5 Ranches Partner with MALT to Invest in Climate Smart Agriculture
October 29, 2024
To strengthen climate resilience in Marin County from the ground up, MALT is thrilled to announce the latest recipients of our small grants program. After careful consideration and a formal review, we are excited to award $200,000 to five local agricultural producers (listed below). This investment will have a resounding impact across our community.
Climate change is posing a significant threat to Marin County, with rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and increased risk of wildfires directly impacting local farmers and ranchers. Prolonged droughts stress crops and livestock, while extreme weather events can damage infrastructure and reduce food yields. Shifting seasonal patterns disrupt traditional growing and grazing schedules, forcing producers to adapt quickly.
But Marin’s agricultural community is also part of the solution. Through regenerative farming practices, carbon sequestration in healthy soils, and sustainable land management that restores natural and working lands, local agriculture plays a crucial role in mitigating climate impacts. By embracing these methods, Marin’s farmers and ranchers are capturing atmospheric carbon in their soil, enhancing biodiversity, and building resilience against future climate challenges, all while continuing to produce high-quality, sustainable food for local families.
Our third and most recent round of small grants funding focused specifically on Building Climate Resilience in Agricultural Working Lands. The goal of this small grants cycle was to provide resources to help agriculturalists plan, design, and implement climate smart practices that deliver long-term durable solutions to reduce emissions or energy use, increase water security, promote livestock well-being, or diversify operations.
This round of climate smart agriculture grant recipients includes (listed alphabetically):
Gallagher North Bend Ranch, Point Reyes Station – $35,000
Implementing Sustainable Soil Management Practices
Acquiring a no-till seeder will enable this ranch to establish deep-rooted, perennial grasses while preserving soil structure and enhancing carbon sequestration. The application of a perennial seed mix to 100 acres will both promote biodiversity and improve pasture quality. The innovative use of wool pellets—made from waste wool—produced on-site as a natural fertilizer and soil amendment showcases a circular economy approach, reducing waste and improving soil health simultaneously.
Gilardi Family Farm, Petaluma – $45,000
Integrating Poultry in Regenerative Agriculture
This project supports the purchase of an innovative chicken tractor. This mobile unit reduces the environmental impact of laying hens and is more resistant to our increasingly extreme weather. A solar-powered robotic system for feeding and egg collection will further the operations’ efficiency and improve the overall welfare of the egg production processes.
Lanatti Ranch, Tomales – $35,000
Conserving Water and Restoring Habitat
This project focuses on increasing water resilience and ecosystem health. The installation of a bentonite clay liner in one of the ranch’s existing ponds will reduce water loss through seepage, ensuring a more stable water supply for livestock and wildlife. Additionally, the restoration of the pond bank and strategic tree planting will create additional habitat, supporting local biodiversity. The upgrades to the water tank and trough systems will optimize water distribution across the ranch, promoting more efficient land use and greater drought resilience.
Ledger Ranch, Tomales – $45,000
Optimizing Rotational Grazing Infrastructure
This comprehensive water distribution project will transform grazing management on the ranch. By installing a new pump system, storage tanks, and an extensive network of water pipes and spigots, the ranch will be able to support more than 10 paddocks for rotational grazing. This system will allow for more precise control of grazing patterns, improving pasture health, increasing soil organic matter, and enhancing the land’s capacity to sequester carbon. The improved water access across the property will also reduce erosion and support more even nutrient distribution.
Silva Family Dairy, Tomales – $40,000
Transitioning to Renewable Energy in Dairy Operations
The installation of a solar array on one of the ranch’s main barns will significantly offset the large overhead costs associated with dairy operations, improving the farm’s economic resilience. Beyond the financial benefits, the transition to solar power will substantially reduce the ranch’s carbon footprint, aligning their energy use with their land stewardship goals. This investment in renewable energy demonstrates how modern dairy operations (part of the Straus Family Creamery) can lead in adopting climate-smart technologies, paving the way for a more sustainable future in agriculture.
An Investment in Our Shared Future
These five innovative projects represent a significant step forward in building climate resilience across Marin County’s agricultural landscape. By investing $200,000 in these local ranches, MALT is not only supporting individual producers but also strengthening the entire region’s ability to adapt to and mitigate climate change impacts. From water conservation and soil health improvements to renewable energy adoption and sustainable livestock management, each project contributes to a more resilient and sustainable local food system.
As these climate-smart practices take root, they will also serve as models for other producers in the area, a blueprint for the next chapter in Marin County’s food and fiber production. This investment in our working lands is an investment in our shared future, ensuring that Marin County remains a leader in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship for generations to come.
Special Thanks
For this round of grant funding, we received 11 proposals, representing a total project amount of $684,000 in funds requested. We are sincerely grateful and would like to thank all ranchers and farmers who submitted proposals, our donors who make this responsive grant program possible, and our partners who served on the review committee: Sonya Hammons from Marin County Parks, Simone Albuquerque from the County of Sonoma’s Office of Climate Action and Resiliency, and Jonathan Wachter from the Carbon Cycle Institute in California.
MALT will launch its next round of small grants in the spring of 2025, focusing on initiatives that support our mission. These grants will target projects that preserve farmland, enhance biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and foster community connections. Stay tuned for more information as we refine the focus of this next round, tailored to the emerging needs of our agricultural community.