Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program Accepting Comments for 2021
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking public comments on a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2021 Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program (CAPGP). The latest draft incorporates many of the public comments submitted earlier this year. Current comments must be submitted by October 19, 2021, 5pm PST.
The Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program will fund the development of various types of agricultural conservation plans related to the CDFA Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programs. CSA addresses risks that climate change poses to agriculture. The funded plans will promote CSA efforts which will help to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapt to climate change impacts and promote environmental and agricultural sustainability. The CAPGP only funds the development of plans, and not the implementation of those plans.
The CAPGP is designed to 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 for the 2021 CAPGP grants in collaboration with farmers or ranchers on private or recognized Native American Indian Tribal lands:
- Technical Service Providers (TSPs) registered by USDA NRCS
- Not-for-profit entities including agricultural industry not-for-profit entities
- Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs)
- Federal and University Experiment Stations
- University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension
- Public universities such as University of California, California State University and community colleges
- Agricultural cooperatives
- Federal and California Recognized Native American Indian Tribes
- Farmers and Ranchers (must provide qualified experts that meet eligibility criteria)
- Certified professionals (including, but not limited to: Certified Crop Advisor, Pest Control Advisor, Certified Rangeland Manager)
Entities applying for the CAPGP must collaborate with farmers and ranchers that need assistance with conservation agriculture planning activities.
The maximum award amount is $250,000 per applicant and the maximum cost reimbursed per agricultural operation is $20,000. Multiple plans may be used to account for the maximum award amount per agricultural operation.
- 25% of funds to be expended to assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs)
- Additional prioritization of assistance to farms 500 acres or less. (SDFRs).
Matching funds are not required but encouraged.
Comments must be submitted via email to cdfa.oefi@cdfa.ca.gov by 5 p.m. PST on October 19, 2021.
To further assist those interested in submitting public comments and applying for the program, CDFA staff will provide information and answer stakeholder questions at a webinar workshop on September 23, 2021 from 10am to 11am (PST).
Registration information for the workshop is available on the CDFA Grants Page: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dd2SMY6kSmeyQPlWc0M92A
Interested stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The draft Request for Proposals can be found here.
For more information on this program or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.