SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture, or CDFA, is now accepting applications for its Healthy Soils Program, or HSP.

The program incentivizes implementation and demonstration of on-farm soil health practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases, and improve soil health.

CDFA appropriated $28 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, or GGRF, through the Budget Act of 2019 to support the HSP.

The program has two components: the HSP Incentives Program and the HSP Demonstration Projects:

HSP Incentives Program

The HSP Incentives Program will accept applications on a rolling basis until 5 p.m. PT on June 26, 2020 or until available funds are expended, whichever is earlier. California farmers and ranchers, as well as federal and California-recognized Native American Tribes are eligible to apply. For additional information on eligibility and program requirements, prospective applicants should visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/incentivesprogram.html .

CDFA will hold three no-cost workshops to provide information on incentive program requirements and the application process. Participants can attend in-person or remotely by registering for webinar access:

• March 5, 2020: 10:30 a.m. – noon
Glenn County Office of Education, Grapevine Room
311 S. Villa Ave., Willows, CA 95988
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1617504055016091147 

• March 9, 2020: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Office, Room Demo
1720 S Maple Ave, Fresno, CA 93702
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8158593286632286733 

• March 16, 2020: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Office, Conference Room
1428 Abbott St., Salinas, CA
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6529026894315030029 

Additionally, there is free technical assistance for prospective incentive program applicants provided by CDFA-funded Technical Assistance Providers and Climate Smart Agriculture Community Education Specialists at the University of California Cooperative Extension. For details, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/IncentivesProgram.html and https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/technical/index.html .

HSP Demonstration Projects

The HSP Demonstration Projects showcase California farmers’ and ranchers’ implementation of HSP soil health practices. Demonstration projects enable awardees to help support widespread adoption of soil health management practices throughout the state. Not-for-profits, University Cooperative Extension, federal and university experiment stations, Resource Conservation Districts, federal and California-recognized Native American Indian Tribes, and farmers and ranchers in collaboration with these entities are eligible to apply.

The HSP Demonstration Projects applications are due by 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Late submissions will not be accepted.

For information on eligibility and program requirements, visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/DemonstrationProjects.html .

CDFA will hold three no-cost workshops to provide information on program requirements and the application process. Participants can attend in-person or remotely by registering for webinar access:

• March 5, 2020: 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Glenn County Office of Education, Grapevine Room
311 S. Villa Ave., Willows, CA 95988
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4298861071440913931 

• March 9, 2020: 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Office, Room Demo
1720 S Maple Ave, Fresno, CA 93702
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1518913046353556237 

• March 16, 2020: 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Office, Conference Room
1428 Abbott St., Salinas, CA
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7220627404767556365 

The Healthy Soils Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more.

At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and low-income households across California.

For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov .