The State of California has four Climate Smart Agriculture programs that provide resources for California farmers, ranchers and Tribes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in soils and trees, while providing multiple benefits to agriculture and the environment.
CalCAN continues to advocate to make these important California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) Climate Smart Agriculture programs accessible to a wide diversity of California growers. We summarized the programs’ funding, impacts, and a sampling of stories from grant recipients in a recent fact sheet. The programs include:
State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) — Since 2014, this popular program has provided financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to harness the power of efficient irrigation, conserving water while simultaneously reducing on-farm energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions. Administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
Read more about water stewardship as a climate solution.
Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALCP) — Launched in 2015 as the first program in the country to invest in farmland conservation for its climate benefits, SALCP funds conservation easements on agricultural lands at risk of development as well as grants to local governments to improve farmland conservation planning and policy development. Administered by the Department of Conservation and part of the Strategic Growth Council.
Read more about farmland conservation as a climate solution.
Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) — Since 2017, AMMP supports dairy and other livestock producers to reduce potent methane emissions from manure storage and handling (e.g., pasture-based dairying, compost production). Importantly, this program incentivizes solutions for methane reduction appropriate for small and mid-scale operations. Administered by CDFA.
Read more about livestock methane reduction as a climate solution.
Healthy Soils Program (HSP) — Since 2017, this program incentivizes the adoption of innovative farm practices that store carbon in soil and woody plants and also improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, and increase water-holding capacity. The program also funds researchers and nonprofits to develop demonstration projects on working farms to extend the reach and impact of the program. Administered by CDFA.
Read more about healthy soils as a climate solution.
