July 7 – September 26, 2025
- October 6 – December 19, 2025
- Awards granted the following quarter
- Only fully complete applications are reviewed
- Once applications are initiated, they should be completed by the quarterly deadline
- If not submitted by the quarter deadline, applications will be abandoned
- Submitted applications missing required documentation will be followed up with once, then denied if documents are not received
- Funds are provided as direct assistance
- Grant amounts range from $5,000 – $20,000
- DROUGHT:
Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:
- Increased electric utility bills of 50% or more due to increased electricity rates.
- Surface water costs if increase from year prior.
- Cost of hauling water for livestock.
- Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost.
- Emergency upgrades to irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
- Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land.
- Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if they are the sole source of water for operation. To be eligible, an applicant must provide written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is located or proposed to be located approving the action, per Executive Order N-7-22.
NOT Covered:
- Upgrading to a larger pump that will draw more water
Producers are eligible for a maximum of $20,000 per 12-month period through CDFA CUSP funding. Only California organic producers are eligible for CDFA CUSP Drought Relief funding.
EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE IMPACTS:
Examples of covered expenses can include but are not limited to:
- Infrastructure damage/loss
- Equipment damage/loss
- Expenses associated with soil erosion/mud or water damage and/or clean-up/debris removal
- Purchase or rental of flood control equipment
- Replacement of livestock feed, fertilizer, or other farm inputs or soil inputs (including compost and cover crop)
- Livestock mortality/beehive loss/livestock veterinary expenses or transportation/moving costs
- Water/soil testing
- Replacement of crops: trees, nursery stock, perennial plant losses or payments to services for tree removal or replacement
- Crop Loss/Replacement: Annual vegetable production, perennial crops, and cover crops due to extreme weather (flooding, extreme heat/sunburn, wildfire)
- Labor
- Land Tenure
- Biologic pest or animal disease/quarantine or eradication measures
*Extreme weather and climate impact grants: applications accepted from non-certified organic operations, but organic operations will be prioritized.
Applications accepted quarterly.
