Emergency Agricultural Grant Funding

The first step is to document any damage or a project need with photos.

Next, contact our local FSA office:

5401 Old Redwood Highway #100
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 664-8593
FSA.Petaluma.CA@usda.gov

Depending on your needs and eligibility, the following FSA programs may be options for fund assistance:

Emergency Conservation Programs (ECP)

Funding and technical assistance to offset damage by natural disasters and drought.

• 75% cost-share payments up to $500,000
• Up to 90% for low-income producers
• No Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations

Commercial farming, ranching, and orchard operations are eligible for:

• Removal of debris
• Grading and shaping of disturbed soil
• Restoration of cross-fences, boundary fences, and gates
• Restoration of conservation structures such as ditches and waterways
• Providing water and restoration of existing irrigation systems.

Livestock Forage Program (LFP)

Payments to producers for lost grazed forage only during times of state-designated drought.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

Payments to producers for livestock deaths, in excess of normal mortality, during times of adverse weather.

• Payments of 75% of market value of the livestock.
• Notify within 30 days of documented indemnity.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP)

Financial assistance for losses due to disaster conditions. For losses not covered by LFP or LIP.

• Assistance for feed and pasture loss as a result of floods or wildfire.
• Assistance for a maximum of 150 days of loss.
• Must be filed within 30 days of documented loss.
• AGI of $900,000 or less.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

Financial assistance for low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting due to natural disasters.

• Assistance for crop and forage crop loss as a result of drought, excessive heat, floods, freeze, hail, or wind (hurricane strength).
• Effectively a form of crop insurance up to $125,000 per crop per year.
• Service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.
• Service fee waivers for beginning farmers or ranchers (less than 10 years) and limited resource farmers (no more than $177,000 per year).
• AGI of $900,000 or less.

Farm Loan Programs

FSA offers a number of loans available to producers for a wide range of backgrounds and crops, to start, maintain, or expand agricultural operations.

The first step is to document any damage or a project need with photos.

Next, contact our local NRCS office:

5401 Old Redwood Highway #100
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 794-1242 ext. 107
chase.garcia@usda.gov

Depending on your needs and eligibility, the following NRCS programs may be options for fund assistance.

Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)

• Requires a sponsor in the form of a conservation district, tribe, or agency, to secure all necessary permits. NRCS can provide design and technical assistance.
• State Conservationist initiated declaration for funding availability.
• Funds for removal of debris and repair of storm drains, levees, stream banks, and eroded channels caused by a natural disaster.
• Can be used to repair conservation practices from other programs.
• Can be used to establish vegetative cover and restore waterways.
• NRCS can fund up to 75% of construction costs.

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

• Technical and financial assistance for large, ranch-scale projects to address resource issues through the development of conservation plans.
• NRCS secures all necessary permits, provides design, and eventual reimbursement for a portion of the costs.
• Riparian restoration, implementation of climate-smart practices, and other preventative projects.
• Funding is awarded based on ranking in batching periods which depend on funding availability.
• Farmers/ranchers who either own or lease are eligible.

Rural Development Office:
777 Sonoma Ave, E St Annex
Santa Rosa, CA 95404-4731
jennifer.gooler@usda.gov

USDA now provides grants for renewable energy systems for farms and rural small businesses.

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

• Grants cover up to 50% of project costs up to $1m.
• Funds may be used for wind or solar energy generation, heat pumps, replacing diesel with electric irrigation motors, and so on.
• Eligibility: 50% of gross income comes from agricultural operations.
• Farms on National Parks Service land are not eligible.
• Projects require an environmental review.

Next deadlines: June 30 or September 30, 2023.

Questions to USDA: john.strauch@usda.gov.

West Marin Climate Action can help apply for the grants with support from David Rempel.

This agricultural nonprofit based in Davis provides policy advocacy and on-the-ground programs that create more resilient family farms, communities, and ecosystems.

www.caff.org

info@caff.org

CAFF Emergency Fund: CURRENTLY CLOSED

Financial assistance available to producers with minimum sales of $10,000 and maximum of $400,000. Priority to BIPOC farmers.

Organic certification nonprofit based in Santa Cruz providing education and grants in addition to organic practice advocacy.

www.ccof.org

Contact: Larissa Hernandez lhernandez@ccof.org

Drought Relief Grants

Applicants must be small-scale farmers and/or from underserved communities. Financial assistance ranges between $5,000 and $20,000 to assist with expenses related, and not limited, to:

• Increased electric utility bills of 50% or more due to increased electricity rates
• Surface water costs if increased from year prior
• Cost of hauling water for livestock
• Lowering ag well pumps if a primary source of water is lost
• Emergency upgrades to the irrigation system (paired with conservation) if not covered through CDFA OEFI programs or USDA programs and for other emergency scenarios.
• Decreased crop yields/crop loss due to less water available or having to fallow land
• Drilling of new wells or repairs on existing wells if sole source of water for operation.

To be eligible, an applicant must provide written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is located or proposed to be located approving the action, per Executive Order N-7-22.

Stewardship Assistance Program (SAP)

MALT’s SAP is a small, direct grants program open to MALT easement landowners and can provide up to $15,000 with a 15% cost-share. SAP grants can sometimes be combined with grants from the above agencies to help complete a project. Landowners in contract with NCRS or the Marin RCD for certain projects may be eligible for up to $50,000.

• Project categories include:
• Watershed protection
• Range and pasture management
• Climate resilience and carbon farming
• Technical assistance

Read more about the specific project times eligible for funding, view the application, and contact Scott Dunbar by email or at (415) 663-1158, ext. 313 to discuss your project idea or get assistance with the rolling, year-round application process.