There's big news in the quest for healthy soils in California! The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) officially started accepting applications for the long awaited Healthy Soils Program (HSP) on August 8th! According to their news release, the "program, authorized by the Budget Act of 2016, receives funding from California Climate Investments, with proceeds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions targeted to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while providing a variety of additional benefits to California communities."
The program offers grants to farmers and ranchers who implement on-farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health. There are two components to the grant funding: 1) the HSP Incentives funding and 2) the HSP Demonstrations Project.
"For the HSP Incentives Program, an estimated $3.75 million in competitive grant funding will be awarded to provide financial assistance for implementation of agricultural management practices that sequester soil carbon and reduce GHG emissions. California farmers and ranchers, as well as Federal and California recognized Native American Indian Tribes, are eligible to apply for the HSP Incentives Program.
For the HSP Demonstration Projects, an estimated $3 million in competitive grant funding will be awarded to projects that demonstrate and monitor specific management practices in agriculture that sequester carbon, improve soil health and reduce atmospheric GHGs. Not-for-profit entities, University Cooperative Extensions, Federal and University Experiment Stations, Resource Conservation Districts, Federal and California recognized Native American Indian Tribes, and farmers and ranchers in collaboration with any of the aforementioned entities, are eligible to apply for the HSP Demonstration Projects."