Stay informed about the program by registering below.
Partners
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Program Summary:
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has allocated $5 million of the Healthy Soils Block Grant Program to the California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) in collaboration with California Farm Bureau (CAFB) and Xerces Society. The California Farm Bureau through its 501(c)(3) science and research nonprofit, the California Bountiful Foundation, will oversee all administrative functions, and financial functions, of this project including reporting and on-farm project verifications. The Xerces Society will provide technical expertise in pollinating plants for hedgerows and other similar management practices.
This grant program supports citrus growers in adopting conservation management practices that improve soil health and sequester carbon. Citrus growers will receive on demand assistance at no cost through the implementation and verification process of their on-farm projects. The program will fund 20-45 on-farm projects over three years, focusing on practices like planting pollinator hedgerows, cover crops, compost application, mulching, whole orchard recycling, and windbreak establishment. Funding for each on-farm project may receive up to $200,000, depending on the project's size and the number of practices implemented.
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Program's Objectives
- Enhance climate change resilience in citrus sector.
- Aid citrus growers on environmental stewardship and fulfill sustainability demands from buyers and consumers.
- Advocate and provide financial incentives for conservation management practices that increase soils carbon storage, reduce greenhouse gases, improve soil retention, and bolster pollinator populations.
- Offer guidance to citrus growers on sustainable farming practices through pollinator hedgerows and other management practices.
- Allocate 25% of grant funds towards supporting veterans, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs), and women.
- SDFRS are those groups facing racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice regardless of individual qualities. This includes African American, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Why Citrus Growers?
The citrus sector in California contributes approximately $2 billion annually to the economy and plays a crucial role in job creation and supports agriculture and environmental sustainability efforts. This grant program will help citrus growers in reducing costs associated with conservation management practices, offering insights into effective pest and disease management while protecting pollinators. Citrus growers involved in this program will make meaningful contributions towards pollinator protection, environmental stewardship, climate change resilience, and meet sustainable demands by consumers for citrus production.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Established citrus farm.
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Citrus growers/agricultural operation who did not receive funding in the first round, other Healthy Soils Block Grant Programs, or the CDFA HSP in the previous year.
- Citrus growers operating in the following 11 counties: Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Tulare, San Diego, Placer, and Ventura.
- Priority consideration for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs), and women.
- SDFRS are those groups facing racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice regardless of individual qualities. This includes African American, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Additional Guidelines:
- Each citrus farm may submit only one application.
- Awarded grants cannot be transferred to another farm or farmer.
- Applicants must select at least one management practice from the "Eligible Orchard Practices" list:
- Filter Strip, Conservation Cover, Hedgerow Plantings, and Mulching (with woodchip).
- Practices must be newly implemented in the proposed citrus orchard fields. Previously used practices are acceptable only if applied to a different field or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN).
- Projects may include practices within the same field, with the following exceptions:
- Mulching and Conservation Cover cannot be implemented on the same field/APN.
- Conservation Cover and Filter Strip cannot be implemented on the same field/APN.
- Projects may include multiple fields within the same agricultural operation.
- All activities must occur within the grant term. Costs incurred outside of the grant term will not be reimbursed.
How to Apply:
To begin with enrollment process, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the one-time implemented practices recommended for this grant program. Under "Eligible Practices," you will find a quick guide about each practice. Review them to determine which management practice(s) best suit your citrus farm.
Determine the Appropriate Fields and Assessor's Parcel Numbers (APNs). Before applying for selected practices, it is important to assess and confirm the appropriate fields and APNs that will be involved in the project.
Guideline:
- Projects must implement at least one of the practices listed under the Eligible Practices.
- Projects may include multiple practices within the same field (APN #) except for overlapping practices.
- Projects may include multiple fields within the same citrus farm.
- We strongly encourage selecting practices that are new to you or have not been previously implemented to the field (#APN). For instance, if you have implemented conservation cover to your citrus orchard, perhaps choose a different practice or field (#APN) for implementation.
The purpose of the enrollment application is to determine applicant's eligibility, commitment to conservation management practices, and interest in enhancing soil health.
The application process for our program is straightforward and designed to be manageable for citrus growers. The application operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The steps include enrollment, a review committee evaluating applications, a preliminary selection phase, CDFA approval, announcement of awarded applicants, onboarding, and the start of project implementation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funds last. Print Application Process
- Priority consideration is given to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs) and women applicants.
- Provided there are funds remaining, no eligible applicant will be denied access to Healthy Soils Program (HSP) services or funding consideration based on their social identity.
The enrollment closed on January 31, 2025.
Email is the primary form of communication at the California Bountiful Foundation, so please ensure that the foundation has the correct email to reach out to you about your application status and Healthy Soils Program news.
Webinar:
Webinar PowerPoint - January 31, 2024
2nd Webinar PowerPoint- March 26, 2024 ( Program, practices, and application process)
Others:
Progress at a Glance: Healthy Soils Block Grant Program Flyer
Healthy Soils Block Grant Program Flyer in English
Healthy Soils Block Grant Program Flyer in Spanish
Appendix A: Practice Payment Scenarios, Rates, Requirements, and Implementation
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