Contact Your Community Education Specialist for more information
What is Climate Smart Ag?
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) addresses the risk that the agriculture industry faces due to changing climate conditions. It encompasses management practices that increase soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve on-farm efficiencies, and promote sustainable land practices. CSA promotes increasing agricultural productivity, building resiliency to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Please complete the interest survey link below to be included on Heather's mailing list for notices when the grants become available.
Grant Updates
Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Update!
Grants available to growers and ranchers in the Yuba-Sutter area:
- Chico State - Climate Smart Grant North Valley Food Hub for Climate-Smart Agriculture (Closed DEC. 22ND)
- USDA FSA (Please see Resources above for a list o specialty crops) Closed January 10, 2025
- Colusa Indian Community Council (CICC) Block Grant for SWEEP & HSP - CLOSED Awarding Announcements in Feb. 2025.
- Project Apis m. - Seeds for Bees Grant - Discount for seeds to be used in addition to HSP FLYER
- Zero Foodprint - "Restore" Grant -Additional money to help with Healthy Soils Practices - OPENS JANUARY 15TH, 2025/ Closes Feb. 19th (can be used with CDFA grants.)
- Zero Foodprint - "Compost Connector" Grant. Additional discount on compost (can be used with CDFA grants.)
- CDFA's Alternate Manure Management Program ( AMMP) - Closed
- USDA Farm Service Agency - Beginning Farmers and Ranchers https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/beginning-farmers-and-ranchers-loans/index
- Western SARE Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grant Program - Closed October 23, 2024
- AgWest Farm Credit - New Producers Grant - Closed for this Year 2024. TBD check back around March 2025. However, check out requirement and start preparing now.
- Farmers and Ranchers Mentorship Program - Mentors can get $50/hr. up to 6 hrs. for mentoring beginning farmers and ranchers. Mentors must have 10 years of experience to mentor someone.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Heather Montgomery @530-822-7515 or email hmontgomery@ucanr.edu.
Local Events
- 2025 California Small Farm Conference - Chico State University Farm. One week. Over 60 events. Virtual meeting and in-person gatherings. February 23 - 28th Yuba-Sutter Counties gathering at Chico State Farm Pavilion Feb 28th 3:00p - 6:00pm. Register now! It will be a great time to network.
Resources
- California Cover Crop Resources https://ucanr.edu/sites/covercrops/
- California Farm Demonstration Network
- University of Chico State Regenerative Agriculture https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/
- CAFF CSA - Comprehensive Literature
- Project Apis m.
- Selecting Cover Crops for California Annual Crop System
- Cover Cropping Considerations in California Annual Crop Rotations
- Hedgerows
- What is a Specialty Crop?https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop
CDFA Climate Smart Programs
 | Funding for non-digester related manure management practices that will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Projects can be funded up to $750,000 and could consist of pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage (such as compost bedded pack barns); and solid separation or conversion from flush to scrape in conjunction with some form of drying or composting of collected manure. Recipients are: dairy and livestock operators. |
 | The HSP Incentives Program provides funding for practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These projects can be awarded up to $100,000 for farmers and ranchers and can include; compost application, range planting, and hedgerow planting. |
 | Funding to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water on California agricultural operations. Eligible projects could include; soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives, and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water use and energy. These projects can be funded up to $200,000. |
CA CSA Team BLOG
The BLOG below is written by the Climate Smart Agriculture Team which spans all over the different regions of California. In California the temperature, terrain and soil are vastly different in many parts of the state, so topics are being written according to what is being grown in that region. It's a great way to see how other farmers and ranchers are thriving with all of today's challenges.