California farmers and ranchers interested in receiving a grant to implement new soil-building practices on their land can receive free application support from technical assistance providers.
Resource Conservation Districts and nonprofit organizations throughout the state have signed up to help potential applicants. Some of these technical assistance providers are holding informational workshops on how to apply. See the full list of providers and workshops.
There are two different funding opportunities under Healthy Soils:
- The Healthy Soils Incentives program provides funding to implement practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve soil health. Farmers, ranchers, and California-recognized Native American tribes are eligible to apply. Maximum award is $75,000.
- Healthy Soils Demonstration Projects fund growers to implement such practices and then host an outreach activity to share the results with others. Nonprofit organizations, UC Cooperative Extension personnel, state and federal experiment stations, federal and California-recognized Native American tribes, and farmers and ranchers in partnership with any of these entities may apply. Awards in this program area range from $100,000-$250,000
The deadline for both types of projects is March 8, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Find more details on applying and eligible practices, and send questions to cdfa.oefi@cdfa.ca.gov.