In 2023, the Siskiyou Economic Development Council (SEDC) was awarded $5 million from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to administer their Healthy Soils Block Grant Pilot Program (HSP).

This program gives funding directly to Siskiyou County agriculture producers to implement healthy soils practices on their operations. With emergency drought regulations still in effect in Siskiyou, this program is especially timely in mitigating effects from potential early season curtailments. Healthy, resilient, and sustainable soil practices are the foundation of successful land stewardship, and we are so excited to work with you and your operation in this important endeavor!

Let us know your interest in the HSP by filling out our intake form. Then, keep an eye on your inbox for additional application information.

The HSP program provides agricultural operations in Siskiyou County up to $200,000 for practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and lower atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. A list of CDFA’s eligible practices can be found here. We will be offering direct funding and technical assistance from early 2024 to summer 2027.

Our goal is to improve soil health, enhance water retention, reduce synthetic inputs and greenhouse gas emissions, and sequester carbon on Siskiyou County’s working landscapes.

More Information About the Healthy Soils Program

Eligible Applicants:

• Individuals or entities that either own or control the agricultural land where Healthy Soils eligible practices will be implemented through on-farm projects. These individuals or entities may be referred to as farmers, ranchers, agricultural operations, or farm lessees.

• California Farmers/Ranchers

• California Agricultural Operations

• Nonprofit organizations working as agriculture operations

• Federally-and California-Recognized Native American Indian Tribes

• Row, vineyard, field and tree crops, greenhouse operations producing food crops or flowers, rangeland, and pastures

Ineligible Applicants:

• University and research farms (see CDFA’s Demonstration Grant Program)

• Cannabis cultivation operations

• Projects that use potted plants and plant growth media other than soil

• Previously awarded and or/implemented practices on the same proposed project sites

Application Prioritization

• This SEDC HSP Block Grant will prioritize Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs), Spanish-speaking growers, female owned and operated farms, small (less than 500 acres) farms, as well as priority populations.

• Under no circumstances, short of exhausting funds, will any eligible applicant be denied access to HSP services or funding consideration based on their operational status or social identity.

• The final project scoring process will be carried out by the Independent Project Selection Committee who are made up of local professionals in the field.

• The Farmer Equity Act of 2017 defines “Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” to mean a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. “Socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the following: (1) African Americans (2) Native American Indians (3) Alaskan Natives (4) Hispanics (5) Asian Americans (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Find the complete guide of eligible practices and payment rate examples below.

Click here

Tentative Program Timeline

• Starting April 2024 – HSP Application Period Opens

• Starting May 2024 - Applications will be ranked and submitted to CDFA for final

  approval for funding.

• Summer 2024 - Approved projects can begin implementation.

• Fall 2027 – Funding ends. All projects must be completed.