CDFA to Fund Alternative Manure Management Practices in 2018

Through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was awarded $99 million for the 2018 Dairy Digester Research and Development (DDRDP) and Alternative Manure Management Programs (AMMP) in 2018. It is anticipated that $19 - $33 million will be allocated to AMMP and $61 - $75 million to DDRDP. While applications for DDRDP are due February 23, a request for applications for AMMP has not yet occurred, but projected for March 2018 with proposals due May 2018 and funding awarded August 2018.

 The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is supported through California's Cap-and-Trade program and focuses on the reduction of carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 through a number of diverse programs. The AMMP and DDRDP programs focus specifically on the reduction of methane emissions, which are produced in situations where manure is anaerobic (no oxygen). One method to reduce these emissions is to keep manure out of liquid systems and AMMP funds practices that aim to achieve this. For the 2017 program, AMMP offered four management changes for dairy and livestock operations to apply for totaling up to $750,000 for 2-year projects. While the 2018 request has not yet occurred, it is anticipated similar practices will be funded for a comparable maximum funding limit. Practices that are likely to be funded again in 2018 include pasture-based management, solid separation, and conversion from a flush to scrape system.

 Pasture-based management could include conversion of a non-pasture system to pasture-based management, increasing pasture time on existing pasture operations, and/or construction of a compost bedded pack barn. Solid separation and conversion from flush to scrape must have been in conjunction with an additional practice that increased manure drying, such as solar drying, composting, daily spread, or solid storage. Additionally, both installation of a new solid separation systems or replacement of an existing solids separation system with improved separation efficiency qualified for the program.

 Applications were scored based on project plan and long-term viability, budget and financials, estimated greenhouse gas emissions reductions, project readiness, environmental benefits, and benefits to disadvantaged and low-income communities. This grant required no matching funds, as CDFA would fund 100% of total project cost, but cost sharing had the ability to demonstrate industry commitment and support for the project. Reviewing the 2017 request may give insight into the suitability of intended projects for this program and the needed information to put together an application. Building a project team early and identifying important components to submit a successful application is key to meeting the quick deadline, which is expected to be six weeks after applications are requested. Projects awarded funding during the 2017 cycle are available to view on the CDFA website, along with a tentative 2018 timeline and the 2017 Request for Applications (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/AMMP/). To receive updates for this program, sign-up for email notifications on the CDFA AMMP webpage.