$5 Million Grant to Provide Funding to Growers to
Implement Healthy Soils Management Practices with
a focus on Polllinator Hedgerow Habitat
Hedgerows and other healthy soils build carbon on farms and contribute directly to carbon sequestration and reduce climate warming greenhouse gases
KEY FINDINGS
Soils are the primary growing medium for growing our food
Healthy soils is defined as “the ability of the soil to sustain the productivity, diversity, and environmental services of terrestrial ecosystems” (FAO ITPS).
Healthy soils has numerous benefits for agriculture including;
- Regulating water including increased infiltration and reduced runoff
- Sustaining plant life including the production of food crops
- Sustaining animal life including beneficial microbes for agricultural food crop production
- Assists with nutrient cycling and nutrient availability for food production
- Is a natural carbon sequestration sink
- Provides physical and structural stability for plant growth
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has the Healthy Soils Program which provides incentives to farmers to adopt one of several management practices.
The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Services offers technical and financial assistance for farmers looking to improve soil health.
The Program is Supported by:
A $5 million grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soil Block Grant Program (HSP).
Program limited to citrus growers; a $2 billion economic sector of the California economy.
The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) is the lead organization. The California Farm Bureau (CFB) will be administering the grant and Xerces Society will provide technical expertise on pollinator habitat and hedgerow planting on citrus farms.
$4.25 million for grants to citrus growers implement one or more healthy soil management practices on citrus orchards including, but not limited to, compost application, mulching, hedgerow planting, and windbreak establishment.
Citrus growers in nine counties are eligible to apply; Fresno, Ventura, Kings, Kern, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Tulare, and Santa Barbara.
25% of citrus growers must be socially disadvantaged farmers.
Individual grants to citrus growers will range from $100,000 to $200,000.
Partners
Xerces Society
To find out more:
Contact the California Bountiful Foundation at cabountifulfoundation@cfbf.com or Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, Director of Science and Research, at (916) 561-5500.
- Phone: (916) 561-5500
- Fax: (916) 561-4507
- Email: cfbf@cfbf.com
- 2600 River Plaza Dr.
- Sacramento, CA 95833
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